Question about Exhibitor / Show Breeder litters
 

I was hoping to understand a few things, bc I'm thrown for a bit of a loop at the moment.

So, there is a member here who is purporting to be a Show Breeder, however, on one of the breeder listing sites, I'm reading that this breeder states they 'breed some bitches who are out of standard', and breeds 5-10 litters a YEAR. It also appears that this member may be a member of the YTCA.

Does this seem off to only me? From what I've seen here at YT, the Exhibitors breed *maybe* 1 litter every 1-2 years, and only if there really is a need for it in their program.

What am I missing here? Or, is this someone who may be talking out of both sides of their mouth? Purporting one thing, while doing another...

I was under the same impression as you- that show breeders tend to breed very few litters and only when they think it will either help their program or advance the breed in general.

Forgetting show breeders all together- 5-10 litters seems like a lot for ANY breeder- I can't imagine someone can have 10 litters a year and really give each litter the necessary attention and properly screen all those homes. If my math is correct, that would mean they ALWAYS, all year long, have more than one litter in the home. I can't imagine... :eek:

Thank you :)...this is exactly what I thought too. I thought the 5-10 thing seemed really off and very excessive. This may be one of those things where someone is trying to benefit by calling themselves a show breeder, when in fact...they may not be.

I thought that too.

That's excessive in "my opinion" but they are show breeders/exhibitors that have beautiful and clean kennels with paid help. I know several show breeders that may produce more than a couple of litters a year but they many champions and still are actively showing and producing some top winning healthy yorkies. However, when one claims to show and you see very little of their breedings in the ring and have that many litters in a year doesn't sound kosher to me. Of course this is my opinion only and I have no clue as to who you are referring too. I haven't had a litter in 3 years and the show breeders/exhibitors in my circle don't have but maybe 1 or 2 litters within a year. But that is just my small circle that I have dealings with. I know alot of show breeders/exhibitors but do not know their breeding program as I do not know them on a personal level.
I would question someone breeding that much and not having them in the ring and claiming to show and it would raise a red flag for me but that's just me :)

Donna

Thanks, Donna - this is my impression too. Meaning, that Exhibitors produce *very* few litters, and even then - only for a need (in most cases) in their program. Maybe this other breeder does have spotless kennels and the dogs are treated like kings and queens...but it doesn't feel kosher to me either.

I'm not sure these kiddos are getting the best vetting, in this case :(...so it makes me wonder about the program, as a whole.

Thanks for the insight :).

Well *coughs*, I can now see why some find Google Earth so fascinating...and revealing. This: ;) and also This: :(.

Don't forget anyone can show, this doesn't mean much. Most show breeders don't call themselves show breeders and, in fact, it seems like hate that term, I think they use words like "Exhibitor Breeder". You could have a puppy mill and call yourself a show breeder, it could just mean you just showed one dog once, and it lost. :D

If this person really is a YTCA member, bragging about 'breed some bitches who are out of standard' would probably be frowned upon. However, it shouldn't be forgotten, that breeders are breeding TO standard, in other words, they are trying to produce pups that will meet standard, and that's why some breeders use breeding dogs that themselves may not be standard, the GOAL is always the important thing. For example, an 8 pound dog is not standard, but she may produce dogs well within standard, a black dog while not specifically standard, may be needed to keep the blue from being diluted too much and correct the a lighter blue mate. Ten litters a year seems excessive to me, and they probably are selling to fill the pet market and NOT to improve the breed. If a breeder uses marketing terms, such as "show breeder" or "champions in bloodline" to me, they are just puppy salesman, and yes, the YTCA has breeders who breed for the wrong reasons. People need to be very careful when researching a breeder, and belonging to a club, means you had to only fool a couple of people, but the YTCA does have some checks and balances in place to eliminate poor breeders. Some people want to join the YTCA, not because they believe in their values, but because they think it will give them prestige, and they will sell more puppies.

There are exhibitors that do produce more than 3 litters a year but they have full time help that are what we'd call nannies like for human kids. But they are still producing champion after champion and have nice healthy dogs and spare NO expense in vetting care ect...but they have the money to do this BUT those that have more than 2 or 3 litters a year and do not produce the champions or have their breedings in the ring to prove breeding the right way isn't kosher to me.

But as I've stated many times there are bad apples in any endeavor and one just has to research and research for the right breeder ect...if what your gut tells you is wrong then go with it...

Donna

Agreed Donna, There are some great breeders that have some wonderful help and do produce more litters than those of us that have a smaller kennel.

Not wanting to pass judgement or affirm this breeder's practices; keep in mind we are lucky to produce 1 possible Champion out of every 6 litters......That being said the more recognized/famous kennels are continousely out in the ring, and Championing more than one dog a year.

Let me add the breeders I'm referring to are a bit more financially stable and do have the money to support their larger kennel.

Yup! I could never afford to have a larger kennel, so I'm happy with the ones I have and the amount of time I am in the ring to show off my dogs or others. Wish every litter could produce more than one quality champion but for the most part we are lucky to have one in two litters LOL...

I don't think I could emotionally go through more than 1 litter a year, even if I did have a larger kennel.

I am glad you are doing a little digging around.:)

Dee i was sorry to hear about your illness and hope you are feeling much better

Thank you Betty. I am much better. if you still have my email, write me. I lost yours.