Breeding?

StormyWinter · Moderator

Breeding?

Paige · ~Grand Champion~ Gold Medal Poster!

I think breeding is okay as long as all the proper testing is done. Health testing is the main thing with me. I don't care much about registries. And of course I am against pet stores and mills.

ADMIN ANSY · Site Admin

I have never bred dogs, but I grew up on a farm and the rule of thumb there was 2 years for nearly every animal except hogs (and fowl). I have heard alot of people say that it is best to wait until the dog is 2 years old also, and I have heard to wait until their third heat - which may not be at 2 years of age. Personally, just from what I have read, I think it shouldn't be done until at least 18 months of age but it is better to wait until 2 years of age. I do agree that some testing should be done, especially on breeds that are more prone to health problems. However, I don't think you need to perform every test under the moon in order to be a good breeder. No test can guarantee that a dog will be healthy and even if you get a negative on your test result, the dog still may have problems. Testing is just a precautionary measure to help weed out the dogs that may not be best for breeding. Eyes and hips seem to cause the most problems, so testing on those would be a good idea in my opinion.

Honestly, I think what makes a person a good breeder is having the ability to truly love the dog and/or breed. If you love them, you will do whatever it takes to make sure the dog remains healthy and happy - and THAT is what makes a good breeder. When there is an emotional attachment to another being, one naturally seeks to find an understanding of what it takes to care for that being - whether it be a spouse, child, or pet. In looking for that very understanding, is when we ask questions - to learn - so that we can better prepare ourselves of what we need to do.

So many times, I've seen a person ask an innocent question on a forum and get bashed for being so 'uneducated', told they do not need to breed, etc., etc. How are we expected to get educated if no one ever answers us? Read? Some people prefer first hand experience and would rather ask those who have been through it - sometimes talking to a live person, instead of reading a book or web page, can provide us with so much more information because we can get the minor details from a live person, we can't necessarily do that from a book.

Sorry to ramble on here, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to address this because, for some of us, we saw this happen on a daily basis. I don't want that kind of thing happening here and it seems that it isn't. I'm very proud of how all of you have handled yourself on this board thus far. I'm sure in the future, we'll see this same question again, from someone we don't know.....and I hope they are treated with the same respect.

It's so nice to see a person ask a question about breeding and not get beat to a pulp. I think that says alot about the kind of truly dog loving people we have here.

Denise · You have been awarded the Posting Star of Honor!

I agree 110% I have always lived by a couple of rules #1 there is no such thing as a dumb question and #2 you get much further with sugar than vinegar.

No one in the world has ever been born who knows the answer the everything. We all had to learn & we are all still learning. When someone steps into a brand new interest there are loads of things for them to learn and I truly believe that most people who come to forums with questions are looking for honest answers because they honestly aren't sure. Most over the years have heard alot of rumors, old wives tales, etc. and they are looking to see if what they have heard has any basis in fact. We know, ourselves, just how much misinformation is out there - some due to well meaning people who think they know & others who "heard thru the grapevine" and therefore it is true or read it on the internet so "it must be true".

If someone is asking our opinion on a question, such as breeding for example, we accomplish nothing if we dive right in and start banging them on the head. I know myself if someone starts insisting, demanding & proclaiming their way is the only way I immediately go on the defensive and tend to shut down. However, if someone calmly & respectfully sets out the pros & cons and is willing to explain the whys & wherefores I am much more apt to actually allow the information to sink in and make an informed decision. I have seen too many people on a multitude of forums get bashed and go away, never to be heard from again and that is a shame. In the long run the ones who end up on the short end are the furpals because their humans possibly didn't get the information they needed to enable them to make the best choice.

Another thing that I have seen happen that really upsets me is that some people don't take into account the age of the person asking the question. I have seen youngsters ask a question and they are treated as tho they are the person responsible for whatever situation it is. Granted we won't always know if it is someone in a position to do what needs to be done. I just hope that all of us tread lightly when needed and sometimes realize the person on the receiving end isn't the person who we should be upset with. I have seen kids write in about a medical issue with a furpal and get hammered because they haven't taken their pet to the vet. We need to give them support and the information they need so that they can then go to their parents with information pertinent to their request for attention for their pet.

I have also seen many people beaten up over different training techniques and the use of different training tools. Again, information is important here. In my opinion more harm is done when people are not given information as requested. For example, the use of a choke collar or a prong collar. I would rather give people as much information as possible because for a novice to just go out & buy one & use it can cause serious harm if use incorrectly or used on the wrong dog. I am a strong believer in using the method that works well for a particular dog & their human. What works for one may not work for another. The important thing is that these people realize their dogs need training so let's help them find the method that works best for them.

I was a mod on another forum and I know how forceful some people can be when they believe so strongly in something. I just wish everyone will be respectful and realize that it is hard to "read between the lines" and read the tone of our voices when we are posting. It is not the same as talking face to face & much can be misunderstood and taken wrong when there was no offense meant.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now & I hope I haven't offended anyone! I am sure this forum will continue to be great & an asset to all those who come here!

jawlaw · Moderator

None of us are going to agree on everything and at times we may strongly disagree, but it can be done in a respectful way. It is pitiful how some of those people bash others. That is what led to my ban! I couldn't stand it when they did it, which led me to take up for people and maybe get sarcastic in the process..... I see none of that going on here and it is SOOOOO nice!

Paige · ~Grand Champion~ Gold Medal Poster!

I don't think anyone could offend me. I take everything as an oppinion. And Ansy I think you are right on the whole testing thing. Just because they are tested doesn't mean that they are in the clear. With Danes you just need to make sure that the breeder does all the appropriate test and you need to ask all the right questions regarding the past health on not just the parents but previous litters and generations back from there. I remember when I was talking to a Neo Mastiff breeder, and I asked if any of her dogs have ever bloated? She didn't even know what bloat was. Lets just say I never talked to her again. And if a Dane so-called breeder doesn't know about HOD or wobblers I will not talk to them again.

StormyWinter · Moderator

I'd have to agree that this is a much nicer place. I started some VERY controversial topics there and they always ended up in 4-5 page long agruments. I don't know if any of you were around when the topic "dogs and ghosts" was a BATTLE! Started off nice til someone brought up religion and it went down hill from there. If the search was working I'd tell those who aren't banned to look it up. It gets brought back every now and then. Guess it's still a kinda hot topic there.

Anyways, When it comes to breeding I grew up in a family that bred and showed Boxers. We only bred our "perfect" ones. Hence the quotions. I know there is really no perfect dog but you know what I mean. Now we just rescue them. I have one, my grandfather has 2 and my uncle has 2 and about to get a 3rd. All recuses. Mine is a total sweety. She was caged and starved for over a year cause the guy bred her and she wouldn't nurse 2 of the babies. So he got mad, caged her and only fed her chicken bones. The day I brought her home she weighted in at 27LBS. Now she's a lil on the chunky side! LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/StormyWinter/Kylse/Kylse1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/StormyWinter/Kylse/Kylse30.jpg

Thats my Kylse!

ADMIN ANSY · Site Admin

~~The day I brought her home she weighted in at 27LBS.~~

How pitifully sad! I'm SO glad you got this dog. I can't even imagine the pain and misery she must have suffered during that time. That was just heart breaking to read. Kudos to you and your family for rescuing these dogs.

Denise · You have been awarded the Posting Star of Honor!

She is gorgeous! She sure has blossomed with your care & love!

StormyWinter · Moderator

I thought 27LBS was really bad but this was with 2 months of me feeding her 3 days a week which was the only time I got to see her. This "man" is my mother in laws b\f. Like I told her if he's going to treat a dog like this how do you think he's going to treat you down the road? Well she still hasn't listened and is still with him. He came to our house a few weeks ago and to much supirze she was so happy to see him! It's amazing that aminals can forgive but humans can't. I have only had a few problems with her 1. She hates cats! When she was caged male cats that lived around the area would come by and spray her. She was ina extremely small cage outside. There are only a few things that I can say were good about it. It was covered she did have a dog house and there was running water with a 5 gallon bucket at all times. Other than that it was about 4ft by 5ft cage NEVER cleaned, red ants everywhere and no blankets or padding for her to lay on.

My other problem with her is that her and Storm do NOT get along at all. They are both female aggressive. They can't even see eachother without flipping out. Some of you may remember my aggressive problems with Storm and her from the other forum. Now I have offically giving up with ever getting them two be ever be together. It has done nothing but get worse. Now I just do the doggie shuffle.