Should Breeders Title Their Own Dogs.

[Jack's Dad]

There is another thread about photos of dogs on their way to titles being hijacked from facebook. Someone mentioned that the breeder did not title their own dogs. Does it really make any difference? I would think the experience would be valuable, but not necessary. Someone else like a trainer could do the work. People who breed race horses don't need to be jockeys. They do need to really know horses and genetics, pedigrees etc.. Unless breeders specifically state that they title their own dogs a buyer doesn't know who titled it. Does it matter?

[Jax08]

I think this follows very closely with the thread asking of only titled dogs should be bred.

Should breeders TITLE their dogs??? I don't know. Some are breeding working dogs and have no need for a title. If they are training for police work, they don't need a SchH title.

Should breeders WORK their dogs? I certainly think so. If they aren't working and training then how do they know what they have?

[Jack's Dad]

Originally Posted by Jax08

I think this follows very closely with the thread asking of only titled dogs should be bred.

Should breeders TITLE their dogs??? I don't know. Some are breeding working dogs and have no need for a title. If they are training for police work, they don't need a SchH title.

Should breeders WORK their dogs? I certainly think so. If they aren't working and training then how do they know what they have?

Didn't mean for it to be about titled vs non titled.
It was meant to assume dogs that are going to be titled. Does it matter if the Breeder themselves are physically envolved. I know of someone who titled in the past but is physically unable to title their own dogs now. It doesn't take away their knowledge of the breed. Still some seem to think if the breeder isn't personally involved it somehow makes a difference.

[gagsd]

Speaking for myself and knowing how much I have learned and am learning by training my dogs..... I think breeders should absolutely train/work their dogs. Buy titled or not, but work the dog so that you really have an understanding of that dog.

[Castlemaid]

If they have titled dogs in the past, then as you said, they have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding about dogs in general, and that translates to better being able to judge and understand what they are breeding. That is different from a breeder who has never done any titling, or have titled dogs in, let's say, obedience only, but claim that the dogs they breed will make fine protection dogs. I firmly believe that in order for someone to be able to understand a dog and read a dog well enough to make that kind of claim, whatever venue, they should have extensive hands-on experience working and training and trialing and certifying dogs in that venue.

Training and breeding Race horses would be different, you are working with mainly one variable: how fast can this horse run? The variables to take into effect when breeding a dog that can track, think, problem solve, fight, discriminate between normal and threat, work all day as in SAR over difficult terrain, herd all day, knowing the boundries of what is allowed and what is not, and so on, are much more complex and variable than just breeding for speed.

[GSDElsa]

Well to get OT I think that racing horses has a LOT more to do with than just running fast. However, being a good jockey--because of the size and weight restrictions--elminates many owners and general horse trainers in the first place. And I actually find it quite pathetic some of the big racing owners who do so for the money and status. I do not think you will ever find a good racehorse trainer and breeder that does not have an extensive background in horses in way or another.

So, with all that...I personally would not buy a dog from someone that has not titled extensively in the past. There are reasons why you can no longer do so or choose not to because of limitations, but I think the knowledge base and experience needs to be there to translate into good breeding practices.

I think of it much like dog training in general--would you pay someone to train you that has never done what you are seeking training in? No? Then why would you pay someone who does not have experience in titling for a puppy?

[SchHGSD]

I feel breeders should have titled the dogs they are breeding themselves. That way they know what strengths the dog has, what weaknesses, and what they need to find to compliment the dog.

I know many breeders import a bitch they've never met, bred to a stud they've never met, and there you go, great litter. I just don't think it should be that way.

[Emoore]

I personally would rather purchase a pup from a breeder that trains and works but for some reason doesn't title, than purchase from a breeder that purchases titled dogs but doesn't train/work them.

[Jack's Dad]

[QUOTE=GSDElsa;2236758;}So, with all that...I personally would not buy a dog from someone that has not titled extensively in the past. There are reasons why you can no longer do so or choose not to because of limitations, but I think the knowledge base and experience needs to be there to translate into good breeding practices.

I think of it much like dog training in general--would you pay someone to train you that has never done what you are seeking training in? No? Then why would you pay someone who does not have experience in titling for a puppy?[/QUOTE]

One reason I ask is because for the family companion buying public it's no picnic trying to wade through breeder web sites. I looked for months and I wound up doing very well but with a certain element of chance. Many sites have dogs with titles in their pedigrees but you can't always know where the title came from. I think the vast majority of dogs bred go to family companion homes and in some ways we may need dogs with good temperament and nerve almost more than those who are heavily involved in sport. Most family companion dogs will go into public with not much more than basic obedience. My dog is now going through his fourth obedience class at 4.5 yrs. old. He has no problems but I want to stay on top of it. He also does agility but a lot of dogs get the petco basic obedience and that is it. So if you don't really know pedigrees and the breeder doesn't specifically indicate that they breed, train, and title their own dogs what can people do to hopefully get a even tempered good nerved dog.

Michelle K.
So how do you avoid the type you just mentioned? Or maybe I should say how can I avoid them?

[sparra]

Originally Posted by Jack's Dad

I think the vast majority of dogs bred go to family companion homes and in some ways we may need dogs with good temperament and nerve almost more than those who are heavily involved in sport. Most family companion dogs will go into public with not much more than basic obedience.

Amen to that!!! What you said here is so true. A dog that is just a pet has so many times in its life where good nerve is so important and if the owners are a bit inexperienced then they really do need a dog who is solid in the head.