[kbigge]

I took my son and Kodee to the park for a walk today. There were a bunch of guys doing construction next door at the new pool. I noticed one of them stop to admire Kodee as we were walking past, and he asked if he could pet him. I stopped and said yes, and Kodee, bless his heart, automatically sat for him when the guy came up to pet him. (The training is working!) Anyway, the man talked about what a "good-lookin' dog" he is, and asked if he was neutered. I was thinking "No way this guy is gonna ask what I think he is." I said no, and he asked if I was going to neuter him, and I said "No, but I'm not planning on breeding him, either." Sure enough, he asked if I would be interested in breeding Kodee to his female. WTH? My dog could have a dozen medical problems, and he would never know it if I took him up on his "offer." Not to mention, I know nothing whatsoever about his female. I was really surprised. I told the guy nicely that I wouldn't want to breed Kodee, because I didn't know enough about breeding to know that i would be improving the lines, genetically. He said "Well, it wouldn't change his lines any (meaning Kodee's). Whatever! I just said "No, thanks" and he said ok. He was nice, not pushy, but still. What are people thinking.

I guess I'm too controlling, anyway. If my Kodee Bear had pups with anyone, I would be terrified that they would get into the wrong hands. As much as I love my dog, I would have to personally place any pups he would have (or, let's be honest, I probably would end up keeping them all!), even if they were perfectly sound in genetics and temperament.

I thought the whole thing was just odd...but, I'll take it as a compliment.

 

[Sherush]

Good for you, I agree with what you did 100 percent.

 

[dbailey]

I have had that same question asked to me, its amazing how people don't think of the dogs, only about making a buck off of a "pretty dog" that they could get to breed with theirs!!!!

 

[The Stig]

Mspiker03 had the same proposition for her male GSD last week when we were at the Farmer's Market. And while we were like, "What the heck was THAT about?" I was all, "Well, at the very least, it IS a very nice compliment."

Some dude with crazy eyes came up to us - 2 women and 3 GSDs - and w/o even a hint of a greeting or introduction, immediately inquired about breeding Levi to his female after first learning he was still intact.

It was very bold and curt. No questions about health, hips, pedigree, lines, etc. ... just wanted Levi's baby batter. Melissa and I were flabbergasted. First he was asking ME about breeding Levi, tho' he can obviously see he is not MY dog. Then he propositioned Melissa, and she was just so taken aback, she shook her head and managed a brief "No, we have no plans to breed him." Then, after that, he said if she changed her mind, and prattled off his name and his place of work. That was it.

We might bump into Crazy Eyes again today. If he asks again, we are all prepared to reply and make him feel like an idiot for being so callous about breeding his female to a male he doesn't even know anything about.

 

[Cathygirl]

I really hate that when it happens. It's like the people just want there dog to have puppies without any knowledge of what will happen to the puppies.
I was in Pet Supplies Plus the other day buying dog food and a man came in with his boxer. I really like boxers, but it really was (sorry to say) not the best looking boxer. I know boxers have a hard time with breathing but this one was having a very rough time and I could hear him breathing the other aisle over. Anyways, I get up to the checkout and this man and his boxer are in front of me and the lady at the cash register says "Oh a boxer, I just had a lady come in her asking if I knew anyone that had a boxer I could breed my female too. Do you mind if I give her your name and number?" And he says " Oh no I don't mind, he has already had a couple unplanned litters." I was instantly mad about this, but kept my mouth shut.
Then I look at the boxer and he has on a choke collar and the choke collar is on backwards. I could not keep my mouth shut. So I said very nicely "Do you know that your dogs collar is on backwards? and he says "Oh I didn't know there was a wrong way and a right way. So I showed him the proper way it should be and he was really nice about it, but come on LEARN these things.

So, there will probably be some boxer pups born and hopefully they all find there ways into a good home.

 

[3K9Mom]

I've had that happen.

First, the guy, who was walking down my street, asked if Camper were a purebred.

Uh, Duh. Isn't kind of obvious? But I figured he was just one of those people who don't know dogs very well, so I was nice and said yes. Then he says he has a "Certified" purebred female at home, and "how about we breed our dogs?"

I told him that I believe that only professionals should breed dogs and that Camper was scheduled to be neutered that week, as a matter of fact. I was at home at the time, and I didn't want the guy sneaking his bitch into my yard or anything weird like that. The guy said "That's a pity. We could make a lot of money off the puppies."

My dogs are never in the front yard without me, and rarely in the back yard unsupervised (but the back door is always open when they are). But I was relieved when I did get Camper neutered later on that month. People like that are creepy and you just never know.

Why this guy thought that his little bitch was good enough for my regal, beautiful, charming, sensitive, talented, accomplished, Campeche....

Next time, I'll just ask them for their email address so I can send them my 10 page application and they can pay-pal me the $5000 stud fee.

 

[denwil2007]

A lady at training class asked me if I was interested in breeding Chase. I told her I would not know if he was breeding quality until he turned two, filled out, grew a real male head, earned a title and had his hips xrayed, if/then she could ask me. I also asked he rfor a pedigree, since they are from the same state and could possibly be related. She hasn't asked me since.

It's hard for me to imagine that the breeder she got her from gave her full reg. on a female.

 

[SunCzarina]

It's so rude isn't it? Why do people find it any different than going up to a woman on the street and saying, you have great hair, would you have my son's baby?

After a while, you may become the wise chick I am. I might ask for a copy of the dog's pedigree so I can cross reference it for line breeding. Usually the person does not know what linebreeding means. Or I might say I'm only breeding her to SCHH3 dogs because I don't want to muddy her bloodlines. LOL, I'm such a jerk sometimes.

 

[kbigge]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who found it kind of offensive. The thought of Kodee-babies out in the world without me makes me want to cry...

I don't think I could ever breed pups, even if I knew what I was doing, b/c I would never think anyone was good enough to buy them...it would be like selling my grandkids or something (yikes, maybe not grandkids, maybe kids...I'm only 30ish)

P.S. And maybe I'm some kind of nut, but the thought of Kodee making babies makes me shudder....he's too much like one of my children, and I don't want to go there !!!

 

[SunCzarina]

I could never breed either. Too many dogs in rescue & the thought of whelping and all the things that could possibly go wrong, too much for me. I love the breed but I'd rather leave it to someone else to engineer the pups.

Still, I love busting on people who would carelessly breed based on looks. Make it seem like I know much more than I actually do in hopes that MAYBE they might think something - anything - about what they're doing. Or -gasp - maybe think about learning something before they go trying to make a few bucks breeding in the back yard.

 

[selzer]

Well, if someone liked something about your dog and thought it would complement his bitch, the first thing he would need to know is if the dog was neutered. If yes, he could ask about the dog's lines and consider breeding to one of the dogs behind your dog. If not, the next question is whether or not you would be willing. If you are not, then thanks and have a nice day. If you are, then there are questions about lines, and genetic issues that can be asked.

I do not know that before you consider a stud dog you know every last thing about him. I think you might ask a few questions first before wasting both of your time. And at some point you would have an opportunity to find out about his bitch and why he wants to have puppies.

I do not think that there is any comparison when it comes to breeding dogs, discussing the breeding of dogs and making babies. Physiologically, it is not much different, but the comparison ends there. And it is really silly to equate the too. Sorry but that is my opinion.

I have been stopped by people wishing to use my dogs for breeding and I look at it as a complement. Normally, I do turn them down, but that is because there is something amiss, the person is looking to make a few bucks on a litter is not necessarily a good reason. My dog is not ofa's yet. The other person will not get a brucellosis test on his bitch. His bitch is too young, or too old to have a first litter. But it doesn't make me cringe.

Of course, I can talk about breeding bitches in a fancy restaurant too.

If you like your pet and want him to be a pet, when confronted by these people, you can thank them for the complement, but say that you do not really want him to be a stud dog, for one thing, there may be behavioral changes, and for another it is a lot of gross work and time.

Even with an AI, there is nothing quite like taking your boy to the vet to be collected. Hmmmmm. We talk about that at restaurants too.

If you are going au-natural, you may have to help them aim, hold them together, encourage, get them started. I expect you get the picture.

So just say, yes he's a great pet, and I want him to just be a pet. Much better for everyone.

 

[chump]

I had the same thing happen to me with my mom's GSD when I was walking her, the lady decided to stop in traffic to ask me, if she was fixed. I was yes she is. The lady is like ****. Her dog was a Boston Terrier.

 

[SunCzarina]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

Originally Posted By: chumpHer dog was a Boston Terrier.

in the vein of Labradoodle, what would you call it? A boston shepherd, a sheepterr?

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

Several people have wanted Dena's puppies.

A guy around the corner from me REALLY wanted me to breed her so he could have a pup (he'd PAY me, woohoo!!!), so I explained that I couldn't breed her because I bought her on a spay/neuter contract, and besides, she's a longcoat. The next time he mentioned it a year or so later she had already been spayed. He was very disappointed. Oh well.

We've gotten the "are you going to breed him" question about Keefer before, and I politely explain why we can't/won't and besides, he's neutered.

I can see why some people might get offended, but I see it as a compliment - they see beautiful dogs with nice temperaments who are behaving well in public and they want one just like that. I don't blame them - I think my dogs are pretty darned special, but that doesn't mean they're breeding quality.

And I'm sure those people don't care about the breed standard at all or my obligation to fulfill my contract, and they REALLY don't realize how much work it took to train and socialize them to that point.

 

[SunCzarina]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

Cassidys Mom, you bring up a very valid point. Over the years I've had lots of glowing reviews of Morgan's temperament, her easy grace with children and her lovely manners. Many many times I've been asked where did I get her, who's her breeder. It always floors people when I say she's a $5 bitch from Warwick animal shelter and what a mess she was.

Take 2 seemingly well behaved nice looking adult dogs and that does not equal good puppies without a lot of background leg work.

Just becuase I'm a wise chick about it, doesn't mean I don't take it seriously. I lectured a friend last week about her desire to breed her spooky labradoodle (again with the labradoodle, I just like saying labradoodle, it's so absurd)

 

[3K9Mom]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

I would have taken it as a compliment, except that the guy didn't even recognize that my dog was a purebred. He was a moron out to make a few bucks. I meet people with nice GSDs and if they asked, I perhaps would have been more open-minded, because we've already talked about things like their lines, their health, their temperament, etc.

But honestly, Camper, a classic red/black saddle, is about as "purebred-looking" as any GSD can be. So if you have to ask this most ridiculous question, you don't have any business breeding GSDs. I think it depends upon the circumstances.

From everything I know and I've been told, my GSD is breeding quality, but to just approach a stranger out of the blue and ask to breed the dog -- not get to know the owner, not ask any questions about what the dog does (in terms of titling, work, obedience, etc), health, etc -- is ridiculous. My dog could have serious temperament issues, genetic disease (not just hips issues), etc. Most of these people are basing this question based solely on appearance. We can feel good that people think our dogs are attractive and well behaved, but I still find it offensive that these BYBers are running around looking for stock dogs like this.

Pretty dogs are pretty dogs. Pretty is nice. I get compliments for Camper's looks usually several times a day. I get compliments for his behavior as well. But only my vet, my breeder, my trainers and I know whether he is breeding quality.

I disagree with selzer about someone wasting their time. IMO, the question of whether he's available for stud should be the LAST question someone asks, if they're truly interested. Not the first. Aren't breeders supposed to be people who love the breed and interested in dogs? Or are they people out to make a quick buck? If they're THAT busy, are they really going to take the time to put into the bitch and pups, to hand-raise the pups the way they should be raised, etc?

I know, a lot of breeders also work full-time jobs. But sheesh, a ten-minute conversation to find out something about the dog that you want to breed your dog with doesn't seem to me to be too much to ask. At least, not too much to ask of someone who actually knows that they should care about such things, and who actually does care about such things. I hear dog fanciers talk about these things at the local park, at the pet store, and other such places all the time. And they're not talking about breeding their dogs to each other, just about their dogs in general.

There are too many poorly bred dogs out there. This is partly the reason why.


(BTW, Jenn, my vet calls them Lab-mixes. Just do that!

)

 

[selzer]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

It is not just their time, but your time as well.

I prefer people to get to the point, not to beat around the bush.

If they ask me straight up if I would be willing to stud my dog, I then can ask them pertinent questions, they can ask me pertinent questions.

If they start out with, "do you show?", " is he titled?", "do you train him in any work or sport?", I may be wondering whether they are thinking about stealing my dog. I would rather know right away what they want. Then I can make the most appropriate statement. I can say that the boy is neutered if I do not like the person and no one is offended. Everyone walks away happy, but I have not resorted to lying yet. Still, if the ends justify the means, it would be the quickest way to end the conversation without getting any one upset.

 

[GSDolch]

Re: Total stranger asked to breed his female to Ko

Originally Posted By: SunCzarina

Originally Posted By: chumpHer dog was a Boston Terrier.

in the vein of Labradoodle, what would you call it? A boston shepherd, a sheepterr?

Im sure it would be something "snazzy" (used loosey, lol) like Shepton or something, but for the love of me and I cant figure out why, but the minute I read your post..."Boston Butt" came to mind for the name. LOL.