This is a long story but I really really need some advice on this.

I am in contact with Alaska's breeder, When we had Alaska at 5 months old we emailed her and told her we were one day hoping to breed from her and would like her help and advice throughout the process. I made clear I didnt want to breed until Alaska was at LEAST 2 years old, and that I would get all the health tests done.

Alaska's breeder didnt seem happy about it and told us why because we lived to close to her, anyway, she suggested a few studs including a stud called robbie, and Alaska's granddad.

I had met Robbies owner at a dog show and she made it clear that because of my age I wasnt welcome. She also said how Alaska wasnt good enough to be bred to her boy, however this woman owns two of Alaska's FULL sisters (from previous litters and breeds robbie to them every year). I also decided against her granddad as I dont want to line breed unless I have to. Anyway, Robbie's owner then told Alaska's breeder that she never said that and that she would be happy to concider Alaska once she is 4 years old.

So, I left it at that. Traced Robbies "perfect" line because Alaska's breeder said it would compliment her best and found Kai, who is Robbies brother.

I want to invite Alaska's breeder to see Alaska when we move however I have not told her about Kai, what do I do? Do I tell her? Or not?

The thing that puts me off is, before we got Kai we traced another line that Alaska's breeder said would compliment her and found a perfect little boy however we put our names down and gave our information, and Alaska's breeder phoned the boy's breeder, the next thing I know we get a email saying "I dont want my boy to be bred with your girl sorry" even though we told him from day one that we intended to breed and he was more than happy about it.

I also know she has been saying other stuff too.

So my question is, do I tell her about Kai?

Soon where I live will not matter as I am moving away so she will not have to worry about competition however I dont want my, Alaska or Kai's name destroyed because of her.

I have already asked her if there is something wrong with Alaska that I should know about and she said no and that the only problem was that we were too close to her.

That sounds very odd. She doesn't sound like a nice breeder at all, and personally, I wouldn't have anything to do with her anymore. If you want to breed, then go ahead with the stud of your choice. I don't see why you would need her approval when she seems like she doesn't want you to breed your dog to anything.

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What a selfish cow i woundn't have anything to do with her.

If your moving it seems like an ideal opportunity to lose touch with her tbh and find a new mentor. It sounds like she's been stirring things to it difficult for you to breed Alaska which is an awful thing to do to a friend, so i wouldn't trust her not to bad mouth you again when it suits. I don't really understand why an experienced breeder would feel threatened by another breeder in the area.

Has your bitches breeder given you some reasons not to breed?, you mention that you contacted her after you got her... perhaps alaska was not "up to scratch" in her eyes and she thought she was putting her in a pet home, to be told at 5mo that actually you had planned to breed all along. I can see how piddled off she might feel at that.

I dont know your history, but perhaps (if you havent already) getting alaska out on the show bench, doing well and showing everyone what a good quality dog she is would help to get you more support?

Is alaskas breeder still using the same line? ( e.g. she isnt hiding a problem from you by pretending she doesnt like the bitch)...

Its completely up to the stud as to which bitches they allow to come visit. Perhaps they didnt have the guts to say anything face to face, its easier via email.

I honestly dont know... but maybe just ask them?

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Is your bitch kc registered? if so she may have endorsements on her that would mean you cannot register any pups with the KC unless the breeder lifts the endorsements, also before breeding make sure your bitch has had all the relevant health tests required for that breed, if she does not pass any of them, then she shouldnt be bred from, its possible, that since you got the bitch the breeder realised she is not a good example of the breed now that she is maturing, the fact that she kept two litter sisters to your bitch indicates to me she kept the bitches that appeared to be closer to the breed standard to continue her "lines" and that in fact your girl may actually be pet quality. did you tell the breeder at the point of taking in alaska that you wanted to breed, or was this something you contacted the breeder about AFTER you had gotten her? personally I cant see the fact that you live in close proximity is a problem unless you BOTH have a litter at the same time, if the breeder is happy about the quality of your bitch and the quality of the males you intend to use, and the subseqent pups are of good quality, then it can only do her kennel good so long as you are a responsible ethical breeder, and dont give any cause for people to accuse your breeder of being irresponsible selling Alaska to someone that is only "in it for the money" type of thing.

mo

This may not be as easy as not talking to your breeder again...most good breeders put a line into the contract saying you cant breed from the pup you buy...check your kc registration form...if this is the case then you would need the breeder to lift this before you can register with the kc any pups you may breed.

I personally find fault with you buying Kai. Specifically to use on Alaska? They are incredibly close in age, so there's no way you could even know both of their Adult conformation currently and raising one show puppy or potential breeding dog is hard enough, but two?

You have had issues with Kai's breeder as well as issues with Alaska's breeder. Personally, you DO NOT want to piss off long-standing members of your breed community. Politics are 9/10th's of the law in Dog shows now, it would seem. I personally do not feel that Merles should EVER be bred, if there is even the slightest possibility that someone you sold a blue merle offspring pup could end up breeding it to another to produce a lethal white or blind/deaf puppies, how could you live with that? It happens, and I know in my heart of hearts that there are well established breed people in the USA and UK who are vehemently against breeding in anyway that would produce merles period. There are ways to breed around producing problem pups and pups that carry the ability to produce problem pups.

You seem to be trying to do all of the right research, but you are so new to the breed and you don't seem to have any real mentor that you can rely on. I would suggest putting any thoughts about breeding to one side until you can find a mentor to help you get onto the ladder with showing. A mentor who also is a decently recognized breeder in the show world will also be able to provide assistance when it comes time to choosing a stud. Something you DEFINITELY SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERING on your own without the aid of several other experienced and ethical breeders/judges having critiqued the animals you have.

To be honest, I've never met an ethical breeder who bought a puppy from specific lines with the aim to use it on a girl they already have. If I like a particular combination of pedigrees, I will wait for them to develop and mature before investing in thinking about using that pedigree against a bitch of mine.

Just a thought or twelve...Not trying to be rude or anything, but I think you should take a step back and breathe for a bit, find a mentor, work your dogs, health test them, then try to find a better match for your bitch than what you already have. The mark of many a byb includes only using their own male on their bitches. How do you know he is going to be a good enough match for her?

When we went to view Alaska her breeder actually had a discussion with us about breeding and was fine about it, even told us what colours to use and gave us a book on sheltie breeding.

Alaska has no endorsements on her kennel club papers this was something that we talked with the breeder about.

Kai is going to be studded out to other bitches to gain "experiance" before I use him on Alaska, because of his family line there are a few breeders who have shown interest in using him dispite it being his first mating.

I also plan to show Kai when he gets older.

Hell every stud dog has to start somewhere.

As for Alaska, I did ask why she had a problem with me breeding her and she ONLY said its because we live so close.

It was the bad mouthing us in the dog world that I didnt like. It wasnt very mature at the end of the day.

Alaska has passed her CEA eye exam and we will be getting her hips scored at 12 months also getting her DNA - CEA, we will also be doing ALL these tests with Kai too.

So I should lose touch? Rather than tell her about Kai?

Edit to add, I have not had any issues with Kai's breeder...
she just wasnt as good a breeder as Alaska's breeder, her house was dirty and he had a eye infection because of the dirt in the house.
Kai's breeder was a nice enough woman, she even removed the endorsement for us.

If she's caused problems for you before I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to do it again if she hears she still hasn't put you off. Alaska is your girl, you're doing all the tests you should, all the research you should, you're responsible and this woman is being odd about it- so if I were you I'd drop all contact. She's the kind of nut-job that might really get more nasty if she can't stop you with whispers and favour-pulling. Just IMO

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