I've been reading lots about breeding recently, on this forum and also other forums, books, articles etc. I'm relatively sure I understand the difference between the responsible breeder and the 'back yard' breeder. Better to just say right now that I have no plans on breeding a dog.. would be pretty hard as I don't even own a dog :P

But how does someone 'get into' responsible breeding? Or is just the way that unless you're born into a family that are breeders themselves, or very involved in the dog world, it's not something to do?

I love learning about all things dogs so just looking for some opinions! Please no snapping at me, just to repeat, I'm not planning on breeding!

The thing is, and I've said this a few times in the past, there's no genetic test for ethical breeders, perhaps someone should develop that one first as a priority

A good breeder, uses the appropriate health tests, but they also bear in mind the conformation and temperament of the dogs involved. There are many other considerations but those are the three main ones that folk fall down on. The one thing any good breeder will also be, is 100% honest, I know the good points and bad points of my girls, and wouldn't ever try to hide anything.

Good post btw

You dont have to be born into a family involved in breeding to be responsible, its simple to be a responsible breeder.

All you need is a good understanding on the choosen breed, the different lines, health issues, tempermant, standards and likewise.
A passion for the breed, and the betterment of it. - and have the right aims at heart.

It does take alot to be responsible, you need to be able to be critical on your own dogs, hard work and achievements.

People think just being a dog lover and caring owner makes you a responsible breeder, WRONG!

You need to have done years of research on the breed and breeding before taking on the task yourself, you also should have an experience mentor, who can pass down their knowledge and experience.

NO breeder knows everything, but many breeders today fail to even know the basics on their breed and breeding. Sad, fact and due to this dogs suffer.

How do you obtain a good enough understanding of the chosen breed and different lines? I'm not trying to be picky or anything, I genuinely want to learn more about this, and appreciate your answer I would have no idea where to start researching lines, are there databases online or do you need to speak to expert breeders?

Which aims are the right aims, in your opinion?

I agree that being a dog lover is not enough, from what i've read it seems like a big deal with lots of risks and heartbreak!

My friend recently told me about her family remember who had a labrador and bred from her (apparently she was of lovely temperament), all pups were healthy and went off to homes, but no health tests were done (to my knowledge) and the family aren't highly interested in dogs, I doubt they would have researched lines etc. I was trying to explain to her that this isn't seen as 'good practice' but I couldn't actually find the right words to explain why. She kept coming back with 'but all the pups were healthy and happy and went off to good homes'. What would you have said to her?

Hope i'm not starting up a debate here

A genetic test for the humans would be brilliant

Thankyou for your input, I assume you're a breeder? May I ask how you got into it?

You obtain an understanding of breeds and lines through a choosen area. That could be the showing world, working world.. Maybe even training, or agility and other such things. - You read up on the breed, their history and speak with new and old breeders/owners.

even with the same breed certain lines may only be found to be used in a certain area, for example a well known line of dogs in the working area, may never be found or used by those breeding for the showing ring.

Just by being around the choosen area you gain knowledge of lines, dogs, breeders, affixs and likewise.

A breeder or soon to be breeder will pick out dogs from lines they like, and research their pedigrees. In the same way a breeder will avoid dogs, from lines they wish to have nothing to do with.

There are databases, where you can research breeders and pedigree - but its important to speak first hand with as many breeders as possible to, hence its good to be involved in the breed, breeders might warn you away from lines because that line could well be known for producing and un wanted trait, or health issue. You see not all breeders are honest, and alot will hide such things.

The right aims behind breeding, comes as an personal opinion. I believe the right aims are for the betterment of a breed, or established line, for working purposes and other such things - there are many vaild aims, and its when them aims are lost that things in my opinion go wrong..

I hope you do start a debate, because it's a good one to have.

I'm not a breeder, yet, I've spent five years researching one possible litter, and have done five health tests on the bitch I plan to use, and four on a bitch I decided against breeding from. My girls are Labs btw, so your friend's experience is a fairly commonplace occurrence that I hear about frequently.

To be honest, before I got into my dogs a bit more, before I understood them, I thought that to make money back from a bitch, or to make a bit extra cash, taking a litter was the acceptable thing to do. Then I actually researched and found out what was involved and realised, there's no way on earth, if I do everything as ethically as possible, that I could hope to make a penny.

Just as a quick list for you:

* bitch health tested appropriate
* bitch temperament and conformation acceptable
* ability, some breeds require this as a proven factor
* how old/young
* how many litters
* stud dog, who to consider

That's by no means a comprehensive list, just an off the top of my head list of the main things you need to consider when breeding. Some breeds mature more slowly, some individuals within a breed mature at different rates. Tbh, if I hadn't happened across the dog I want to use with my bitch, I may not have planned to go ahead, as it is, I've spent another £100 to confirm one health status I knew, and update another one, in case I do go ahead.

What makes me an ethical breeder? If I don't go ahead, to me, it isn't the end of the world, because I have my girl, and she means more to me than any litter of pups she might produce. I can always research and buy in if needs be

If you want to research pedigrees you need get involved with the breed. Meet dogs and get to know the different lines. Going to shows in a good start. You could also visit the top breeders, if they care about their dogs they will be very happy to talk about them!

I have been involved with tollers for 8 years. I did a bit of research before getting Chester, so I knew the dogs names in his pedigree. I now know alot of tollers! and could tell you where they come from and their parents, and grandparents and probably show wins and health test results as well . But that is easy to do in a 'small' breed like tollers.

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Interested in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers? www.thetollerclub.org.uk

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I'd adore to part of the agility/ other dog worlds. Not so sure on showing as i've read some bad things, but then again i've never attended one so not sure how much my opinion counts for :P although I have no idea how to get into those sort of things either =/ I just want to work with dogs for a living, even if i'm cleaning out rescue kennels for the rest of my life, I don't know how I could do anything else.

I know nothing about the dog world, be it agility or the working world. I also no no-one who knows anything about the dog world! I guess I have a long way to go. I'm only young though, luckily!

Thanks for your response

This is what I have done before attempting to breed Ember

Health tests with good results
Proven she is a good example in the show ring
proven she has natural working ability and is trainable
All her littermates, mums littermates, dads littermates are healthy
Found a stud dog that will compliment her in both looks and temperament, and not too closely related (not easy!)

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Interested in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers? www.thetollerclub.org.uk

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