Your opinions: is a "show" breeder more reputable?

[Dogdragoness]

Of course if a person is looking for a show puppy then of course you want to have the parents titled & whatnot ... This applies if a buyer is looking for just a sport/working/companion dog from a breeder:

Izze was from a hobby breeder & she was a sound well adjusted dog, as was bear. Izze's breeder only had one breeding pair, Bear's had two each only had one or two litters a year.

My question, just because a breeder doesn't "show" &/or register their dogs (bear & his parents were registered though Izze's were not) does that make them bad breeders? Should breeders be judged on whether they campaign their dogs on the show circuit or not? Or should they be judged on how they operate?

Personally I would buy from a breeder like Izze's again in a heartbeat. What about you guys?

[Greenmagick]

Did Izze's breeder health test? Compete the dog in anything?

[Dizzy]

Personally, I would take every breeder on an individual basis. I don't think you can generalise as some active breeders can have questionable practices and some hobby breeders can be amazing.

[Shai]

Your premise is a false dichotomy.

Showing a dog in the breed ring makes a breeder neither reputable nor disreputable.

Not showing a dog in the breed ring makes a breeder neither reputable nor disreputable.

Big picture. Priorities.

[Beanie]

Originally Posted by Shai

Your premise is a false dichotomy.

Showing a dog in the breed ring makes a breeder neither reputable nor disreputable.

Not showing a dog in the breed ring makes a breeder neither reputable nor disreputable.

Big picture. Priorities.

Agreed.

[momto8]

Personally I think it depends on the breeder. If they show their dogs, but do no health testing then they are breeding dogs that are breed standard but might not be healthy. For me I like to see a breeder who health tests, competes in performance areas that is suitable to the breed and that shows.

[Romy]

Depends on the breed. Some breeds don't even have shows. And no, it's pretty individual.

I think show breeders have more social pressure to do a good job, because other folks in the breed see their dogs regularly and might see their kennel in person at some point. If it's really crappy then word will get out fast. I have seen some show breeders that treat their dogs like crap, like leaving green slimy water buckets for months, keeping them on concrete constantly and feeding crap food. It's really pretty rare though, and pretty much everyone else that knew them thought it was despicable.

There's not that kind of oversight in BYBers and folks who aren't involved in sports or clubs of some kind. Sport and hunt bred mixes can be done very responsibly and they don't do conformation shows.

[Lyzelle]

It's really up to the individual person whether or not your breeder is "reputable" enough for you.

Personally, I would only buy from a breeder who breeds performance dogs(since I'm into working dogs, not non-working or companion), and trials their dog in some venue that proves temperament, drive, and potential. Show titles are a bonus, but I'm realistic about the working/show split. Same with registering and dual registering. I'll also only buy from breeders who health test, and put a lot of work and research into the few litters they do produce(which rules out farm breeders for me). I'd be wary of someone who does the same breeding over and over, several times a year. I also prefer house dogs over kenneled dogs, and I want the dogs cared for as family members, and not just working animals.

But that's *my* personal opinion of who *I* would buy from, in a nutshell. If you prefer a "reputable" breeder who sells litters from the same parents over and over, doesn't health test, and doesn't do any work or venues...that's your opinion.

Either way, there is ALWAYS going to be someone who will disagree. Always. Some people are happy buying dogs from farm/ranch breeders who don't compete and don't ensure their dogs are genetically healthy. Some believe only show dogs are the best. Some think only working dogs are the best. Some are okay with kenneled dogs, some only want house dogs. Some are okay with treating the dogs as working animals only, some only want dogs who have been family members There's a flavor for everyone, and therefore, there will always be someone who disagrees.

[AdrianneIsabel]

I am pretty unconcerned with show, I also don't buy off titles. Titles DO help show what a dog can do but that isn't the end all for me.

Izzy may come from a great breeder, it's hard to tell.

[*blackrose]

For me, if a breeder competes in conformation, it just shows that they are breeding dogs close enough to show standard to title. That's it. This can be a good thing (if the show standard is appealing to me) or a bad thing (if the show standard is unappealing to me, say, like in Pekingese).

However, whether or not they compete in conformation or not, I'm always looking for three main things in a breeder: 1.) They care about the structure of the dog, 2.) They care about the health of the dog, and 3.) They care about the temperament of the dog. If they fill those requirements (to my specs), then they're good enough for me!