Ethical Question

[Laurelin]

Oh when I say years I mean within the past 10. I think it was more like 5 or 6 years ago. So definitely has been known at the time. At least I would assume so considering people have known about double merles a while.

[Romy]

Originally Posted by Sit Stay

I'd ask them about it, too. Might not be in the first email, but definitely a little later on in your discussions. Perhaps they are fully aware of the risks of breeding merle x merle and don't ordinarily support it but the stud in question was a perfect compliment, they looked a long time for his 'equal' with no luck, and they felt that the pro of producing the litter was greater than supporting whoever bred this double merle stud. That to me would be acceptable, but of course everyone has different opinions. I do wonder what their reasoning is behind their decision.

I'd find out of that was the case ^

Also, if he'd been used previously by other breeders they'd have had a chance to see how he produces, health-wise among other things before deciding to use him.

[Raegan]

It would give me pause, but not a dealbreaker.

Ultimately, I am buying a dog. I love Marsh's breeder and would not hesitate to buy a dog from her again, but there are many things we do not see eye to eye on. But I am buying a dog, for me. It's more important that I get a dog I like that will fill the functions I am buying him for.

In other words, I wouldn't buy a dog from Lord Voldemort, but I would buy one from Percy Weasley.

[Lyzelle]

It would be a dealbreaker for me. I personally do not support double merle breedings and I'm not shelling out several hundred to a breeder who is just going to do it again. Might as well go to a BYBer. I feel like health isn't a priority in people who breed double merles. And that is also a dealbreaker for me. Again, I might as well go to a BYBer.

Anything against the stud/dogs in question? No, of course not. But just because I like a dog, I'm not going to support bad breeding.

Even a BYBer can have the best lines in the world. Does that mean they are a great breeder...no. And in the end, you're the one shelling out money to THEM. Not the dogs.

If it gives you pause, don't do it.

[Aleron]

Originally Posted by Raegan

It would give me pause, but not a dealbreaker.

Ultimately, I am buying a dog. I love Marsh's breeder and would not hesitate to buy a dog from her again, but there are many things we do not see eye to eye on. But I am buying a dog, for me. It's more important that I get a dog I like that will fill the functions I am buying him for.

In other words, I wouldn't buy a dog from Lord Voldemort, but I would buy one from Percy Weasley.

This is pretty much how I feel about it too. I bought a dog from a breeder who has done merle x merle breedings and my dog has a double merle grandsire (who is a dog I really, really like and would absolutely have bought a puppy sired by). I really couldn't be happier with my dog

Originally Posted by Lyzelle

It would be a dealbreaker for me. I personally do not support double merle breedings and I'm not shelling out several hundred to a breeder who is just going to do it again. Might as well go to a BYBer. I feel like health isn't a priority in people who breed double merles. And that is also a dealbreaker for me. Again, I might as well go to a BYBer.

I think we are talking about a breeding this breeder did 5+ years ago to a double merle sire produced by a different breeder.

[Lyzelle]

Originally Posted by Aleron

I think we are talking about a breeding this breeder did 5+ years ago to a double merle sire produced by a different breeder.

Eh. I'd still be a bit wary, and tread carefully. I could see the hesitation rather than the complete turn off.

[sassafras]

I wouldn't expect to find a breeder that 100% matched all my ethics, and there are plenty of practices that would not automatically turn me off a breeder, but this particular issue could be a deal breaker for me depending on a conversation with them about it regarding the circumstances and current feelings about the issue. Personally I find merle x merle breedings pretty appalling.* It's extremely unlikely that I could not find a dog for me anywhere else but this one breeder, and it's just not an attitude or mindset that I want to support regardless of how much I wanted a puppy from them. I'm a fan of voting with my dollar.

*And yes, I understand that this breeder did not do the actual merle x merle breeding, but IMO using the stud confers an implicit approval of the practice in general.

[Aleron]

Originally Posted by sassafras

*And yes, I understand that this breeder did not do the actual merle x merle breeding, but IMO using the stud confers an implicit approval of the practice in general.

I don't know. Maybe the breeder choose to use a dog who matched what she was looking for really well and that dog happened to be a double merle bred by someone else. It doesn't sound like this breeder has ever done merle x merle breedings, so it's probably not something they are totally comfortable with. However, this dog was bred, the breeder obviously felt the dog was a good fit for their bitch (likely despite not because of the dog's color) and there's no risk in breeding a non-merle dog to him. I guess I don't see why the "well this breeder must have shady ethics" conclusion just because they one time decided to use a double merle male bred by someone else.

[sassafras]

Originally Posted by Aleron

I don't know. Maybe the breeder choose to use a dog who matched what she was looking for really well and that dog happened to be a double merle bred by someone else. It doesn't sound like this breeder has ever done merle x merle breedings, so it's probably not something they are totally comfortable with. However, this dog was bred, the breeder obviously felt the dog was a good fit for their bitch (likely despite not because of the dog's color) and there's no risk in breeding a non-merle dog to him. I guess I don't see why the "well this breeder must have shady ethics" conclusion just because they one time decided to use a double merle male bred by someone else.

Again, personally I think it implies approval of the practice. *shrug*

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by Raegan

It would give me pause, but not a dealbreaker.

Ultimately, I am buying a dog. I love Marsh's breeder and would not hesitate to buy a dog from her again, but there are many things we do not see eye to eye on. But I am buying a dog, for me. It's more important that I get a dog I like that will fill the functions I am buying him for.

I agree on some issues but I don't on others. I don't agree with any breeder 100% but this particular issue is one that bothers me a lot.

Anyways, I am still considering the breeder but only if some other options that I like a lot better aren't going to work out.