I think I'm going to stop going to online dog sites, I just can't get ahead of my past.
Why would you think to just leave? Bahamutt's first post to this thread was so very :hail: in that Baha had been there-done-that and is person-enough to actually bring it up, just to help you out and assure that you can do it too. That's pretty awesome and inspiring!! But you can't do it by either running away or advancing/continuing attempts to cover problems ... either of those only guarantees it will stick like glue rather than fade to the past. You already took the first steps and that's awesome too, but it is entirely up to YOU how it's all gonna turn out.
Dog sites/forums in general, all have their vipers...and this place is no exception.
Yes!! All forums have their perpetual critics and curmudgeons. Take it from the source, it's usually THEIR problem rather than everyone else's! Consider those types are prolly the worst "runners" of all .... generally unhappy people in all areas who can't ever run from themselves, so instead they trash others. Think of it that way and you can almost pity them ... but feel far more sorry for the poor souls that have to live offline with those sorry-arsed acid-tongue types! :yikes:
I know of VERY reputable breeders in my breed that do nothing wrong "officially" but gamble the genetics of the breed like others gamble at slots..... And often have to be backed into a corner in order to get ANY truth out of them about the genetic background of some of their dogs.... These are people others think of as their mentors. To me that is MUCH worse than someone making even really bad mistakes as they learn because these breeders are well respected, well established and have the power to influence their breed...
Yeah, a ton of politics and clique-ishness in all areas of the dog world ... no different than any other pursuit. Some people are in it more to advance themselves and their own egos rather than their breed, sport, training method, or whatever else.
In breeding there are instances of too much reliance on certain sires, not enough attention to minimizing breed-specific health problems, "creative" record-keeping, false accusations against other breeders of the same type dogs, purposeful emphasis on appearance over health and/or temperament, and other questionable practices along with active attempts to hide the truth.
Some show breeders turn up their noses at breeders of working lines, some working line breeders roll their eyes at show breeders. There's jealousy, back-stabbing and a tendency to "eat their young" when evaluating new breeders even when new ones
are well-prepared and not making mistakes. Owner "support" from breeders can go anywhere from very little to absolute stalking. Not saying it's all bad, but it isn't all rosey either. Breeders who do the right thing despite negative pressures are the ones to be admired!
Don't think I'd personally ever want to go into breeding, for many reasons but primarily because I
know I'd worry too much about the dam and pups! Prolly set up a cot next to the whelping box with a nearby phone on speed-dial to the vet, all the while re-reading the Merck veterinary manual along with anything new on care, socialization, neural stimulation, etc., etc., etc. ::sigh::