Quote: Yusrie Khondker

but there is also a place for a dog that is strong and healthy and makes a great pet and companion. My dogs are companions and guards to me and my property.

And animal shelters all over the world are filled with these wonderful dogs.

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

And animal shelters all over the world are filled with these wonderful dogs.

I just saw this add on TV last night and seriously choked back tears...

Pedigree Shelter Dogs Commercial

Yusire, why aren't the people who are interested in possible pups of yours searching the local shelters and rescues for their new companion? There are SO many incredible dogs already out there that need homes...

~Natalya

I think that this is one of those, "I don't like what I'm hearing, so I'm going to do it anyway" things.

I know how it is to have a great dog (biased opinion) and know that they can do the work, but if you don't know the pedigree of the dog, and are only looking for a "strong, healthy male", you're obviously lacking knowledge in breeding.

Yes, you can get some good pups from two good dogs, but it's not always the case. And for an example, I bought my GSD for only $400 and she's a purebred with papers all the way back to the 1950's, and I was able to do full registration with her. She was a "cheap" GSD and I probably could've bought a GSD at the pet store for the same price without papers. So, this means that I can breed her to another "strong, healthy" dog, right? To me, it doesn't. I though long and very hard on whether to breed my GSD or not. In the end I chose the right choice. I'm no breeder (not yet anyway), but in the future once I've learned more then I might. But for the time being I'm going to leave it to the people who know their stuff, the responsible breeders.

Edited by (04/20/2010 12:10 PM)
Edit reason: ETA

This is good article about cost of owning a dog. I am a strong proponent of rescue animals. For me the only reason for getting an animal from a breeder would be to get some very specific performance that would be very difficult (not impossible - nothing is impossible) to find in a rescue.

Well said, Ana.
The pups would probably be beautiful, good dogs.
However, there's no guarentee, even with 'titled' parents. I almost bought a skijor specific bred dog from a breeder/skijorer. The dam's pedigree and race record was superb, the sire's pedigree and race record was also superb. I met one of the pups this winter when he was a little more than a year old. He'd been adopted (free) from the breeder. This was one of the most reactive-nervous dog I've met. And the adoptive owners are knowledgeable dog people and have already made a lot of progress with him. However, despite having the build, speed, and supposed leader qualities in both parents, this dog was totally wired and scared to, among many other things, go down hills. Obviously they weren't going to be winning many races with this dog, without significant work.
My point is, these breeders thought they were doing the right thing, but failed to realize that the 'sensitive' nature of both the sire and dam made for extremely nervous-reactive pups. They thought all the pups would be spoken for, but ended up keeping too many than they could handle, and, as described, giving many of their dogs away for free.
I, too, have a German Shepherd female of unknown pedigree. I too, had people ask to breed her and claim they'd take a puppy. However, I voluntered at Animal Control. I saw the euthanasia room. I saw the incinerator. I knew I couldn't handle the up to 12 puppies she might have as pets in my home. So I had her spayed.
Sad, but I do think it was the right decision. I know many people who ask about breeding their dog on this site get a similar negative response. Puppies are great fun, and of course you want more dogs like the super ones you have, but I have to agree with the previous posters. There are just too many 'really good' dogs out there already.

you guys have some great points.
another thing that was touched on was...

SO few "breeders" or those interested in breeding realize that you are not just breeding your dog to another dog.

you are combining the ENTIRE genetic make up of your dog, to the entire genetic makeup of the other dog.
where does that genetic make up come from?? its pedigree, the dogs that made it, the dogs that made the parents, etc etc.

if you breed ANY dog with unknown origin, you are running a HUGE risk, more so than any other kind of breeding. YOUR dog might be great, but what if its aunt, grandsire, etc was a huge fear bag??
your dog might be free of health issues, but what if every other dog in its unknown pedigree was dysplastic? what if her line was prone to allergies? poor immune systems,any number of other health issues.

Even with the best genetic material I do not think just anybody should do breeding. There must be a reason why it's called "breeding program" and not "quickie in the bushes".

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

Even with the best genetic material I do not think just anybody should do breeding. There must be a reason why it's called "breeding program" and not "quickie in the bushes".

Oh man! I'm really, really exercising an enormous amount of restraint here, Ana...