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8-8-05 Qsmum@AOL.COM
writes: What threatens the
modern CBR more than anything else today?
The
answer definitely is the "modern-day breeder "... The
bitch owner is responsible for making the "chesapeake for
tomorrow"... This is a
pretty heavy issue for some of the modern day breeders to be in charge
of. What is the meaning of
"modern day breeder"?
To
start with a "long-time breeder" to me,
whether it's in dogs, cows, horses, etc, is someone who has been around
for many years, let's say more than 15 years, has trained
and/or competed
or has gained correct knowledge in several different venues, has
had the privilege and ability to have traveled some with the dogs and
met and shared many hours of dog conversation with other breeders.
This is how a solid base of knowledge and a feel for the breed is
gained, not by just watching dogs being shown or worked in the field.
Knowledge of breeding a totally acceptable package is very
hard. Learning, discussing, etc, just like in school. The same
process continues. A long-time breeder is also one who cares if
the dogs have genetic faults or other problems and who corrects those
issues if they happen and who breeds to make sure those faults aren't in
their dogs or makes sure they don't continue to be in what they are
breeding.
The
long-term breeder is one who is successful with all of this. They
don't have to be the person who shows or trials every weekend but
one who when they go out their dogs give a great representation of
the breed and the owner. The dogs are consistently healthy
for generations and resemble the breed standard and have the breed
abilities no matter what venue they appear at. To be considered a
long-time breeder one needs to be respected by others for their
continued clean breeding practices. These are the breeders that
younger or newer breeders or just people in the breed venues should
constantly seek out and pick their brains! Ask for their advice
and take it. Purposely ask to sit with them at dog shows and have
them give you their opinion on the judging or the dogs at the trial or
hunt test. Let's have the modern-day enthusiast take time to learn
and apply and eventually become the long-time one. Also, don't be
fooled by someone who has been around for 20 years but is NOT really a
long-time breeder!!!
Now
- the Modern-Day Breeder...I use this term to
distinguish between those that are already a respected long-time breeder
or those on the way to becoming one and then those that are just in
today's times of playing the game, trying to get a lot of dogs with your
kennel name out there, have them show & tested, and you win, wa-la--you
are a top breeder...or the modern-day breeder who only ever breeds 1 or just
a few litters all the while they are in dogs but is around for a
very long time...Nope, sorry. These alone are not acceptable
reasons and do not make the Long-Term Breeder title for you.
Some
of us have really spent those 30 years, hours and hours of heart-ache,
months and years of training, trial and error in breeding and we've
helped others, donated our time to the ACC, been regional directors or
on committees, signed up every chesapeake owner we meet or see in a back
yard into the ACC club so they had a way and contact to learn. (Have
you done this?) We've given up time with families to attend the
show and trial specialties no matter what in order to continue to see
the dogs available across the country and to hopefully take advantage of
using them. We've driven or shipped across the US, Canada or
Europe to breed to different and better stock. Do you really think
the correct match-up for your bitch is always within 50 miles of your
home or only within your state???? Breeding is not cheap nor is it
easy and only the tuff and dedicated person will make the good one, just
like any person or athlete on a professional level.
To
define more, the modern-day breeder is someone who just doesn't
care enough about my breed.... If I've untiringly done the things listed
above and then you come along and refuse to have the same high
standards, how can I have any respect for what you do? Yes,
some of you might be producing very nice show quality dogs and excellent
FC field trial material but where is our breed standard and why why why do
these dogs have many hidden health issues or bad temperaments or not
breed quality or not enough retrieving desire? The 110 lbs
dog also is not today's Chesapeake standard. The health issues
that the breeder of a bitch or owner of a stud dog doesn't tell
you about is not acceptable, never has been, and hopefully won't
continue to be. The breeder who then sells these puppies from these
matings and neglects to tell the new buyers has no respect from me and
shouldn't from any fellow breeder or Chesapeake owner. Shame on
you for letting another breeder or owner do this and you not saying
something to them!!!!
The
modern-day owner many times says or does nothing when they are the one
that could make a difference. They
could write articles or join the ACC and they have the problem dog to
expose and to make a difference with.
So....what
threatens the modern CBR more than anything else today? The answer
definitely is the "modern-day breeder and
sometimes the modern-day Chesapeake owner.
Should
sometimes a Long-time breeder be considered instead a
"modern-day breeders?
Unfortunately,
yes... see Part 2...
Thanks, Jane Pappler
You have my permission and that of Meghan Conner original poster to
pass this on to anyone who cares about their breed and chooses to
finally make a difference.
The views and opinions expressed on this page are not
necessarily
those of the Michigan Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club. |
