On Being a Great Breeder
By Vicki Ronchette
A huge part of being a great breeder is breeding healthy, beautiful, correct dogs and moving your breed forward. But, in my opinion, that is only a small piece. There is so much more to it.
Being a great breeder means…
- Keeping your promises – if you promise to show someone the ropes, guide them through the experience and teach them, do it. Don’t make the promise to guide and mentor and then disappear after the check has been cashed.
- Mentoring with respect and care – if someone has given you gift of wanting to be mentored by you, honor that by teaching them, but allowing them to form their own opinions, have their own thoughts, ask any questions and allow discussion. This is how we learn. My way or the highway is not the way to help someone grow.
- Respect owner’s decisions and thoughts – this hits hard because I work with so many people who love their dogs and have their best interests at heart, but their breeder just wants the dog in the ring. If someone has concerns about their dog, listen to them and respect that they love their dog as their treasured companion and good owners will want to do what is best for their dog.
- Don’t play the blame game – if a puppy you place ends up with a health issue or a behavioral issue, don’t automatically assume that the person must have done something wrong because you “don’t have that in your lines”. Never had it in your lines? Now you do, so let’s deal with it compassionately with everyone’s thoughts and feelings in mind.
- I tell you from personal experience that hearing someone say, “I have never had that in my lines” is like a dagger to the heart. It implies that I somehow created disc disease or hip dysplasia or a behavioral issue. Many times the owner did nothing wrong and raised their dog impeccably. We all know that breeding is not a guarantee and something you don’t expect can crop up.
- Be patient – if your puppy person wants to learn to show their own dog, let them. Remember when you were new and how did you get better? By practicing, by learning, by watching and by doing. Support people learning and growing at their pace.
- Let show dogs be their owner’s pets – of course we want our show prospects to be properly trained and groomed, but allow them to also enjoy their puppy. I once had a client with a Doberman whose breeders asked her not to do any obedience until they decided about his showing. At 16 months they still hadn’t “decided”. Seriously? Live with this big, strong dog and don’t allow him the courtesy of any information about how to behave or live in the world? No.
- Be the best cheerleader – Cheer your people on! Compliment them on their strengths and any and all progress and gently help when it is needed. Waiting at ringside to lay into someone about everything they did wrong or screaming from the sidelines while they are in the ring is rarely helpful.
- Be as great as your dogs. You must have beautiful dogs if people want them. Make people want you in their lives as much as the dogs you produce.
If we want to keep people in this sport, we must be the catalyst to make that happen.
Show Dog Prep School is always happy to help with our Mentor Program, Roadmap program and other services.
Photo of me as a proud breeder with my junior puppy owner Oonagh. She did all his training, grooming and handling and attained his championship at her pace and comfort level.
