In a message dated 6/18/2002 8:52:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Hello, Glenn, > I sell my puppies all at the same price. And, I do agree with > Annette, > but don't think the worst of people. I place all puppies on outright > (not co-owned) contracts; that says a lot in terms of my desire to trust > them. And, frankly it was Annette who trusted me (complete novice!) with > my foundation lines and while I'm sure I sometimes disappoint her, I've > been blessed with lovely and healthy dogs. > > However, environment plays a good part in the development of a dog and > that is not just "idiot" owners. I have TWO dogs here now who have been > hurt as puppies on the table by judges. Both were outgoing, happy > puppies who loved to show.......one won't show at all and the other will > do fine until someone approaches her on the table. Not a thing I could > do in advance of her being hurt there. Should I get my money back? (I > bred one girl so that would be hard. <VBG>) A judge wrenched open her > mouth roughly and she won't stand for exam of her teeth now. ONE point > from Championship after three majors...5,5,4 out of Bred By... and we > are working with her a lot for that one point! > > > Children inadvertently injure or frighten dogs, and vets can mishandle > or misdiagnose them. With apologies to the GOOD pro handlers out there, > there are poor handlers who take dogs on the road and do things that > ruin them. So many ways that a "non-idiot" owner (even an experienced > one) can have their promising pup turn a bit sour due to environmental > factors. > > And then there are the people who buy show puppies and never show or > breed them. For many breeders that is very disappointing. > > > I think what you are missing here, Glenn is that when people say that > they want to get into breeding and showing a dog (or any animal), they > are entering a new realm of life; and one in which there are great > heartbreaks and disappointments. One finishes two dogs in the show ring > and plans to breed dog to bitch some day........a year goes by with > miscarriages/reabsorptions. You want a dog, you're sure to get four > bitches. You want a bitch, you'll probably get three dogs......or three > lovely bitches with faults that bother you. In short there are many > litters in which there really isn't a "pick" that you can keep > (therefore they get sold as pets to great homes) and lots of > disappointments. It does depend, of course on how "picky" you are; I > know some people feel there is a pick in each litter or feel that there > will always be a few pick puppies. Personally, I think I'm blessed if I > see one I want to keep. > > But, somehow you are saying that the novice breeder should be somehow > indemnified against disappointment? That, as opposed to their next > generation which they will breed for themselves? That isn't the real > world. IF the breeder who sold you a dog who doesn't quite meet your > expectations should give you another, that is a singular kindness. I > surely hope I would be able to help out someone in that situation > myself. However, Glenn, I breed maybe three litters per year right now > at most. (Last year we had none.) *I* will be lucky to get what I want > for my breeding program in that scenario, nevermind find another show > prospect as a replacement. I might try to do that, but how could I > promise it? > > I've said time and again that while I would want to replace an unhealthy > puppy (show or pet) if I have done all I can to make sure it is healthy, > then it is really a kindness rather than a responsibility on my part in > my opinion. I will never breed enough to feel a whole lot differently > than that. > > Breeding is TOUGH. Don't go into it unless you are willing to face > disappointment and continue to learn every day one more thing that will > help prevent disappointment. > Saying she thinks the worst of people sounds a lot more harsh than I intended. I am sure Annette is a very good friend and tries to do your best in every way. You say you have two dogs that have been hurt as puppies on the table by judges to the point that one won't show at all and the other in unapproachable. Frankly I find it hard to believe that judges could do that to two well adjusted, stable dogs. I think there could be many other explanations. Perhaps they were pushed to hard and too young or too often. Perhaps it became work and not play for them. Or perhaps it was just a genetic predisposition. One rough incident is one too many but should a dogs temperament be so fragile that one incident would cause post traumatic stress disorder? You say you agree with Annette but don't think the worst of people. But then you say your dogs won't finish because the judges are too rough; children inadvertently injure and frighten dogs, vets mishandle and misdiagnose them and handlers ruin them and then people but show puppies and never show or breed them. Am I criticizing you or Annette if you tend to see the worst in people. Of course not. What you say is often true. It happens. It is very disappointing and you can get very disillusioned with people very quickly. All I was trying to say in the "question on warrantees" discussion is that if breeders are going to charge more OR represent their puppy as a show prospect then they have to take a little more responsibility than for the puppy sold as a pet. I also feel that a breeder who sells a puppy as a show prospect has the responsibility to sell the prospect only to someone who will be willing and ABLE to finish a deserving dog. IF the breeder makes the wrong decision in selling that prospect to an unworthy owner they have to take some responsibility for making that decision. I don't think being a novice breeder gives you any protection from you own decisions. Of course all breeders, experienced and novice will be flooded with disappointments but we can't use that as an excuse for selling a dog as a show prospect and then not making some restitution when the puppy falls short. Glenn [EMAIL PROTECTED] Glenn Fulton Cincinnati/Mason permission to forward granted ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
