Breeding to produce "nice pets."

[BostonRott]

"She loves her dogs, they have the best care."

"She loves the breed and treats us well."

"She breeds to have nice pets."

Classic statements that you'll see throughout the years on this board, often made by someone new to the board. This person is then "jumped" by many of the long-time board members, gets defensive and does not understand what everyone's problem is.

A little background

Every breed has a breed standard. The standard describes the ideal dog of that breed. The breed standard is what defines a dog, and what separates it from other breeds. Muscular black and tan dog. Am I talking about a Dobermann or a Rottweiler? Or perhaps a Miniature Pinscher? Or a German pinscher? A dog who is broad, well-muscled and with a blocky head. Rottweiler? Mastiff? Bullmastiff? Neopolitan mastiff? Pitbull?

If we change one little thing here, and one little thing there, the breed suddenly changes. Add a longer coat, a few white blazes and a softer temperament to a Rottweiler and guess what? It's not a Rottweiler, but a Bernese Mountain dog. But coat length, "nice personality" and a little white aren't that much of a change are they? Or are they?

Where do we draw the line at how many changes it takes to make a new breed? One (temperament) ? Two (working drive, size) ? What defines "just a little change?"

The Rottweiler standard for America can be found here: AKC Rottweiler standard. The International breed standard can be found here: FCI Standard.

The reason breeding for pets is a poor practice.

These breed standards describe the correct Rottweiler in both temperament and in body (also known as type). Read through the standards.

Many who breed for "nice pets" say that they have nice dogs, whom "everybody" loves and that they don't need to show them to prove that. They just want to breed nice dogs for "average" people. But the Rottweiler is NOT for the average person.

If one is not trying to prove that one's dogs meet the standard, one is not trying to breed true Rottweilers. To disregard the standard is to disrepect the breed and those who have developed it over the past 110 years. If you are not going to pay attention to the standard, and respect it, and strive to meet it, then you are breeding mutts.

The Rottweiler has a specified size range. Breeding for larger, "king size," "superior" or "Roman" Rottweilers is disregarding the standard. This is disrespectful to the breed.

The Rottweiler has a specified temperament (discussed here.) To breed for overly soft dogs "who love everyone" is to disregard the standard. The Rottweiler is NOT the breed for everyone (see this thread). To "dumb down" a working dog is to breed for something other than the Rottweiler. To soften the temperament is a dangerous game to play, often creating weak nerved dogs. Weak nerved dogs are much more prone to biting and that is the last thing this breed needs right now: scaredy-dogs out biting innocent people.

If a person does not breed to the standard, and prove that their dogs meet the standard, the person does not love "the breed." They simply love their own dogs and want to produce more of those (whatever they may be). Since such "breeders" change characteristics (temperament, size, working drive) of the Rottweiler, they should decide what breed embodies their preferred characteristics, and migrate to that breed.

The Rottweiler is NOT for everyone. If you are breeding to change characteristics to make it "for everyone," you are not breeding for Rottweilers, but rather large black and tan dogs. Do not ruin our breed, change to something that suits you better. If you want a "nice dog who loves everyone," please get a Retreiver.

Homes for Rottweiler puppies should be carefully screened to be sure the prospective owners are capable of owning a Rottweiler. The home needs to "fit" with the breed, NOT the other way around.

Those who breed for nice pets are disregarding the standard, disrespecting the hard work of the original breeders and can not honestly claim to "love" the breed. You can not love something you disrespect.

[rottcrazed]

Awesome post again Gretchen.

This is such a relevant post that ANYONE looking to breed ANY breed should have to read.

People who breed to fill pet stores full of Border Collies and Goldens who will then be sold to average, uneducated people who in 2 months don't know why there CUTE puppy has started eating their drywall and laundry.

I wish this was the course description for a mandatory class all people who want to breed ANY breed would need to take - Dog Breeding 101!

Kristi

[gnwhite]

man this same topic again? The info is valuable well stated and has been repeated in the last couple of days. I think the akc link says it all.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by gnwhite

I think the akc link says it all.

Well, I think it's too darn bad the AKC does absolutely nothing to ensure what it preaches. They will still slap registrations on anything coming from two registered dogs without the slightest care of who or what is doing the breeding or how the breeding is being done . The only possible hope is through education of the public.

[gnwhite]

I agree with education of the public. The problem is getting the public to listen. Do you think that the main perps of bad breeding will pay any mind to this forum or any others? I can tell you they wont or dont. my male is a great dog. he will not be breed. If he were from the best lines i would not breed him because im not a breeder!!

Im pretty sure that most on this forum that breed would discourage we average types from doing it. soooo I dont know about the public but at least the message does get out to the folks on the forum and that is as good a starting place as any.
thank you bostonrott for all the time you have spent trying to help the breed. JMHO jerry

[debbiej]

Several times a month, usually more frequently, someone "new" posts about breeding their dog. The topic gets hashed around, for the Nth time and people get their feelings hurt, become offended, think we are arrogant dog snobs here. What Gretchen has written is the post that may just stop such posters in their tracks. Maybe read before posting, cause them to think, and perhaps, understand.

Well said.

[poohbearsmom]

I'm all out of rhinestone tiaras. 3 for 3 Gret. You're batting 1000!

And this is why people should not get offended by those who understand the fundementals of temperament and type, and the importance of keeping both of those aspects strong and true.

There's more to breeding dogs than throwing Fido and Gretta in the backyard and letting them have a go at it. In order to stack the cards in our (and the breed's) favor, we must be diligent about researching pedigrees and what they contain in regards to temperament (especially), and type.

A rottweiler should act like a rottweiler. A rottweiler should look like a rottweiler. A rottweiler is NOT for everyone, as Gretchen has so painstakenly pointed out in the past few days.

If people researched their dogs as much as they research their cars and TV sets before they buy them, there'd be less visits to the emergency room, less dogs in County Shelters, and less fuel for the BSL fires.

[SABELLESMOM]

Awesome post! Gretchen, you've done it again.