The Truth About Our Obligation to Breed: Critically Low Registrations Require More from Exhibitors

The Truth About Our Obligation to Breed: Critically Low Registrations Require More from Exhibitors

We’re all talking about breed preservation, and now conservation, but I want to talk about our obligation to breed. We’re seeing diminished registration numbers and we’re seeing more and more breeds fall onto that Low Entry List. With less visibility comes the need for everybody in the sport to consider breeding a litter. Whether you’ve got Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Poodles, German Shepherd Dogs, or Yorkshire Terriers, everyone has an obligation to give back to the sport of purebred dogs and to their breed of choice. If you want another quality dog, you have to participate in the process of creating that dog. At the end of the day, owners of purpose-bred dogs have an obligation to breed. It’s “all-hands on deck!”

Today, people should feel some pressure to step up and do their part to contribute in a measurable way by having one litter instead of simply purchasing a dog to show. When you show dogs to present the very best, but you don’t want to get involved with breeding, you’re limiting the breed even further. You are creating exposure for the breed, but you’re limiting the ability of others to actually get one. If you really want a Dandie Dinmont Terrier, you need to start thinking about people beyond yourself who may also want a Dandie Dinmont. Where will they go to get one? Some folks won’t be able to get one due to the fact that there are not enough people who feel an obligation to breed them. When people say they really want a Clumber Spaniel, I think to myself that they’re really not doing anything to help repopulate the breed. I would even go so far as to say that you’re working against the breed by not breeding a litter. Everybody has to focus on breeding dogs again regardless of a breed’s population. We owe it to the breeds to give our dogs the opportunity to reproduce.

Some people may think there are not enough homes to warrant breeding a litter. Well, there are no shelters across the country filled with well-bred dogs. That’s not a problem for the vast majority of purebreds. Most dogs in shelters are displaced mixed breeds. The number of purposefully bred dogs in shelters is incredibly small because their breeders are responsible and monitor homes carefully, going through a selection process to place each puppy. Everyone who breeds purposely is conscientious when it comes to placing their dogs. We know this is happening across the board since their dogs are not found in shelter situations. And when we place limits on the number of dogs produced, we’re doing more harm than good. This is the fallacy of the Limited Registration program in AKC. This was done to protect breeds, but instead, in my opinion, it has damaged them. Today, we need to get back to breeding and encourage the production of our breeds rather than stand in the way of them. Far too many breeds are falling into a place of jeopardy. There are fewer breeders in the US doing the work to keep breed populations up! Today, I am much looser in my interrogation of potential owners than I used to be. I sell most puppies to companion homes, and if I can get those companion people to hang onto their dogs and not spay and neuter, so the dogs can be useful, then that’s to my benefit and it’s critical for breed conservation. That’s part of the new buyer’s role, to consider letting the breeder take a bitch back for one or two litters. This goes to the satellite ownership that I like. Or better yet, encourage buyers to produce a litter of their own to add to the breed’s overall population.

A big challenge in dogs today is a lack of breeding options, and one of the ways to solve this is by making more puppies. The need for a population influx is critical now, and we know this from American Kennel Club registrations. Both litter and dog registrations are declining, so the argument in support of breeding is pretty straightforward: Every individual who owns a dog and competes in dog shows should be challenged to think about breeding from (or with) their dog. Exhibitors whose dogs have been deemed worthy of the contest need to consider the next level of contribution, which is having a litter. It’s really that basic. I want people to be uncomfortable with being told they have an obligation to breed. You don’t have an obligation to just keep your dog and have an interest in the breed. You have to give back, and that’s about making a lasting contribution to the breed. You have to allow your dog to give back genetically. If you don’t, who will?

Years ago, I judged a really wonderful dog and was always supportive of it. Then the owner told me, “I could never breed her… she’s too important to me.” Hearing this, I thought to myself, “Well, she’s becoming less important to me as a judge, knowing that she is the end of the road.” Owning a dog is just the first step.

These days, we’re all about “Meet the Breeds,” but maybe there should be a “Meet the Breeder.” Any dog show cluster with four or more shows could have a breeder reception, to give people something meaningful to do in between Breed and Group judging. If you have a scheduled gathering of different breeders for people to meet, to talk about challenges, make plans, and discuss products or training methods, I think this could encourage more exhibitors to consider breeding a litter. It’s sort of like the Peanuts booth, where Lucy gives advice for five cents. The dog show companies could become sponsors and would welcome the opportunity to talk to patrons in a group setting. Maybe they would also support a “lunch and learn” where exhibitors could sit down with breeders, with the intention of encouraging ten percent of the audience to have a litter. People are hungry to learn and are seeking advanced education. It is time to start planning for this event—time and date to be announced!

The desire for new participation coming into the sport is the same as it’s probably always been, but it may be more dire now. In the last ten years, we have seen an aging breeder force—and today’s exhibitors are getting older too. Our group is aging, and the group behind us includes novice exhibitors of our own age. Many of the newer people in the sport have already lived a big part of their lives. These “second phase” newbies, the 40 to 60 crowd, want the company of a dog and have some resources. They also want the enjoyment and pleasure of spending time with their dog and meeting those who share the same breed of choice. They enjoy sharing moments with other people at dog shows, and choose them as their weekend social activity. But many haven’t thought about their long-term role in the sport. Maybe they think their role is just as a puppy buyer. Maybe they haven’t realized there could be—and should be—more expected from them. Maybe what we should be asking people who finish their dog’s championship is: “Now what’s your plan for her?” We need to start this conversation at the point of sale. Plant the seed for how they can become a part of a breed’s future.

The new phase of my mantra is that you, the exhibitor, have an obligation to perform beyond ownership. You must participate in some way, shape, or form in producing a litter. If you don’t want to whelp a litter yourself, you can have the breeder whelp the litter. If you can’t afford to raise a litter, ask the breeder to get involved. See if you can broker a deal. There are ways to do it! Maybe the breeder will let you take a dog and then come back to get her bred. The breeder can say, “I’ve got a plan for her. I’m going to sell you this one and I think, in two years, I’d like her bred to this dog.” Breeders can map out a plan as part of the purchase agreement. “My intent with this litter is to mate this bitch to this dog.” It shows that you care enough about what they’re buying; to use it in your breeding program. You’re not turning them loose, you’re saying, “Let’s work together over the next three years to make it happen. You’re going to be a part of preserving this breed. We will work together for the next generation of this dog family.”

Breeding is the only reason the sport of dogs keeps going, and so, supporting breeders is of paramount importance. This applies to all breeders and all breeds. Breeders are the backbone and conduit of the sport. They fill the shows with dogs to exhibit and they are the reason we are in the sport. Breeders brought us to the game.

Today, more than ever, we need to foster owners who feel a more heightened sense of awareness of the importance of the breeder’s role. Breeding has become an obligation to the breed itself, and we can no longer simply show our dogs without the planned intention of breeding them. It is time to get home and do the hard work; breed her one time; have a litter; share the genetics; and increase the breed population. That’s what I’m after. And who benefits? Everyone.