There is a quiet certainty in knowing where your next show dog comes from, and often our decisions are shaped by conviction as well as by convenience. The choice to breed is more than a logistical choice; it’s a living statement of values, hopes, and the legacy you wish to leave, puppy after puppy, generation after generation.
Over the years, I have heard many conversations unfold about buying or breeding show dogs. At this time in dog show history, it seemed appropriate to survey exhibitors for their input on current decision-making. I am grateful to all the responses I received, and they deserve to be passed forward. It was interesting to note that a number of responses talked about buying for showing rather than for the purpose of preservation breeding, a change from ages past.
The choice to buy may also be based on the ability to deliver, nurture, and raise young puppies, or the desire to focus on one single dog. There are so many aspects that go into choosing whether to breed or acquire a puppy from someone else who has the lines and type that you desire. Logistically and financially, buying may be a better plan. Let’s explore the options.
Breeding requires a particularly keen eye for a dog. As a breeder, you must have deep knowledge of your Breed Standard and of the lines you are breeding to and from. Understanding structure and all the details is framed and refined in alignment for purposefully bred dogs. One quite successful exhibitor opined: “My husband and I have a vision of what our Breed Standard calls for. We want to breed our own. We don’t just breed to breed—we breed for intent, purpose, preservation, and more!!”
The term “custodian” arose several times in the expression of concern for a breed. Being a custodian means mentoring in areas such as structure, pedigrees, grooming, and health clearances. It may also consider promoting the breed for future exhibitors. Breeding isn’t just genetics; it’s stewardship, education, and for some, building a legacy (and being a preservationist).
Most breeders feel it’s safer to trust their breeding program. Health testing, temperament, and breed type are legitimate reasons to start with, but breeding decisions, owner/puppy matching, contracts, and puppy rearing practices are also important considerations for both breeders and buyers. One of these breeders in my group has bred for over 40 years, producing more than 100 Champions & Grand Champions, which she described as “a fulfilling & rewarding achievement.”
That wisdom comes from grit; grit from decades of ups and downs. I’m willing to bet that this breeder has made her mark on the breed by stamping out breed type like a cookie-cutter.
When you create a family of dogs, you also extend your human family by welcoming puppy buyers who share your passion for your breed. Several breeders have successfully created a dog show extended family through their own private Facebook group, mentoring their breed.
One breeder commented: “I support every puppy I produce. In doing so, new human members enter our breeding story: owner handlers and future breeders.”
Breeding grows our community. Each puppy becomes a thread in a tapestry of shared admiration, mentorship, and devotion to a singular breed. Other breeders love raising their puppies and showing in Bred-By Exhibitor classes. That moment when your Bred-By dog steps into the ring is more than a win; for many, it’s a prideful time akin to parenthood and the successful grades and graduation of a child.
Still, for some, the stresses of breeding are too high. Raising a litter is an enormous undertaking for someone who has kids, a job, and shows dogs. The dam had better be able to take care of those puppies on her own; it gives her a job to do as well.
Although I didn’t hear or see anyone talking about the kids helping with the puppies, I have seen the pictures and know that they pitch in between school and homework.
Every new person needs a breed mentor, to discover and learn the intricacies of their breed and to decide which direction they will take. You don’t want to start the race unless your breed mentor has prepared you. However, not all breeders have had a lifelong dedication. Many exhibitors buy a bitch and have a litter. Sometimes they have instant success, but just as many produce mediocrity. They may call themselves breeders, but they have no real knowledge. Many good breeders may have started this way; others want to learn and be coached by a breed mentor before diving into the whelping box. Without that knowledge, you might end up with an ensuing disaster.
There are many ethical breeders, each with different value systems. Let’s look at a few who consider themselves ethical. Some breeders only accept AKC CHIC numbers, while others undergo complete genetic panel testing. They are not mutually exclusive. Breeders are most often regarded as ethical if they take their puppies back in cases where a purchaser cannot keep the dog for any reason. Some sell on contracts with strangers and by handshake with friends.
Many people start with a pet-quality dog that ends up spayed or neutered once the prospective breeder gleans some knowledge. Others begin with a young puppy that needs to mature, prove its worth in the ring, and undergo appropriate health testing before having litters. This applies to both dogs and bitches. “I’m hoping to get a foundation girl this year,” reported one respondent. “It took me awhile to find the right bitch with the right pedigree.”
Most people in the sport today weren’t born to parents who were breeders, though some were. And people have to find their way to the proper mentors who are willing and able to help them create a healthy and typey foundation bitch, and breed it to the right dog. It can take time, depending on where that person is in understanding our sport.
A young prospect or near-finished dog offers more potential and years of refining presentation, coat development, and titles. One of the first systems I developed for owner handlers was how to understand the criteria that judges use to tier the dogs in the ring. One of those is asking the question: “Is your dog too young?” Are you showing your dog (or bitch) before they’re ready to beat the quality older dogs?
Not only do exhibitors need to ask these questions, they also need to have criteria for rating their own dog. I developed this for owner handlers as well. It is not hard to gain knowledge if you know where to look and are open to learning.
Sometimes there’s a gap in an existing breeding program, particularly when you are in a breed where getting bitches in whelp is difficult, such as the Sussex Spaniel. In these cases, you may end up buying a dog to show or a bitch to finish the championship and move her into the whelping box to produce your next show prospect. When numbers are sparse, buying becomes not a fallback but a necessity. “Sussex? I buy a good puppy when I can,” a respondent shared. “People have ‘discovered’ how great they are, and there just aren’t enough to go around.”
“In a rare breed with a tight gene pool, well-bred puppies ensure continuation of the breed.” These rare breeds rely upon dedicated breeders to continue their genetic purity and their very survival.
Buying, particularly internationally, can provide a much-needed injection of diversity in some breeds. In a small gene pool, this can be a healthy alternative. In addition to contributing great qualities in everything from height to coat quality and texture, it can provide increased fertility to the breed.
Sadly, sometimes breeders either breed themselves into a corner or get to the end of their line and are forced to buy. However, this can have a bright light at the end of the tunnel because they may end up with something even better.
Many wisely blend approaches. Buying can be part of a strategy by staying tight for a few generations and then going out or buying selectively when needed. This system works well on many levels for a lot of breeders, a subject for them to write about in these pages.
After judging the Tibetan Terrier Club of America National in June 2025, I spoke of “all of us who have stood on the shoulders of our mentors.” I’m not the only one who acknowledges that: “Thanks to the breeders who came before me who entrusted me with my foundation and who have generously shared their knowledge and expertise.” Owning, breeding, showing—or all three—can be an honor and a legacy passed respectfully and with gratitude.
Whether you choose to breed or buy, let it be intentional. Your choice must reflect strategy, not impulse. Preservation or timing, fulfillment or speed, both paths walk toward the same horizon: advancing breed health, type, and integrity. Bred with purpose or chosen with care, your next dog carries your values into the ring and the future of the breed.
