Gee, if only there were a way to permanently prevent a dog from breeding. . .I know breeders who cull hard. Could be anything really just up to the breeder and what they expect out of a pup. Some breeders will cull 8 out of 10 pups or even them all if they don't have certain traits they desire such as range, appearance, gritty etc... I'm talking about working/hunting stock type of dogs though.
I know most would rather cull the dogs they can't find a home for then place it in a non-working home that eventually the family won't be able to put up with because the dog is too intense for them and will only end up in a shelter and possibly water down the breed.
See, now that bothers me. If you're breeding working dogs, you know a certain percentage won't work. Every generation is going to have one or two, at least, that won't make good working dogs. You know this going in, so it should be incumbent upon you, the breeder who chose to bring these pups into existence, to find good nonworking homes for the dogs. Of course you should have a speuter contract for these homes, that's fine, but to say, "Oh, maybe someday it will end up in a shelter, I'll just kill it now" is the height of irresponsibility to me. By that logic, don't ever place any animal in any home then, just kill them all.I know breeders who cull hard. Could be anything really just up to the breeder and what they expect out of a pup. Some breeders will cull 8 out of 10 pups or even them all if they don't have certain traits they desire such as range, appearance, gritty etc... I'm talking about working/hunting stock type of dogs though.
I know most would rather cull the dogs they can't find a home for then place it in a non-working home that eventually the family won't be able to put up with because the dog is too intense for them and will only end up in a shelter and possibly water down the breed.
I'm 50/50 on the subject. Because not all working dogs can be placed in a non-working home. Just because the dog didn't have the traits you desired doesn't mean it won't work at all and doesn't have a desire to do so. Most of the times I see this happen the dog ends up tearing someones home up because it's bored or kills the neighbors/family dog etc... I can't argue with the fact some of these breeders have the best dogs around because of the system they use.See, now that bothers me. If you're breeding working dogs, you know a certain percentage won't work. Every generation is going to have one or two, at least, that won't make good working dogs. You know this going in, so it should be incumbent upon you, the breeder who chose to bring these pups into existence, to find good nonworking homes for the dogs. Of course you should have a speuter contract for these homes, that's fine, but to say, "Oh, maybe someday it will end up in a shelter, I'll just kill it now" is the height of irresponsibility to me. By that logic, don't ever place any animal in any home then, just kill them all.
It's a very good discussion to have IMO because the only views I ever hear are from working stock type dogs. I'm not sure how they cull on toy breeds or others if they even do so. I figure they only cull though because of health problems. I don't agree with culling 8 out of 10 pups but then again I don't breed and not sure what is expected in that particular yard. I've heard some people cull around 6 months - 2 years old depending on the dog.Hope this doesn't get heated. So far, so good.
It's interesting to read different views.
I don't have time for a lengthy response now but i will say culling 8 out of 10 or whole litters seems like you are doing something wrong. Maybe one needs to take another look.
I don't think there is anything even wrong with those pups. They are just not the best. Some even cull all females, because many don't work females.Hope this doesn't get heated. So far, so good.
It's interesting to read different views.
I don't have time for a lengthy response now but i will say culling 8 out of 10 or whole litters seems like you are doing something wrong. Maybe one needs to take another look.
+1. Exactly.See, now that bothers me. If you're breeding working dogs, you know a certain percentage won't work. Every generation is going to have one or two, at least, that won't make good working dogs. You know this going in, so it should be incumbent upon you, the breeder who chose to bring these pups into existence, to find good nonworking homes for the dogs. Of course you should have a speuter contract for these homes, that's fine, but to say, "Oh, maybe someday it will end up in a shelter, I'll just kill it now" is the height of irresponsibility to me. By that logic, don't ever place any animal in any home then, just kill them all.
No. Good breeders take responsibility for what they produce, not for killing pups that have minor problems.So I guess when people say "good breeders don't add to the shelter problem" we need to put an addendum on: "because they kill the rejects themselves"? I'm getting disillusioned.
Your always disillusioned... -sighs-So I guess when people say "good breeders don't add to the shelter problem" we need to put an addendum on: "because they kill the rejects themselves"? I'm getting disillusioned.