How did you get into breeding and showing

[GermanShepherds]

This is for the breeders and showers. Curious as to how, you got into breeding and/or showing. How many litters, how many ribbons?
What are your preperations before a tie, litter, or show?
Contracts for puppy buyers, what are the terms?
Do you have a website, how do you sell?

This is for breeders, to really discuss what they do.
I also want to know, because all breeders are different.

[barnjess]

Oh loads of questions i will have to anwser this tomorrow i have a child's party to go too, so i may need wine when i get home lol, then I have all the dogs to keep quite coz its bonfire night

[GermanShepherds]

Ok thats great, take your time!!

[GermanShepherds]

Dont forget! Im still curious LOL

[barnjess]

Ok i got into showing by going with a local Breeder she had Jacks and I was thinking of getting one as a family member, after helping her out for a year I was hooked, she had a litter of pups due on my mums birthday so i decided to have a boy from the litter, I chose the one that we both thought would be a good family dog, I still only go to the local shows as i cant really leave home for too long, but when Barney started doing so well in shows she asked me if he could go back to her to put to one of her ******* i said yes of coarse so he sired his first litter when he was nearly 3 and then went on to sire two more litters for her, i helped with all 3 litters and got a lot of knowledge from her. By then we had had jessika for a year we brought her while on holiday and she also did really well at shows, so we decided to have a litter of our own, so my current litter is my first litter with my own dog, but I have been raising litters for over 5 years now and there is no better job.

Before a show I don't really have to do much because they are low maintenance breeds, but they get a bath two days before and a good tidy up, so that just leaves packing the car.

As for ribbon (well we call them rosettes) barney had over 30 and jessika about 20.

Really all that's done before a tie/mating is the bitch is vaccinated and wormed and treated for fleas, then both have a health check to make sure they are in top condition.

Before a litter its the usual getting everything ready for the whelping and rearing of the pups and also not making any plans for the next few months lol.

As for the contacts it really depends on who they are going to at what the dog will be used for, all but one out of this litter have gone with a spay neuter contract, as she will be used for showing and possibly breeding 9 she has gone to a family member) I also include in the contract that if for whatever reason you can no longer keep the pup then it must be returned to me for re-homing

i don't have a web site, i prefer to sell my pups through word of mouth, usually to people that know both parents

[sheplovr]

Look Shepherds because u pay say one grand for a pup does NOT guarantee u show prospect. Forget about showing this dog u have and do not ask me why...........
You must learn the old hard way honey that not because u pay $600 it is show quality NOT, u must soon learn that dogs that show in AKC shows are all Politics so get a ***** to handle the dog and pray for the best I know this been there done that and u must learn becaue u pay u think alot which is not alot of six hundred dollars for a dog that it should be shown, it shows me alot of qualitys i would not judge to win a class, do not ask please I want no enemies.
Do your home work on show quality dogs and it is NOT worth the effort of even trying to competeing in the show ring unlesssss your a millionaire otherwise forget it honey it is not worth the hazzards of loss.
Enjoy your pet as a pet only and not even to breed as this is a totallly different world and u must learn to adjust to as so not from what u pay six hundred is [pet quality only and not show nor breeding so forget it shepherds it is a cheap dog and i sell mine as pet quality only at eight hundred only and I have a HUGE investment made and cheat myself ..............

[barnjess]

Shep have you posted in the wrong place? Coz you have me confused lol

[rutylr]

I purchased my first Rottweiler in 1990.I just started showing.No one helped me and I knew nothing nor no one at the time.
It was a learning prosess.I met some really nice people and some not so nice.If I had to do it all over again I would have joined a kennel club and learned about showing my dog,before steping into the ring.
I learned all I could about this breed.I subscribed to every magazine about the breed.Saw who was producing what.I studies lines and learned pedigrees.
I did not have my first litter until 1996,after I felt I knew enough to produce what I wanted(not just to have a litter).So far to day only five litters.
I don't advertize at all any more.I breed for my self,and if some one hears from someone else that I had a litter and they pass my test.(I have a questionaire and a real tuff contract)then they might get a puppy.Some puppies are placesed at 8 weeks or I train them and they slowly start to leave when the right home shows up.I'm in no hurry to get rid of them.
My dogs have won in both AKC and UKC with me showing them.They all have to be a UKC CH,AKC pointed and earn an AKC and UKC CD before being bred(plus pass health clearences).I have set high goals for my dogs and me as I just don't want to be another person producing puppies out of dogs with not titles.
Donna

[IcyMist]

Originally Posted by rutylr

My dogs have won in both AKC and UKC with me showing them.They all have to be a UKC CH,AKC pointed and earn an AKC and UKC CD before being bred(plus pass health clearences).

Okay I know what AKC is but could someone explain what the UKC CH and UKC CD are? Please remember ..... I'm no breeder, just a curious lady.

[rutylr]

UKC is the United Kennel Club.It is where most breeds start out before they are AKC reconized.It is the second largest and oldest reg.in the states.
Handlers are not allowed to show dogs in this venue.The people are nicer and it is more relaxed.It makes showing alot of fun.
www.ukcdogs.com