11/18/2018
BUT I DON'T WANT A SHOW DOG!
Why do people recommend choosing a breeder who shows their dogs to folks who are just looking for a pet and have no interest in showing? Why should breeding to breed standard be important to a pet home? Does it seem excessive, or “snobby”?
It’s not, and here’s why.
Dog shows are a means of evaluating dogs against the breed standard, to evaluate soundness, movement/gait, type, and temperament.
Soundness: The state of physical and mental health
Type: Breed type encompasses appearance, character, condition, bone structure, temperament, and movement. Also includes a character specific to each breed, behavior, temperament and carriage that demonstrate an essence of the breed.
Gait: The gait of a dog is its quality of movement.
Temperament: The general attitude a dog has towards other animals and people.
That’s a very basic intro to what goes on at a show... why does this matter? You want a pet, a companion, not a show dog, right? Good, responsible breeders seek to preserve those definitive and positive characteristics of their breed as proven by winning dog shows.
What about type and structure? It’s your puppy’s quality of life and comfort (as well as your wallet) that’s at stake.
Not every dog in a well-bred litter is going to be show quality as the breeder is keeping and showing that pups that has the best of both parents leaving several to place in pet homes.
This is not about being snobby, being elitist, thinking that one dog is “better” than another, it’s about ensuring you get a puppy that acts and looks like the breed you fell in love with. It’s about ensuring that all puppies have the best start in life, and will grow into a loving family member. It’s about loving our breed enough to want to see everything that’s good about them preserved for future generations to enjoy. If you want a healthy dog, with a properly sweet temperament, choose your breeder wisely!