Breeder Transparency - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

Cdnjennga · 09-03-2009, 08:32 AM

I wanted to start a thread about breeders in general. This is not directed at any one breeder in particular.

I just think it's such a shame that some breeders are not more transparent and open about their lines and practices. Why is it so difficult to figure out from some breeders how many dogs they have, how many litters they breed a year and what health testing they do? It suggests to me those breeders have something to hide, yet I know some reputable breeders who also are not as forthcoming with information as they could be.

In an ideal world every claim a breeder makes would be openly backed up (either on a website or in some sort of document they provide to those who inquire about their lines straight away, before there's any talk of puppies).

- Say you do full health testing? Prove it by listing every test your breeding stock has undergone, the results and link to the OFA website. To my understanding every dog that has been OFA registered is listed at the website, someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

- Say you only breed quality dogs who improve the breed and meet the standard? Prove it by providing the dog's full registered name, any titles and a 5 generation pedigree so I can do my own research.

- Say you only have occasional litters? Prove it by listing all the breeding stock you have as well as the litters you have bred in the last 3 years (this one could easily be falsified, but it would still be nice to know).

Any other ideas? What other information do you all think transparent breeders would provide without you having to ask a million and one questions?

ETA: I know there are many reputable breeders out there who easily provide this information as soon as you ask for it. I just think it would be great if this information was made more easily available to potential puppy buyers starting out their research. This is my first time starting out in a breed from scratch and separating the breeders I would be comfortable with from the ones I wouldn't has been a real challenge for me. And I know what to look for! I can only imagine what a challenge it must be for the average puppy buyer.

mandi · 09-03-2009, 08:48 AM

Environment and socialization areas...I think that breeders go on other breeders' websites and see "home-raised in our kitchen-born in our bedroom ( or MBR closet)-handled and played with daily,testimonies....I make sure I contact references but that is still no guarantee....it is very difficult buying over the internet....some breeders are very cunning and we have been 'burned' in the past. I also have an issue with: "we're here for support for your puppy's lifetime." Yeah, right-how many are REALLY there for you?

thestars · 09-03-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdnjennga

I wanted to start a thread about breeders in general. This is not directed at any one breeder in particular.

I just think it's such a shame that some breeders are not more transparent and open about their lines and practices. Why is it so difficult to figure out from some breeders how many dogs they have, how many litters they breed a year and what health testing they do? It suggests to me those breeders have something to hide, yet I know some reputable breeders who also are not as forthcoming with information as they could be.
The simple reason...Because it's competition. You can compare it to any part of life, a game, etc.

In an ideal world every claim a breeder makes would be openly backed up (either on a website or in some sort of document they provide to those who inquire about their lines straight away, before there's any talk of puppies).
That would be ideal however, you still have human nature involved and that includes lying, stealing, and cheating in the name of greed, notoriety, winning at all cost. Again human nature. For example, Say you play poker and you got a great hand of Aces, would you tell the other players what you got? NO! You won't win! So why should a breeder lay out all their cards for the world to see what they intend to do?

- Say you do full health testing? Prove it by listing every test your breeding stock has undergone, the results and link to the OFA website. To my understanding every dog that has been OFA registered is listed at the website, someone can correct me if I'm wrong. And boy OFA is making a killing to on their testing... Also, it would be nice if one database would honor all testing facilities that have abide by a standard of ethics and protocols. I have seen unethical breeder "doctor" documents from another dog and use them as their own. So posting the documents on the web is a bit of a risk.

- Say you only breed quality dogs who improve the breed and meet the standard? Prove it by providing the dog's full registered name, any titles and a 5 generation pedigree so I can do my own research.
Nice to do again unethical breeders have been know to use other breeders documents. Most should provide if requested but not necessarily the "official" document. Again how do you validate the authenticity of that document. To bad AKC wouldn't publish a search engine to look up pedigree, they make enough money to accomplish it."

- Say you only have occasional litters? Prove it by listing all the breeding stock you have as well as the litters you have bred in the last 3 years (this one could easily be falsified, but it would still be nice to know). As noted in the first comment why lay out all your cards to the competition?

Any other ideas? What other information do you all think transparent breeders would provide without you having to ask a million and one questions?
Color of ancestry, origin would be a few nice to haves. Probably some of the same questions we ask ourselves about our own human ancestry.

ETA: I know there are many reputable breeders out there who easily provide this information as soon as you ask for it. I just think it would be great if this information was made more easily available to potential puppy buyers starting out their research. This is my first time starting out in a breed from scratch and separating the breeders I would be comfortable with from the ones I wouldn't has been a real challenge for me. And I know what to look for! I can only imagine what a challenge it must be for the average puppy buyer.

Imagine what it was like before the age of the internet...

Cdnjennga · 09-03-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandi

Environment and socialization areas...I think that breeders go on other breeders' websites and see "home-raised in our kitchen-born in our bedroom ( or MBR closet)-handled and played with daily,testimonies....I make sure I contact references but that is still no guarantee....it is very difficult buying over the internet....some breeders are very cunning and we have been 'burned' in the past. I also have an issue with: "we're here for support for your puppy's lifetime." Yeah, right-how many are REALLY there for you?

Yeah I think the environment/ socialization stuff is tough. I spoke to one breeder who had pups in the bedroom, and raised the pups in their home. Well that's technically true, but when I saw it with my own eyes, it was not at all what I was looking for.

The above is why I would never be comfortable purchasing a pup without meeting the breeder, the dogs and seeing the environment where they're raised. There's some things you can only confirm in person.

I totally agree on the support statement. I want to know exactly what support they're providing (including any monetary support that might be offered. If I spend over $1000 on a puppy from health tested lines and it develops a genetic health issue, what sort of support is the breeder offering me?)

Cdnjennga · 09-03-2009, 09:44 AM

If you see breeding as competition, then yes, I can see not wanting to show your hand. But if you see it as something you do due to love of a breed and to improve the breed, then I think working together and showing your hand is the only way to go!

I totally agree that some of this could perhaps be offered by the AKC/ CKC/ other breed databases. They currently make you pay for access to pedigrees - makes sense when paper versions were the only ones available, but now that things are online, it would be easy to offer it for free. PPD is great but my impression is that it's self edited, and also not every dog is listed there. As pups and litters are also registered by AKC/ CKC they could perhaps make that information available as well.

I think the Internet has both helped and hindered things. It's helped in that there's a lot of information freely available if you can sift through it all. It's hindered in that anyone can slap up a professional looking website, make lots of claims and reach a wider audience than they used to. I'm guessing a lot of potential puppy owners start by searching something like "poodle breeder", but the breeders that come to the top as a result of that search are not necessarily the ones they should go with.

roxy25 · 09-03-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdnjennga

I'm guessing a lot of potential puppy owners start by searching something like "poodle breeder", but the breeders that come to the top as a result of that search are not necessarily the ones they should go with.

I agree too many people use google and other search engines to find breeders. The best way to start is visiting AKC/CKC shows and visiting the breed club websites.

Emily-By · 09-03-2009, 10:29 AM

I would like to see a copy of the 'health gaurantee' as well as any contracts that would be expected to sign if I wished to adopt from them.

Purple Poodle · 09-03-2009, 03:12 PM

I can only form an opinion on the websites I have seen online as I have never been to a scanctioned dog show or talked face to face with show breeders.

Anyway I agree that all health testing results, pedigrees, and all dogs owned by the breeder are listed with current pictures.

I think the reason a lot of breeders get away with subpar websites and not showing proof of testing is that buyers don't really care. I would bet more then half of the people looking for a puppy could care less about who the parents are, are they healthy and who is in the line. Most just want a companion and will do anything to get it. We are in the minority, those of us who WANT to see all those things and won't settle for just any dog.

I am not a fan of AKC and I don't see them doing any such thing about listing pedigrees and health scores. People are people and its our job as a buyer to weed out all the bad breeders and edjucate those not in the know on who to look at and who to avoid.

Personaly I like to see the dogs "at home" and not just stack photos. I hate when breeders show photos of their dogs un-groomed, I also like to see a link to the dogs pedigree, any show wins and if they are titaled in what kennel club they did so. I also like to see the papered name and the pet name.

Anyway...I have more to say but I gots to go to the store.

EDIT: One more before I go, if more show breeders were more open to selling to "pet" homes there would be less BYB's.

PonkiPoodles · 09-04-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxy25

I agree too many people use google and other search engines to find breeders. The best way to start is visiting AKC/CKC shows and visiting the breed club websites.

I agree roxy... some of the best breeders don't have websites.

Cdnjennga · 09-04-2009, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PonkiPoodles

I agree roxy... some of the best breeders don't have websites.

I totally agree PonkiPoodles. I think someone mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I do think it's a shame some of the best breeders are so difficult to locate and contact. And then some are so reluctant to sell to puppy homes. They're just leaving the door open for irresponsible breeders with flashy websites to snag the first time puppy buyer.