Learning From A Long Time Breeder Before Starting As A Breeder

[heroeswit]

I eventually want to start breeding dogs most likely GSDs but i'm still not sure and it would be a long time away once I have a good idea of the breed (whichever i choose) but I was just wondering if it is easier if you learn off a breeder that has been doing it for a while before starting for yourself and the betterment of the breed or is it not done like that?

does co-owning a breeding dog with the breeder make it easier or just more difficult?

Thank You for your replies. I am looking at the future (ie 5 - 10 yrs away)

[dancinbcs]

Yes, the best and easiest way to start off is to find yourself a mentor who has been in the breed a long time. Preferably 20+ years, so they have seen a few different generations of the breed. Your mentor should be well respected within the breed and have been successful in their chosen field of showing or performance. Hang around at shows and trials to get a feel of how different breeders are regarded. Most importantly they have to be someone you like as a person and feel you would really like as a friend as you will spend many hours on the phone to them.

A mentor should be happy to guide you for a few years until you get to know what you are doing then be prepared to step back and let you go it alone, if that is what you want. If possible talk to someone else they have mentored along the way and make sure they are not too overbearing to deal with.

A co-own situation can be a good way to get top quality stock years before anyone will trust you with something owned outright. Just make sure the agreement is benificial to both parties and not just to one.

I was lucky enough to have one of the best mentors ever in our breed and in turn, I have mentored several other breeders. I have even put my prefix in dual names a couple of times to co-breed litters with new breeders to get them started off on the right foot. When they felt confident enough to go it alone they then applied for their own prefix and mine reverted back into my name.

[whippets]

Yes get a mentor or 2

[Alyosha]

Yep. Find existing breeders you can trust. Talk to lots of people, and take what they have to say on board. You'll be able to judge who wants to genuinely help you and who has other motives if you're careful!

[espinay2]

Just adding my voice in favour of finding a good mentor or two.

Having someone in your own breed that you can learn from, who you have similar basic philosophies to, and who you like as a friend can be so useful and give someone a good head start as well as an 'in'. The key words are respect and trust and these things have to go both ways between you and your mentor. A lot of getting a good start in breeding is about relationship building as well as learning.

Also don't discount what you can learn from people with other breeds too (whether you own a dog of that breed or not). Learning about other breeds can be beneficial to you in our own breed as well as for general 'dog knowledge'. Mentors come in many shapes and sizes and you dont have to have just one. Different mentors can offer you different perspectives or provide learning on different things.

[Sayly]

Mum and I couldn't imagine doing this on our own. We have learnt so much from several fantastic mentors, for example being present when some of their litters are being born taught me much more than I could ever read in a book. Having someone to help guide your decisions and keep you on the right track with years of experience on their side is invaluable.

[heroeswit]

thank you all for your responses and tip, hints and the rest I will take it on board and go slowly before I start breeding. I will be looking into my breed some more and making contact with people from my breed so I can have some mentors for a period of time before breeding.

Thank you