I'm sorry but I do feel that I'm banging my head against a wall here. It seems I am just getting the party line. So every reputable KC reg breeder doesn't advertise?
Let me be honest I think there are a small percentage of altruistic people who wish to preserve the Cocker Spaniel for future generations but a larger percentage who have other reasons. I still haven't heard anybody answer why someone classed as a reputable breeder can have litters whenever they want and sell 99% to the pet market and that's ok as it's somehow dressed up as improving the breed.
Mark, can I please ask you to moderate your tone a little - it's a bit rude to suggest that people who have taken the time to contribute to this thread are only giving "the party line" because their opinion is different to yours
Whilst I agree with you that only a relatively small percentage of breeders have altruistic reasons for breeding, it does not mean that a breeder is not reputable if most of their puppies go to pet homes. No show breeder expects all the puppies they breed to have equal show potential - they will aim to keep one or two themselves usually and it would then be normal for the remainder to go to hopefully carefully vetted pet homes or perhaps other show homes. I actually prefer puppies we do not keep ourselves to go to nice pet homes (many of my breeder friends feel the same) I do not like selling to other breeders unless I know them extremely well and all our puppies are endorsed accordingly (not that we breed very often, once a year at most and sometimes not even that often)
joanne_v But... Back yard breeding was going on far way back be for breeders even came on the scean......There was no problem with breeds way back then until now...I am sorry to say it all boils down to gain and money...If you have a top dog that has won crufts it will command big bucks its as simple as that....And the K.C promote it..(My opinion only)after last year the B.B.C pulled out of cruffs..all down to the program that was was on t.v about the in breeding going on....Also Theo's two top women judges that would not talk to the media after the show turn there backs and run like scared pussy cats....if they did not have some thing to hide!!!!!
Totally agree (although dont know why you've directed this at me). Its only the last 30 years or so that pedigree breeding has become such a huge business/hobby/lifestyle. 50-100 years ago dogs were mainly bred for a purpose (out of the show ring) so things were very much different and there were not the huge health problems as seen nowadays. It'll take a long time for the KC to change its recommendations on breeding policies such as limiting inbreeding and limiting use of each sire. By then it will probably be too late to save some breeds and once again humans will have interfered with nature.
Please can we keep this thread on topic and not turn this into a "bash the pedigree show breeder" thread since it is fairly easy to establish in Cockers at least that show breeders are not producing most of the puppies being bred today.