As I was preparing the submission documents for Chase’s Register of Merit – Bronze designation, I realized that since the first of January, five of his children have completed their Championships and we added an HT, a High in All Breed Trial, and two RNs, a BN, and a CGC to the list of the children’s accomplishments. THAT is pretty astonishing. I am so happy that the people who decided to breed their girls to Chase were rewarded with puppies that are lovely and very smart. (Most of them have a huge dose of the baddog gene as well, but in my opinion that just makes them more fun.) Three of his children have been x-rayed for OFA and all three were rated GOOD. As the puppies turn two, I hope we’ll see more wonderful results from their health testing.
I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year will bring for us. Chase and I will go about our training business. His agility class has been pushed back to June 28th, but we are tracking and brushing up on his obedience commands. On weekends we keep a phone handy so people can report in on all the grandpuppies. It’s a lot of fun!
Now, something serious: STUD FEES. Even though Chase is a Grand Champion and has his Bronze Register of Merit designation, I don’t intend to raise his stud fee. It seems to me that Cardigans are difficult to breed — lots of stuff can go wrong with our little dwarf dogs. Just to accomplish the breeding costs the breeder in the neighborhood of $1300 to $1400. To me, that is a lot of money. Then they have the x-rays when the girl is 8+ weeks along, possibly a C-Section, then feeding and giving appropriate medical care to the brood. I don’t think that breeding a litter of nice Cardigans should be beyond the means of all but the wealthy. I also think greed is ugly. I am personally appalled by the stud fees that people demand for unproven (albeit very nice) young dogs with only adequate health test results. There’s not much I can do about what other owners decide to do, but I can hold my ground. I never want money to be the factor that determines whether someone is able to use my dog. I also reserve the right to just say no if I feel a breeding is not right. I don’t make my living breeding and raising dogs. In fact, I have a job so I can afford my dog habit. Help me stick to my guns.
Congratulations again on Chase’s success and the success of his offspring. I’ve been in the livestock business my whole life. It never ceases to amaze me at what people expect when they breed their bitch/mare/cow/whatever. They honestly expect the Stud to correct the faults of their female. I have seen people pay a hugh stud fee. When their inferior mare produced a incorrect foal, it was the stallions’ fault? What planet do these folks live on? I was born on a Grade A cow dairy back in the days when AI was not an option. Keeping those dairy bulls was expensive, dangerous and a crap shoot becuase most people didn’t keep the records that they do now. AI was a godsend because you could buy the “seed” of outstanding,tested bulls and through CAREFUL selection improve your herd. That is what breeding is all about! Improvement of the next generation, be it for increased milk production, lbs of butterfat, ease of calving, increased pounds of beef or whatever. Good for you Penni! Here’s hoping that most Cardigan breeders follow your example and have common sense. Once again, congratulations and I look forward to more wonderful things from you and yours.
I agree that it can be appalling. Breeding is (unfortunately) a very expensive proposition and frequently heart-breaking as well. I think most fanciers are just working stiffs like myself, and it is a huge commitment, financially and personally, when breeding a litter.
I guess I kind of jumped off the tracks yesterday with my comments. Breeding is not for the faint of heart! Just because you have a intact bitch or dog does not mean they must be bred!! Unfortunately, with the increased popularity of the Cardigan, there are those who will breed to make a buck. I commend those breeders who breed judiciously and with the betterment of the breed in mind.