ETHICAL BREEDERS: The GSDCA vs LTF
We have mixed emotions about The GSDCA and AKC’s lack of involvement in breed clubs, particularly in the last few decades. While we fully support ethical breeding focused on producing genetically and emotionally healthy puppies, we do not necessarily agree with them on certain definitions and best practices. We also think they contradict themselves on a couple key points. We strongly feel that there is a difference between a standard and a fad and it is our opinion that fads have taken over in many breeds, especially the German Shepherd. It is also our opinion that the standard for our breed began to be overlooked for fad and took a turn around 1960 and that this fad really began to manifest itself in negative ways by the 1980’s. The breed club seems more concerned with promoting showing dogs then the health of the dogs and the breed overall. We focus on a traditional type and genetic health. By looking at lines from breeders not involved in the show ring we feel there are more prospects for finding a heritage-type dog because they have not been bred down as much. We do NOT think that today’s show line dogs are following the breed standard.
Some people might call this justification for certain things we do and don’t do, but we believe in full disclosure as the first step to helping you choose the best dog for you and your family. To start with we believe that the subjective nature of show judges and peer pressure from a fad we feel was born from laziness have played a detrimental role in the health problems modern German Shepherd’s are facing. We strive more for the heritage conformation that is stout, strong, and agile. These dogs are supposed to work livestock and protect their person, farm, and family not parade around a show ring. We believe that striving to perfect a show dog that is gated has caused a sloped back characterized by a weak pelvis and hips. We breed away from the modern show dog for a heritage-type working line that is more traditional in conformation while maintaining a strong character and even temperament.
The following is a break down of best practices as promoted by the GSDCA and our responses. You can see the full script from www.GSDCA.org.
GSDCA: Strive in each and every breeding to achieve the highest quality possible relative to the breed standard for conformation, trainability and temperament, in order to maintain our breed’s characteristics.
LTF: We agree for the most part, but question conformation. Compare the GSD of today with the original GSD. The breed standard of today varies little from the original standard, but the conformation we see in the show ring varies greatly from the original breed and is intended for the show ring, not the working ability of the dog.
GSDCA: Use only physically sound, mature dogs of stable temperament for breeding. These characteristics are rarely, if ever, determined before the age of two for females.
LTF: We do not breed our dogs until they are two and will not allow their puppies to be bred until they are two which is when they reach physical maturity. Temperament flaws will often show up later in a dog’s life as well. We apply this practice to both males and females.
GSDCA: Continue to educate themselves regarding genetic diseases pertinent to the breed including, hip and elbow dysplasia. Documentation of hip and elbow screenings should be available to prospective puppy buyers. It should consist of an OFA, OVC or Penn Hip report and/or a letter of evaluation from a board-certified Veterinary Radiologist.
LTF: We agree. We follow the research findings of UC Davis in making our decisions regarding the genetic potential for health issues in our dogs as well as our regular veterinarian. When our dogs are two we have their hips and elbows evaluated (if necessary) by a board-certified Veterinary Radiologist. These health documents are available for review to all prospective buyers.
GSDCA: Apply the same high standards to outside bitches sent to their stud dogs as they apply to their own breeding stock.
LTF: We agree and only breed outside of our program when deemed necessary. We require all outside dogs to be tested and health evaluated.
GSDCA: Match each puppy’s personality as carefully as possible with a compatible buyer/family. Temperament testing of a litter before puppies are offered for sale is encouraged.
LTF: The foundation for temperament testing dogs and the AKC have determined that the owner of a dog or its breeder should not be the ones to temperament test a dog or puppy. We actually disagree with the test in its entirety. The test is subjective and we do not feel that a stranger’s opinion of our dogs and puppies is any more accurate than that of our buyers or us. We will make suggestions based on what we know from our experience, but once you have all of the information you are the best one to make the decision on what puppy is best for you. If we don’t feel you are the right fit for a German Shepherd, we will tell you and won’t sell you a puppy.
GSDCA: Take appropriate steps to have each puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian for general health prior to placement. Each puppy should be vaccinated and de-wormed by a veterinarian.
LTF: We agree, but we vaccinate ourselves to help keep costs down. Prescription wormer is more effective however, so we get our litters wormed at the vet based on a community test.
GSDCA: Encourage buyers of pet puppies to spay/neuter. Methods should include written spay/neuter contracts, limited registration and/or spay/neuter rebates.
LTF: We do have a clause regarding spaying and neutering in our purchase contract and require that you read it before considering one of our puppies as your next family member.
GSDCA: Endeavor to gain personal knowledge of the temperament and health of every dog they breed, or to which they breed, in order to gather information on which to base future breeding decisions. They share this information fully and honestly with other breeders and with prospective buyers.
LTF: We believe that the worst thing you can do for your reputation is lie. We will be honest with you and have been honest in writing our dog’s biographies. No one is perfect, no dog is perfect, but we carefully selected our breeding stock for a very particular purpose and are happy to share that with you. In addition, we DO something with and about the genetic tests of our breeding stock and go beyond the requirements of GSDCA.
GSDCA: Sell breeding prospects to knowledgeable, ethical and experienced persons who are willing to help educate and guide novices. They should at any time accept the return of any dog/bitch their breeding program produces and they should always help when relocation is needed.
LTF: Not a single one of our puppies is a breeding prospect until it is two. We just don’t believe in declaring a puppy as “pet quality” or “breed quality”. We strive to produce puppies that are ALL worthy of passing on their genetics and that will make good family pets and/or working dogs. Only by communicating with our buyers about our puppies as they progress through life can we truly know as much as possible about our lines.
GSDCA: Do not engage in misleading or untrue advertising and do not use GSDCA membership as a marketing tool.
LTF: How would that benefit our goals? Its just not good practice. As far as being a member of GSDCA we don’t really put much stock in that anyway.
GSDCA: Do not sell, supply, donate or surrender any dog for which they are responsible to a pet shop, catalogue house, wholesale dealer in dogs, Humane Society or to a laboratory. They should have reasonable assurance that each individual receiving a dog will provide a home with appropriate shelter, restraint, control and responsible care.
LTF: We agree and have a surrender clause in our puppy contract.
GSDCA: Encourage puppy buyers to go to puppy obedience classes to help their puppies to become better canine good citizens. The achievement of a Canine Good Citizen certificate should be encouraged.
LTF: We do want you to communicate with us about any behavior or training problems you have as well as health issues. We also encourage obedience classes with a trainer, but do not think it is beneficial for you to send your dog away to be trained. Take the class with your dog. If competing is something you want to do go for it. We waive the contract pay out for titled dogs who have met the other health requirements of the contract.