Re: Rant about national breed clubs

"Tee" <crappolagozhere@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> "Robin Nuttall" <robinjn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:HKyXe.346595$x96.7486@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Tee wrote:
>>> In doing some window shopping via national breed clubs I'm finding
>>> more and more of them are demanding you send money to them in order
>>> to find out who their member breeders are. IMO that's stepping way
>>> over the line and I think its unethical.
>>
>> Okay. First. There's no such thing as Member Breeders. that sort of
>> implies that only breeders are allowed to belong to a National Breed
>> club.
>
> What I mean by "member breeders" are those members of breed clubs
> generally listed on a link called "breeder referral." I don't think
> I've ever seen a club's breeder referral list contain non-members.

ACDCA's Breeder link contains the names of those club members who've signed
the COE (as I have every year, although I don't breed), and who've paid a
$10 fee to be listed as a COE breeder. Completely opposite of your
finding, in fact, it's the breeders who pay for the listing, not the
prospective buyers.

It's a short list. OTOH, I recognize almost every name, and most of them
are also involved in rescue to one extent or another.

Some responsible breeders have chosen to either not sign the COE (because
it isn't stringent enough, among other reasons) or not pay the fee for
listing. I understand that they're standing on principle and can respect
them for that.

It's not a perfect COE, and it isn't perfectly enforced. But it's a place
to start.

> ... By implied definition most ethical breeders will
> belong to a breed club. That's generally a notion put about on these
> ngs as well as in other places.

I can think of at least one person I consider responsible who is not a
member of ACDCA. That's the exception to the rule, of course.

> What do you call internet research and reading one website after
> another plus trying to garner names of people to talk to if not making
> an effort?

A start? Breed-specific mailing lists are a godsend for people researching
breeders (and owners!), don't you think? Or maybe I'm spoiled by the
activity and helpfulness of ACD breeders and owners.

As for traveling to meet breeders and their dogs, well, as Robin noted,
it's a prudent idea to meet and get to know several representatives of a
breed before committing the next 10 years of your life, finances, and
sanity to one. That's particularly true of breeds that treat "pack" and
"not-pack" differently. People who admire the ACD's aloof stoicism might
be bitterly disappointed in the velcro suckup those same dogs become to
their owners <g>. Until you've spent a few hours watching the dogs
interact with family, friends, strangers, and other dogs, you can't get a
good feel for how they'll fit with your own personality and lifestyle.

> Please tell me how a person is to develop such a relationship if its
> considered rude to shop around and considering that there are breeders
> who can't spare the time to "spoon feed" shoppers?

Again, I've gotten a pretty good "feel" through the mailing lists for
people I've subsequently met in person. Of course, I'm not actively
shopping for a dog, and I've spent a decade or so on some breed-specific
lists, so I've had time to form opinions based on that longer time frame.

I met a French Bulldog breeder years ago now, and mentioned in passing that
I thought the breed was cute (I do, too!). She spent almost an hour with
me, just talking about the breed, and her dogs, and what fun they were and
how much she enoyed owning them. That was her response to someone who
merely admired the breed without any intention of getting one for at least
twenty or thirty years. (Frenchies might be my breed-for-old-age, should I
live so long.)

I've met more breeders and owners like that than the other kind. Wonder
why our experiences differ so greatly?
.

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