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Originally Posted by thekimballs
No, I think the average owner wants a stuffed animal. They want something that looks cute, acts adorable, and they can take cute pictures of it with their kids, and then they can tie it out in the backyard for 18 hours at a time so it never interferes with their lives. Breeders get REALLY leery--too many people complaining about problems that they themselves caused; too many people returning puppies or giving them up to rescue when the dogs have the audacity to act like dogs. So it's not unusual to become very discouraging to just about everyone about your breed, so that only the most determined will get through your resistance and get a puppy.
I know good, ethical, responsible Dane breeders who will put down puppies that they know can't be sold for show (mismarks, etc.). They know their show market, they can keep track of those dogs, and they fear that the mismarks will be seen as worthless by their new owners, or have been seriously burned by irresponsible owners. They'd rather cut the puppy's life short than risk a life that is less than good. Now I personally think that's extreme and unwarranted, but I've got a lot of sympathy. All it takes is a few times of being sold a line by a puppy buyer who then ruins a dog that you put your heart and soul into producing and you'd start discouraging people too. |
Hmm, that makes sense and explains a lot.
