Information

WHY BUY FROM A DOG BREEDER? AREN'T DOG BREEDERS BAD?

 

Where should dogs come from, if not good breeders? If good breeders stopped breeding, the demand for dogs would not slow down. This would only allow for more poorly bred dogs or puppy mill suppliers. It is not intentionally-bred dogs that end up in shelters, and the temperaments of those dogs can be unpredictable. It is the correct risk to take for some people depending on the stage of life they are in, but many families understandably want to know where their dog comes from and how it was raised.

 

Breeds exist because they produce a more predictable dog. Collies in particular have a long-standing reputation as amazing family dogs. The goal for my dogs is to be aware of their surroundings, gentle with children, trainable with an "off switch": the perfect tag-along on a family camping trip.

 

I had a wonderful rescue dog. He was neither anxious nor destructive and tolerated my babies well. We lost him to a heritable disease (degenerative myelopathy). I am pro- rescue dogs. I am also pro- honest, ethical dog breeders. I believe ethical dog breeders keep dogs out of shelters. There will always be a demand for dogs, and if ethical breeders aren't breeding, puppy mills will fill the void. Adopt or shop responsibly.

 

What about breed-specific rescues? They serve a good purpose and these dogs need good homes too. Just know that many of those dogs don't come from health-tested or temperament-selected pairings. Temperament is genetic and when you know that your dog comes from lines that have not shown aggression or anxiety, you significantly reduce the risk of it showing up.

 

Ask me more about how I define backyard breeder, vs. reputable breeder, vs. ethical breeder!

 

my program priorities

 

Temperament: A healthy, gorgeous dog means little to me if their temperament is questionable. A dog of sound mine that is able to be resilient and not display aggression or anxiety is way more important to me than a perfect example of a breed in all other aspects.

Genetic diversity: There is so much genetic benefit to outcrossing. I intend to outcross at least one litter out of every future breeding female I keep. A lot of research goes in to pairing unrelated dogs (though all dogs of the same breed are ultimately related). Extra genetic testing can be done to know your dog's COI, coefficient of inbreeding, and haplotypes. Bringing in "lost" genes from unregistered and currently untested dogs is another way to increase genetic diversity.

Health: Part of responsible breeding is doing genetic testing on breeding dogs and making breeding decisions that will contribute to an overall healthier population of dogs. It's worth mentioning not every genetic disease can be tested for, and sometimes hard decisions to not breed a dog will be made over things that can't be proven through health testing but have been observed.

Structure: Old Time Scotch Collies have a purposefully broad breed standard and many breeders tend towards a favorite temperament, structure, and look depending on the job they are doing (for example a more intense or stockier dog for working livestock). My ideal collie is 50# or smaller, short-coupled meaning not so long in the back, leaner body type, deep chest, athletic, with large expressive eyes. Scottish Collies have a stricter breed standard.

 

Please see my profile on Good Dog

 

 

My Promise to the dogs I breed

 

I will always take a dog back at any time with no judgement towards the owner whatsoever. Life can throw curveballs with sickness, financial instability, new family members, behavioral issues. I will always take a dog back to foster, or permanently. Any condition, any age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Huenergardt Photography