A conversation from a few years ago weighs heavily on my mind. This friend is someone who I would call successful in the breed, she has a bloodline that you can pick out at a show and her dogs are known for their health and their athletic ability. I don't think she is a Hall of Fame kennel but my guess is she will be soon.
She was lamenting that she sold a puppy to a lady who said all the right things and she decided to trust her and the lady who had visions of showing and doing performance and all the testing ended up breeding her bitch because "she was just so busy" she had not time to do all the things she had promised. Just one litter.
Until the next, and the next and the next....
Never gone to a show, never had any health testing, never did much of anything but put dogs together and make babies. Oh and market off of the breeder's accomplishments - BLATANTLY.
We have one around here too...never comes to shows (except the one time he did and his dogs got dead last) but will market off of the work of others. Thats why when good breeders hear the words "Champion pedigree" it drives them insane because what that really means is "I bought a dog from someone and somebody did something with one of the dogs so I will take credit."
I do not feel that every dog needs to have a pedigree full of champions, but what I do think is that any dog purposely made should be made with a purpose in mind. (Hey I like that!) The purpose should not be to make money or to make puppies but to add to the breed. Make the breed better by making healthy, good tempered structurally correct dogs.
A dog is not a dog. There is no generic dog with a different pelt. An Aussie is not a fluffy version of a Lab. Each breed has characteristics and when you make the conscious decision to breed it should be to add to your breed. Not to upsell a puppy (when I see people offer papers for extra money it boils me.)
So this meandering post is kind of just that...I never ever want to see my dogs in that situation. I do not want them sitting in a yard making litter after litter. I want them in a house being part of the family, going on vacation, hiking a mountain, living life, being an ambassador for this great breed.
I have no doubt in the beginning that puppy buyer had ALL of the best intentions but then she realized it is hard. Going to handling class is hard. Going to shows is hard, it costs money, it takes time. Rally classes, CGC classes, matches....Driving two hours to herding each way is a pain especially on the way home when they are all muddy. All of it takes time and costs money but what it also does is ensure that there is purpose, that I can say my dogs are healthy and structurally correct and adhere to the standard.
If I am going to ask my puppy buyers to spend money then they darn sure should expect ME to do my part. So that is why you will never see full breeding rights for sale on a puppy of mine. Are there steps to allowing one to be bred, yes. Are they fair, I think so, some people will say probably not LOL. But that is how I can sleep at night.