Thursday, December 9, 2010
Rogue Kennels Ak: Rogue Kennels Ak: Who Are We?
Rogue Kennels Ak: Rogue Kennels Ak: Who Are We?: "Rogue Kennels Ak: Who Are We?"
Save The Pit Bulls
So, I think that this issue is known to many people in the dog world, but it does not seem to get enough attention in the rest of the community. I know that pit bulls can be aggressive, but so can any breed. It really does come down to how the animal is raised. The part that really upsets me is that there are so many shelters that keep the pit bulls on automatic kill lists. I know that there are even newer laws that prevent people from owning them in certain cities. In fact, Dade county you must either relinquish your dog, or move. This happens even if the dog has lived for years with a family and it has never caused any issue to anyone. I just think it is wrong to punish the animals for being a specific breed.
So, what can you do?
I do think that it is wise for anyone who chooses to raise a litter of Pit Bull puppies, to be VERY cautious as to where the puppies go. Responsible breeders already do this. If you are an inexperienced breeder, maybe think of mentoring with a responsible breeder before choosing to try having a litter yourself. It may even be wiser to choose a different breed until the Pit Bull situation has resolved itself. If you or someone you know is looking for a Pit Bull PLEASE go to a responsible breeder! Please do not give irresponsible breeders your money just because the puppy is cute and cheaper. This is a sure way to continue enabling these pups to end up in the wrong hands. It will only add to the growing hatred for this wonderful breed, as irresponsible breeders do not care if their pups end up in the wrong hands. Every time they make a sale, it encourages them to have one more litter. Also, there is little way of knowing if an irresponsible breeder is participating in illegal dog fighting, or inadvertently contributing to the problem by selling pups to the wrong people. This is a breed that is worth saving and a breed that needs to be redeemed of the violent history that unkind people have forced them to endure. Please do your research! Please do not raise a litter 'just for fun', or so the kids can see the miracle of birth. You may have a beautiful litter of healthy, well bred pups, but without the assistance or knowledge that experienced breeders have, you can be easily duped by those who will commit your babies to a life of terror, sadness, and eventually death. Please take some time to think hard before you act with this breed. This isn't about us any more, it is about saving this breed. Please fight for them in legislation, think before you buy or breed, and stand up against the people out there who would use them for nothing more than blood sport. If we as a nation do not protect them, they will eventually be eradicated from our society.
So, what can you do?
I do think that it is wise for anyone who chooses to raise a litter of Pit Bull puppies, to be VERY cautious as to where the puppies go. Responsible breeders already do this. If you are an inexperienced breeder, maybe think of mentoring with a responsible breeder before choosing to try having a litter yourself. It may even be wiser to choose a different breed until the Pit Bull situation has resolved itself. If you or someone you know is looking for a Pit Bull PLEASE go to a responsible breeder! Please do not give irresponsible breeders your money just because the puppy is cute and cheaper. This is a sure way to continue enabling these pups to end up in the wrong hands. It will only add to the growing hatred for this wonderful breed, as irresponsible breeders do not care if their pups end up in the wrong hands. Every time they make a sale, it encourages them to have one more litter. Also, there is little way of knowing if an irresponsible breeder is participating in illegal dog fighting, or inadvertently contributing to the problem by selling pups to the wrong people. This is a breed that is worth saving and a breed that needs to be redeemed of the violent history that unkind people have forced them to endure. Please do your research! Please do not raise a litter 'just for fun', or so the kids can see the miracle of birth. You may have a beautiful litter of healthy, well bred pups, but without the assistance or knowledge that experienced breeders have, you can be easily duped by those who will commit your babies to a life of terror, sadness, and eventually death. Please take some time to think hard before you act with this breed. This isn't about us any more, it is about saving this breed. Please fight for them in legislation, think before you buy or breed, and stand up against the people out there who would use them for nothing more than blood sport. If we as a nation do not protect them, they will eventually be eradicated from our society.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Who Are We?
Hello, I am hoping to use this blog as a place to share my ideas about the wide world of canines. Some of you will agree with what I say, and some of you will not. Either way, maybe we can all learn something from our differences.
First off, would like to tell you a bit about me. I have spent my whole life being fascinated with canines. Most of my childhood was spent with my nose buried in some book about the social structure of wolves, dog breeds and history, or books about training. Stories about dogs were also included in my reading from White Fang and Call of the Wild to Dr. Seuss's Go Dog Go. I decided when I was 9, I can actually remember like it was yesterday, that I wanted to raise dogs when I 'grew up'. So now as an adult, while I still do not feel 'grown up', I am following my dreams to the best of my ability. Things aren't always as grand as I want them to be, but reaching your goals always involves a journey, and every step I take brings me closer to the finish line. Though it seems that every finish line tends to be the beginning of another race. So, I guess I don't really know where this road will take me, but it sure is an adventure!
I can tell you that the path of the dream I have chosen to follow is rockier than it is smooth, and full of twists and turns. I am often amazed at how easily a person can be ridiculed for an innocent passion. I have personally been labeled as a puppy mill, a puppy farm, and a back yard breeder...which I can assure you I am none of those! In fact, I really don't fit into any of the categories that our current dog community has created. It seems that in the wide world of dog breeding,there are only 6 categories you can fit in: (keep in mind there are 'exceptions to the rules' in these categories, but in general, this is the way I see things)
1. The Show Breeder: These are breeders who's main focus is the show ring. Not much importance is put upon a dogs actual ability to perform the job for which it was created, it just needs to be pretty. They seek to produce the most perfect representation of the breed of their choice; though the breed standard by which dogs are judged is often open to some interpretation, and a getting a win is often heavily based upon a Judge's own preferences. These dogs are often subject to the common practice of line breeding to keep the lines pure in the hopes of preventing any flaws in the offspring produced.
2. The Working Dog Breeder: Very similar to the show breeder, however, their main goal is to breed the finest of working dogs. These dogs compete in rigorous trials that test their obedience, intelligence, and working ability. These dogs are also often line bred to intensify desired traits. Beauty is not an issue, nor are the breed standards, and ability over-rides most temperament issues.
3. The Assistance Dog Breeders: Great breeders of assistance animals designed to help those with physical or mental disabilities. They do a great job producing outstanding temperaments in their dogs, and I really can't think of anything really negative about them other than the fact that it is often difficult for those in the general public to acquire on of these dogs.
4. The Puppy Farmers: These breeders are often the suppliers of pet stores and laboratory testing animals. The dogs are not specifically bred for beauty, work, or intelligence. They are bred for making a profit, with the bottom line driving the breeding beyond what would seem ethically acceptable, but is often legal. The dogs can get up and turn around, and they get food, water, and shelter according to the law. It seems that these breeders seek to follow the minimum law, make some puppies, and collect the cash. However, that is about the extent of the goal.
5. The Backyard Breeder: These are usually nice people who think it would be fun to have a litter with the family dog, but do not really know a whole lot about the puppy raising process. They get lucky and have great pups, and sometimes they aren't as lucky and they have some not so great puppies; typically fitting in the good intentions bad ideas category.
6. The Puppy Mill: Well, this is a hard one for people to understand. You see, anyone could be running a puppy mill. To me it does not matter who you are, how many dogs you have, why you breed, or how many champion names are on the pedigree of your dogs: If you do not give proper care to your animals, you are a puppy mill! Period!
So, I would like to add a new category. One that fits the goals of many breeders around the country who feel that they have no respectable place among the dog community. We do not want to show or compete in field trials with our dogs, not because we can't or because our dogs aren't good enough, we just don't want to. We do not want our dogs traveling across the country in a crate or wasting it's puppy hood bonding with a family who will dump it from their champion breeding program because it isn't turning out quite as nicely as they had liked. We want more for our dogs.We want families for our dogs! We choose our breeding stock with this goal in mind, and we work toward imprinting and socializing our puppies for this as well! We care about the health of our dogs, the quality of our dogs conformation, keeping accurate records, feeding high quality foods, keeping our gene pools wide, finding the best homes for our puppies, providing good veterinary care, temperament, breed standards, and everything else that should be expected from a responsible and ethical breeder. Yet,we are not respected as such. We do not fit into the current structure of the breeding world. So, I think we need a name. I say we should give ourselves a name. We need something to call ourselves,like:
First off, would like to tell you a bit about me. I have spent my whole life being fascinated with canines. Most of my childhood was spent with my nose buried in some book about the social structure of wolves, dog breeds and history, or books about training. Stories about dogs were also included in my reading from White Fang and Call of the Wild to Dr. Seuss's Go Dog Go. I decided when I was 9, I can actually remember like it was yesterday, that I wanted to raise dogs when I 'grew up'. So now as an adult, while I still do not feel 'grown up', I am following my dreams to the best of my ability. Things aren't always as grand as I want them to be, but reaching your goals always involves a journey, and every step I take brings me closer to the finish line. Though it seems that every finish line tends to be the beginning of another race. So, I guess I don't really know where this road will take me, but it sure is an adventure!
I can tell you that the path of the dream I have chosen to follow is rockier than it is smooth, and full of twists and turns. I am often amazed at how easily a person can be ridiculed for an innocent passion. I have personally been labeled as a puppy mill, a puppy farm, and a back yard breeder...which I can assure you I am none of those! In fact, I really don't fit into any of the categories that our current dog community has created. It seems that in the wide world of dog breeding,there are only 6 categories you can fit in: (keep in mind there are 'exceptions to the rules' in these categories, but in general, this is the way I see things)
1. The Show Breeder: These are breeders who's main focus is the show ring. Not much importance is put upon a dogs actual ability to perform the job for which it was created, it just needs to be pretty. They seek to produce the most perfect representation of the breed of their choice; though the breed standard by which dogs are judged is often open to some interpretation, and a getting a win is often heavily based upon a Judge's own preferences. These dogs are often subject to the common practice of line breeding to keep the lines pure in the hopes of preventing any flaws in the offspring produced.
2. The Working Dog Breeder: Very similar to the show breeder, however, their main goal is to breed the finest of working dogs. These dogs compete in rigorous trials that test their obedience, intelligence, and working ability. These dogs are also often line bred to intensify desired traits. Beauty is not an issue, nor are the breed standards, and ability over-rides most temperament issues.
3. The Assistance Dog Breeders: Great breeders of assistance animals designed to help those with physical or mental disabilities. They do a great job producing outstanding temperaments in their dogs, and I really can't think of anything really negative about them other than the fact that it is often difficult for those in the general public to acquire on of these dogs.
4. The Puppy Farmers: These breeders are often the suppliers of pet stores and laboratory testing animals. The dogs are not specifically bred for beauty, work, or intelligence. They are bred for making a profit, with the bottom line driving the breeding beyond what would seem ethically acceptable, but is often legal. The dogs can get up and turn around, and they get food, water, and shelter according to the law. It seems that these breeders seek to follow the minimum law, make some puppies, and collect the cash. However, that is about the extent of the goal.
5. The Backyard Breeder: These are usually nice people who think it would be fun to have a litter with the family dog, but do not really know a whole lot about the puppy raising process. They get lucky and have great pups, and sometimes they aren't as lucky and they have some not so great puppies; typically fitting in the good intentions bad ideas category.
6. The Puppy Mill: Well, this is a hard one for people to understand. You see, anyone could be running a puppy mill. To me it does not matter who you are, how many dogs you have, why you breed, or how many champion names are on the pedigree of your dogs: If you do not give proper care to your animals, you are a puppy mill! Period!
So, I would like to add a new category. One that fits the goals of many breeders around the country who feel that they have no respectable place among the dog community. We do not want to show or compete in field trials with our dogs, not because we can't or because our dogs aren't good enough, we just don't want to. We do not want our dogs traveling across the country in a crate or wasting it's puppy hood bonding with a family who will dump it from their champion breeding program because it isn't turning out quite as nicely as they had liked. We want more for our dogs.We want families for our dogs! We choose our breeding stock with this goal in mind, and we work toward imprinting and socializing our puppies for this as well! We care about the health of our dogs, the quality of our dogs conformation, keeping accurate records, feeding high quality foods, keeping our gene pools wide, finding the best homes for our puppies, providing good veterinary care, temperament, breed standards, and everything else that should be expected from a responsible and ethical breeder. Yet,we are not respected as such. We do not fit into the current structure of the breeding world. So, I think we need a name. I say we should give ourselves a name. We need something to call ourselves,like:
Companion Canine Breeders, Companion Dog Breeders, Buddy Breeders, Pet Breeders, Family Dog Breeders?
What are we?
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