Originally published in The 1994 Airedale Terrier Annual. Copyright 1994 by Hoflin Publishing Ltd. Article reprinted with permission of the author. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

A few weeks ago, I received a frantic phone call from a German Shepherd breeder who lives about 100 miles south of me. She had always admired the Airedale and had seen an ad in her local newspaper advertising a six-year old male Airedale free to a good home. She felt concern about the "free" part, as there were dognappers in the area selling dogs for research, so she called the number. The owner purchased the dog as a puppy, and had put him in an outdoor pen with a coop. In the meantime, they had one child after another, now numbering four under five years of age. The owner said the dog was good with kids and they felt sorry for him because no one paid any attention to him, his coop was getting too small and was in need of repair, and they thought he should have a home with someone who could spend more time with him.

Wondering how the coop had suddenly become too small for an already six-year-old dog, and worrying about the dog getting into the wrong hands, the German Shepherd breeder called me to see if I could think of a way to save this poor dog. I immediately called the owner to find out they purchased the dog from a breeder, who had acquired the dam of the dog from another breeder, on a breeder's agreement. Breeder number two was to split the litter with breeder number one, and each were to sell their half. The selling of half of this litter was put into the hands of a novice breeder pet owner, who never screened the new owners to see if the dog would be a house pet or live outside, or what would be done with him.

The novice breeder was not prepared to take the dog back if he didn't work out or to guarantee him in any way. I told the owner that my brother Steve and I were affiliated with the Airedale rescue, and that we take Airedales that need homes and find them people specifically looking for adult Airedales as house pets. We help the people and the dog adjust over the phone and/or in person. If the dog doesn't work out, we take it back. We didn't care how long the dog stayed with us while waiting for a new home. In fact, my brother, who bought our allbreed boarding and grooming kennel eight years ago, had an eight-year-old neutered male Airedale in his kennel for six months. The first time, the owner had to move and couldn't take the dog with him. The second owner took this dog, now three years old, and loved and enjoyed him for several years until he got too ill with terminal cancer. The third owner loved the dog and took him on a two-week trial period only to discover that their daughter was allergic to the dog and they couldn't keep him. All of the homes were loving and caring homes, so the dog was well-adjusted and happy. Steve kept the dog fed, groomed, exercised regularly, and up to date on all inoculations, at his own expense. He knew the right family would come along, and sure enough, a family who lost their beloved Airedale fell in love with the dog and took him into their home. He jumped into their car like he'd known them all of his life. Steve has contacted the new owners from time to time to see how everything is going and to offer help and advice. All is going well and it's going on six months since the dog has joined his new family.

Back to the "free" dog. The owner had her husband call me back and he was delighted to know that there were people who did these things for their breed. I informed him that there were many people, nationwide, that do their best to see that their specific breed stays out of shelters, dog pounds, and research centers. We made a date to have the dog brought to Steve's kennel the following morning. If the dog needed house training, leash work, etc., we would be happy to do whatever it took to help him adjust to a new home. Also, we would groom him, as he hadn't been groomed for some time. Steve called me after the dog arrived and informed me that he couldn't get near the dog. He had tried everything he knew, as an experienced dog person, to try to just pet the dog. The dog would viciously growl, bare his teeth and go after Steve trying to bite him. I asked to speak to the owner, who told me he wasn't surprised, because the dog had gone after his groomers, vet, and other people who had tried to approach him in the past. I told the owner that we could not do anything with the dog if we couldn't handle him and suggested he put the dog to sleep before someone got hurt. I also informed him that in the state of Wisconsin, he would be liable for anyone the dog bit, if he gave him away knowing that he was a potential biter.

Steve and I both told the owner that this is not typical Airedale behavior. He kept the dog away from people all of his life and this animosity was probably created by the solitude. Airedales love people and companionship. They actually do not like being alone unless they have absolutely no other choice. I suggested the owner, himself, take the dog to the vet, so the dog wouldn't suffer any additional trauma, other than an ordinary vet visit. The owner agreed as he felt sorry for the dog and realized the dog was in a very unhappy situation. I called the owner two days later to check up on his decision. He had make the vet appointment for the following morning by mutual agreement with his wife and children, as the dog had tried to bite one of his children's playmates the day before. Now, who do you blame for this situation? Do you blame the pet owner who was not educated about the responsibilities of owning a pet? Thank God, this owner finally realized the bad situation and didn't let it continue. Someone is to blame; this is not something that just, unfortunately, sometimes happens. I blame breeder number one.

If you sell a dog on a breeder's agreement to a non-breeder pet owner, YOU should take responsibility for that entire litter. You should be screening the new prospective owners, guaranteeing health and temperament on that new puppy, and be prepared and able to take that puppy or dog back if at any time the owner cannot care for the dog anymore. Breed rescues are a very much needed, concerned, dedicated group of people, but they should not be getting the many homeless dogs, across the country, that they are getting. The breeders should be taking responsibility for the dogs they sell or they shouldn't be breeding them. The shelters and dog pounds are taking in thousands of dogs every week. Every breeder should start taking responsibility for their own respective breeds, especially those of us calling ourselves dog lovers.

I feel so strongly about breeders and breed responsibility that I started a personal survey a couple of years ago on what people thought a conscientious breeder was. I asked myself, non-dog owners, first-time dog owners, lifetime dog owners, all-breed groomers, veterinarians, a few horse breeders, and various different dog breeders. The kind of response I got indicated to me that this was a question that has long needed answers. Everyone jumped in eagerly with answers, some in a positive way, some in an accusing manner, and some exploding out everything that seems to have been on their minds about breeders. I heard words like primary requisites, breed standards, kennel blindness, guarantees, honesty, integrity, can't see the forest for the trees, do not compromise, ethics, evaluation, and education. I'll try to structure their answers so we can come up with a general feeling of all the opinions surveyed.
Health in mind and body, of course, was number one with the veterinarians. They were quick to say that when a new puppy owner brings a healthy, clean, happy, and social puppy to them for an exam right after purchase, they let the new owner know how impressed they are and ask for the breeder's name for future recommendations. The vets are not impressed with puppies or adult dogs, from or belonging to breeders, brought to them with urine stained feet, fecal mats, filthy ears, unbrushed, ungroomed and dull coats, or anti-social tendencies when being examined. They feel these dogs are not being raised by loving, caring, conscientious breeders or owners.

Let's continue with the amount of litters a conscientious breeder would have in a year. How many are too many?

All of the people questioned felt that the number of puppies or litters wasn't as important a factor as the quality, condition, and environment of the puppies. One person claimed they went to see puppies that a highly recommended breeder had for sale. The breeder only had occasional litters, one every two or three years. The puppies were in the basement, all alone while the breeder worked. When they arrived at the home, the breeder had just gotten home from work. When they went down into the basement and turned on the lights, the puppies were so startled they ran to the back of their pen and huddled away from everyone. There was, naturally, urine and fecal matter everywhere, as no one was home all day to clean up. The odor was overpowering. This person felt that breeder should not be breeding dogs. She then went to another recommended kennel that had many litters a year. The puppies were in a large outdoor play area with a large indoor heated kennel to go into at night or in inclement weather.

The puppies were running all over each other to get near this new person, and were wagging their tails frantically. The puppies and kennel were clean and no amounts of fecal were visible except for the ones being produced while she was playing with the puppies. These little messes were being picked up as they were occurring. The adult dogs were groomed, wagging their tails, and seemed very healthy, clean and happy. There was no offensive odor, indicating that the kennel was probably kept clean all of the time. She felt that this breeder was caring, conscientious, and should be breeding dogs. The time, energy, dedication, and money spent to care for their specific breed was more than visible, it was felt. One breeder said it's not the person who has an occasional litter but the big breeders who maintain the standard and establish lines. They are the ones who can afford to have bigger, better kennels to house their dogs, and hire people to help take care of them. They are the breeders who spend the time and money to occasionally import dogs and who devote their lives to their dogs. Look back and remember Harold Florsheim, Harham Kennels, and the Lionheart, Trucote, and Aireline Kennels, etc., who imported and bred many dogs. These are the people that used to be admired, not criticized. Where would our breed be without these big breeders?

Many of the bigger kennels are the ones that take in the dogs and puppies the smaller breeders cannot or will not take back. One breeder said that more than one litter every other year leads to overpopulation of the breed. Another said that if someone wants a certain breed they're going to get it from someone, somewhere! That if the conscientious breeders cut back on breeding, the puppy mills would have five times as much business. One breeder said that it was impossible to develop or establish a line of their own if they only bred one litter a year or one litter every two or three years. All of the people felt that the bitches should not be bred more than once a year and should have no more than three or four litters in their lifetime, preferably less.

I asked the people what does conscientious breeding mean to you?

Most said that breeders that breed for structural soundness in mind and body, health, temperament, and focus on breed standards and characteristics are heading in the right direction. One breeder said that ethics and integrity are most important to her. Every litter should be planned, trying to improve and strengthen your breed. Hopefully, that next litter will produce that special dog you've been looking for yourself. One woman, who has a long-time established all-breed boarding and grooming kennel, and has been a well-known breeder, said never to compromise or you'll be the one to lose. She said it's in the breeders' hands to control what is happening to your specific breed. She went on to say breeders shouldn't miss the forest for the trees. What she meant by that is not to think the showring is a prerequisite for breeding. Not all of the GREAT dogs in the world have been shown.

She's seen dogs that have finished to their titles and never produced worthwhile youngsters. She's also seen wonderful specimens of their breed out of non-champion parents. Not everyone sees the breed standard the same. Don't be kennel blind. You may think "Mimi" is the best dog in the world because she's a champion, but not everyone shares your views. This person also feels that the pet owner public should not be ignored. They adore their dogs just as much as the show people do, sometimes more. The pet people deserve the best we can breed, not only our run-offs. All of the people felt that breeders should not breed dogs with faults or definite weaknesses. Only the best should be bred. The good of every breeder's specific breed should always be more important than personal gain, monetary or political.

I asked the people what they thought about selling dogs with breeder's agreements. Most felt that if a dog was sold to a non-breeder pet owner, on a breeder's agreement, the breeder should take the responsibility for the entire litter. The non-breeder or novice should not be put in a position where they are selling puppies without screening the new owners, providing guarantees or restrictions, and without the facility or wherewithal to take the puppy or adult dog back if a problem arises in the animal's future. One person felt that no dogs or puppies should be sold with a contract; it's nothing but trouble for both the seller and the buyer. One dog owner said that any contracts made when purchasing a puppy or adult dog should be honestly and fairly adhered to by the breeder, as well as the new owner. She felt that not only should the welfare of the puppy be considered, but the welfare of the new owner, as well.

This person had the papers withheld on her dog until she fulfilled the contract. The breeder changed the wording and the price of the dog from the original contract, and was being very unreasonable in her demands. The owner, who has been preparing the dog for utility and tracking has finally given up on the breeder and has forgotten about the papers. She will keep training the dog for her own personal satisfaction, and forget about showing him. I was told about one person who bought a puppy with a four-page contract, part of which stated that the dog was to be brought back if the contract could not be fulfilled. A problem arose and she was not able to keep the dog and took it to a different breeder. This breeder suggested the owner take the dog back to the breeder she purchased the dog from, especially because the contract stipulated so. The owner was adamant and refused to take the dog back to that filthy, dirty place. The owner said they were happy to get the puppy out of there and they weren't taking it back. The breeder took the dog and subsequently found it a new home.

Everyone agreed that puppies should not be sold too young. The groomers made note that many of the dogs, of various breeds and mixed breeds, they groomed that were purchased at four to six weeks of age were very neurotic and not as easy to manage as the puppies that were sold at seven or eight weeks of age on up. Many of the people were concerned with the breeders matching the puppies with the new owners. They felt that if the breeder was spending time with the puppies, they could tell which was the more dominant, aggressive or submissive puppies. They thought it important, for instance, that an older retired couple get a more submissive puppy. Also, that a very active, dominant type of person should go home with a more aggressive puppy, etc. One dog owner, who's primarily interested in utility and tracking, made some interesting comments. She felt that soundness in mind and body were important, but that the breed should also maintain its basic characteristics and instincts. The breeder shouldn't go for the trend of the day and risk losing the breed's natural instincts. Breeders should remember why their breed was developed in the first place.

Everyone agreed it's up to the breeders to educate the new owners and help them with advice and suggestions over the phone and/or in person. If every effort is made to see that the puppies or adults are in a good home and adjust well, the dog and his owner will enjoy many happy, fulfilling years together. If for some unfortunate reason, the puppy or adult doesn't work out, the breeder should be prepared and able to take the animal back.

It seems most of the people's main concern was temperament. One breeder told me she never met a nasty-tempered Airedale. I've talked to veterinarians, groomers, trainers, and a few pet owners that have had some bad experiences with bad-tempered Airedales. About 28 years ago, a very well-respected and admired Airedale breeder told me that a bad-tempered Airedale was an Airedale with a screw loose. Being that I've only come across about seven Airedales with nasty dispositions in 30 years, I tend to agree with her. I also feel that if someone breeds an Airedale they KNOW has a temperament problem, THEY have a screw loose. Everyone agrees that temperament should be guaranteed.

Another question I asked was what is the conscientious breeder's responsibility to their adult dogs. All felt that the dogs should be kept in a clean, healthy, happy environment. The dogs should be groomed if need be, regularly. They stipulated that the kennel facility should have adequate room to prevent crowded and cramped quarters for the dogs. Most felt that if there wasn't enough time and/or energy to pay attention to, and handle each and every dog on a regular basis, there were just too many dogs. Some should be put in homes where they can have the attention they deserve. During this survey, I was made aware of the fact that after some breeders finish showing and/or breeding their dogs, they put them to sleep instead of finding them a suitable home to spend the rest of their lives in, especially after giving so much to their breed. I was made aware that the other extreme existed, such as breeders who keep all of their dogs in kennels or outside. These dogs die without ever experiencing the joy of being someone's beloved house pet. One breeder said they were criticized for placing their older dogs in homes after they were done showing and breeding them. They were told that they could not truly love their dogs if they gave them up. The breeder claims it's because they love them that they place them in a home so they don't have to be a kennel dog all of their lives.

All of the people questioned felt that the price of the dogs was an important factor. All felt that an established price should not be lowered just at get rid of the puppies or adult dogs. If a breeder is conscientious, he or she should be prepared to keep the animals for however long it takes to sell them. Everyone said if the new owners have money invested, they will generally appreciate the dog more. One breeder I talked to had a story to tell about an owner who had purchased a two-year old adult for $250 from a different breeder. The dog was extremely shy, and she just couldn't keep it. The breeder she purchased the dog from never screened her, didn't tell her about using a crate, and hadn't helped her introduce the dog and the children to each other. No effort was made to make this a pleasant relationship for the dog and the new owners. The breeder who related this story to me took the dog in and found it a suitable home where they can monitor the dog and new owner's progress on a regular basis. It's the $100 and $250 dogs that end up in puppy mills, because those people are always looking for good dogs CHEAP, so they can capitalize on them. I know for a fact that the dog dealer in our area was getting $300 to $350 apiece for the large dogs he sold to research laboratories. Fortunately, his license has been revoked as of late.

To sum up, most of the people questioned felt that the most important things that constitute a conscientious breeder are breed quality, care, and environment of the puppies and adult dogs. The dogs should be maintained in a healthy, happy, and non-crowded facility and groomed, wormed and inoculated as needed. The buyers should be screened, and health and temperament guaranteed. The breeder should take the responsibility of educating their buyers and be available to answer questions and offer suggestions. The breeders should be there to help solve problems and follow through with guidance if needed. Most importantly, the breeder should be able and willing to take the puppy or dog back if the time ever would come that the owner could no longer care for the dog.

So, those of you out there throwing stones, catching them, or just trying to do your own thing with the future of our breed in your hands, would these people I've interviewed consider you a conscientious breeder?