As some of you may know by now, I've been seen by some as not being breeder friendly.

I plead guilty as charged!

That said, I'd like to state my reasons for my personal views on this matter.

First off, let's define what a breeder worthy of respect needs to fulfill.

(i)- A fancier that decides to become a breeder, must have a clean facility that is designed specifically for the care and comfort of the dogs that they are going to raise & house.

(ii)- A breeder must have extensive knowledge about the breed they have chosen to breed.

(iii)- A breeder needs to understand anatomy & physiology and have a strong working relationship with a good vet.

(iv)- A breeder needs to obtain seed stock that are health tested and meeting the standard as close as possible.

(v)- A breeder must be familiar with various birthing techniques and the possible consequences & ramifications of each method available. This includes preventative measures and backup, to insure the safest possible care for the delivery of healthy pups that can have the most optimal chances of survival.

(vi)- A breeder must have developed an eye for form & movement, in order to improve their chances of success in the art of breeding purebred dogs. That means extensive show experience and absorbing as much information from as many places as possible, including mentoring whenever available.

(vii)- A breeder must be prepared for setbacks and failures, without becoming discouraged.

(viii)- A breeder must have a solid plan with specific goals in mind. A firm interpretation of the standard, providing that standard enables this to be actualized.

(ix)- A breeder must be honest and truthful, without fear of consequences for being forthright.

(x)- A breeder must test their own stock extensively and follow through as best they can over time, with the stock that they produce.

(xi)- A breeder needs to be able to afford to breed, without depending solely on the income of their dogs for their own survival. Otherwise, compromises get made that might not otherwise occur.

(xii)- A breeder should be following the majority of the tenets set forth in the COE by the breed club, even if not a member!

These are not all of the prerequisites, but they are some that a breeder must be able to comply with, and even then, they may not be regarded as a good breeder of Mastiffs!
 
If the breeder complies with the above, in most instances, they will be respected, even if not being seen as a good producer!

Getting back to my own views, I've seen and known a number of breeders over the years and can honestly say that perhaps only 5% of those I've known, warranted respect as breeders given the above parameters I've just mentioned!

This does not mean that the other 95% didn't produce nice stock, but some line must be drawn in the sand when dealing with living things that totally depend on us for their well being.

Breeders of good stock may have less than ideal facilities, and some may feel that it all boils down to good dogs produced, not the conditions of the facilities! This may be the case for good producers, but should not be the barometer used for breeders warranting respect!

Ideally, combining the two, namely, producers of good stock following the rules mentioned above, is the pinnacle and mark of a great breeder!

Unfortunately, these breeders are few and far between, but they do exist in most respects to the above, and they do deserve the respect that comes with the time, money and effort, that only years of consistant, quality breeding practices, can deliver.

see (vi)

WOW, I'm totally impressed with that. I agree with it all!!