| The Importance of Being Earnest by Debbie Meador In this new millennium fast-paced, high-tech world of ours, the idea of being a noble, high-principled professional in any field seems almost archaic in comparison to the get-rich-quick, win-at-all costs role models our media puts in the forefront of the news. In the recent past national magazines such as "TIME" have brought us to our knees with articles relating to the lack of ethics in our present society. School children are admitting that their parents have led them to believe that lying and cheating are "ok", when the need arises (i.e. to further one's goals and/or success). Some may shake their heads in disbelief, but are less than honest when making out their income tax statements. Those "little white lies" the child learns to create to avoid unpleasant situations carry through to adulthood and most notably to these readers here, to the dog world. While we might laugh at movies depicting a purebred dog fancy of immoral, unethical breeders and exhibitors, we still hold in our hearts the virtues extolled of the old-time breeders that pioneered our breeds' beginnings. Since the boom of the mid-seventies, the number of AKC dog shows and likewise, the number of breeders and exhibitors, have quadrupled. This is partly due to the relative healthy economy of an ever-growing nation. But with the increasing numbers comes greater pressure on the individuals to win more shows, and to breed more winners. As a hobby becomes a commercial endeavor of obsessive proportion, the concept of ethical breeding becomes almost obscure. This sad state of affairs is unfortunately not helped by an organization that cannot control assembly line mass production of puppy mills, and does far too little to nurture a caring group of middle class breeders that are the backbone of the modern day shows. The highlighted elite, most likely to be seen in the winners circle, are no more than moneyed "backers" (many of whom have never sat up all night with a bitch in whelp), whose cocktail parties are far more influential than any lifetime of commitment to breeding top quality dogs. While the American Kennel Club continues to try to convince us that we partake in a "family sport", it becomes increasingly apparent that dog shows, and dog breeding, are "big business". And big business doesn't rely on ethics and morals to secure their ranking on the Dow Jones or watch their stock values rise. So how do we define an ethical breeder in a society that appreciates profits over virtues? The dictionary gives us a clue� eth�i�cal: Pronunciation: 'e-thi-k&l ; Function: adjective 1: of or relating to ethics 2: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval 3: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct Synonyms MORAL 1, moralistic, noble, principled, righteous, right-minded, virtuous Related Words: high-principled; elevated; upright, upstanding It is this writer's belief that an ethical person is one that performs his skills as a breeder even when it costs him. One can appear ethical in a public venue, capable of deceiving the fancy with a slick portfolio, glib monologue and a modicum of intelligence, ably convincing judges and other breeders of his or her contributions to their chosen breed(s). But if this self-made guru is incapable of making sacrifices for the good of the breed in the privacy of his own home/kennel, they are amoral, and only use the guise of ethics to influence, and thereby further their careers. To quote a standard, or list a myriad of winners and producers may sound impressive. To be able to do so with a free conscience, knowing that no short cuts are taken on the path of a truly ethical breeder, it becomes the road less traveled. The truly ethical breeder doesn't need anyone's praise or require watching to be ethical. Ethics cannot be enforced by any organization, even though many breed clubs try to instill the basic practice of ethical breeding through guidelines created for their members by way of a "Code of Ethics". To recognize such guidelines within a club constitution, however is neither practical nor encouraged. Any legal counsel would rightfully advise that there is no way to legally enforce the ideals of ethical breeding. Friends and fellow breeders have discussed the pros and cons of club codes for years, and invariably reach the same stalemate. Yes, we want to protect our breeds. Yes, we expect our competitors to have the same high moral standing (how pompous are we when we say this?). And yes, we know what is right and just and fair (?). . . But how do we FORCE everyone to have our own values? The only way left to clubs, or the AKC for that matter is to leave such lofty decisions to our judicial system, and even then, ethics is not an issue. Only abuse, or fraud, or other criminal acts (slander being the hardest to try and convict) will dispose clubs of members who fall short of the "accepted professional standard of conduct" we would hope is the rule for our colleagues. Doris Crowe once wrote: " ... Breeders will have a history with their breed. They first became involved because of their love of that breed and their commitment to helping improve it. They have studied the breed and the stock within the breed for a number of years. They know the Breed Standard. They have formulated a planned breeding program they think will help in their goal of improving the breed and eliminating any genetic problems within that breed. They take this very seriously. They are breeding for the future..." According to this philosophy, (ethical) breeders do not breed litters just to make puppies to sell. (Ethical) breeders do not breed a bitch that is too young, or too old, or fill "orders" with another litter. Nor would an ethical breeder use dogs and bitches that have not passed any genetic screenings required within the breed. When a breeder states "We don't need to OFA (or CERF or whatever else) because we don't have a problem with dysplasia (or cataracts or whatever)" they are not just ignorant of canine inherited abnormalities, they are not ethical. Likewise, breeding dogs without any knowledge of their ancestry is more than just foolish. It's just making more dogs without consideration for eliminating faults that could be uncovered in an in-depth pedigree research. It isn't ethical, but it's done repeatedly, and often by "accident". By the time the "accident" becomes a champion, (with the help of a good handler) information may have trickled down to the breeder and the "outstanding background" of the dog becomes of promotional value in advertising. Alas, the small time breeder who cautiously mates well researched, genetically screened parents will forever be overshadowed by the big kennel which relies on vast numbers of breedings to produce a few good specimens. Careful study is slow and tedious, but random luck gets the results more quickly with less effort, providing that the facility and the staff and the checkbook can handle the care of mass production breeding stock in relative comfort and health. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the more dogs you breed, the better the chances of coming up with something really good. This is a lesson learned by anyone that has spent time researching the top producers in their breed. A better evaluator of quality breeding would require percentages, which are not available to the general public. Since the fancy must rely on championship records to determine the quality of the offspring, the dog or bitch that produces the most champions automatically becomes the best producers of record. But are they? How many times was that stud bred before he was touted as the all time top-producing sire? If he sired 200 puppies and only 50 became champions, is that a good thing? And were they all of sound mind and body, and could they themselves produce quality offspring? The records do not tell the full story. And their breeders keep what secrets they must to protect the reputation of the dog. Ethics doesn't even enter into the equation. So, how many litters does it take to make a successful breeder or a puppy mill? (And where does one draw the line between that which is accepted and that which is abhorred?) The AKC will not allude to a number, but if an individual's recorded breedings exceed the digits designed to "flag" a file, the chances of an audit arise. Lately it would appear that the number 7 is unlucky, especially if the individual breeder is a judge, or co-owns bitches with a judge. If seven litters of pups are whelped in a single year, and those litters are out of a breed that normally produces three or four puppies per litter, how does this compare to the seven litters whelped by another breeder of a breed that usually gives birth to at least a dozen puppies at a time? One breeder may actually raise only three litters themselves, but they co-owned four females that are also bred during the year, so the computer spits out their name for a random visit from the field rep. Until such time as fairness and honesty can be easily recognized, and ethics are once again taught at a mother's knee, we are "all equal under the law" regardless of our approach and motivation. Frequently used sires (who are arbitrarily deemed a "FUS" with a number seemingly picked out of a hat) are now required to have their DNA on record. Bitches and pups are required to be micro-chipped. The integrity of the studbooks is all-important. But when do we start licensing PEOPLE, instead of the dogs?! Is a breeder of just one litter a year more ethical than a breeder that produces seven litters? And is a person responsible (on paper at least) of bringing 21 puppies into the world from seven litters as "suspicious" as another that sells 84 puppies from seven litters during the same time? Ethical breeders are more than just hard working stiffs that adhere to their own strict guidelines. They are perpetual students of their breed(s). They are also mentors, sharing the information they have acquired through their own labors and experience. Ethical breeders give back to the breed what they receive through offering their services, their time, and their expertise via rescue, club work, breed seminars, etc. An ethical breeder would never sell a pup, and close the door with a sigh of relief. Nor would he find the reward of breeding in counting the money made by selling his dogs. An ethical breeder's door is always open, as he is responsible for the life of his dogs even long after they are gone. An ethical breeder will offer caring knowledgeable guidance to all those interested in learning about and acquiring a dog, whether it be bred by him or his competitor. His foremost goals lie in the betterment of the breed, not just in the self-satisfaction of doing a good "job". We live in a world of "educated consumers". Prospective buyers are tutored on-line these days and told to ask for contracts with guarantees. What most buyers do not understand is that we are not selling a "product"�. we are selling a living being that we have been given the honor to create. There are no guarantees in life, but an ethical breeder will nonetheless stand behind his dogs and do everything in his power to ensure a happy home for each and every one. An ethical breeder will chose well informed owners willing to work with their breeder to ensure a good life for their dog. Ethical breeders know that each pup they place becomes another ambassador for the breed and for their breeding program. Their success, be it in the show ring, obedience, field, or on a family couch, speaks volumes for the breeder's own dedication and commitment to the breed. An ethical person's reputation is based on honesty and trust. You won't hear about the ethical breeder on a Dateline expose. You won't even know his name when the awards dinners are covered in the magazines. To know an ethical breeder, and to learn from him, is a joy and a blessing. An ethical breeder doesn't really get much credit, but he knows in his heart of hearts that what he does makes a difference. The importance of being earnest in this pursuit pays off in more ways than some will ever know. The look of love in a child's face when he carries his puppy out the door; the feeling of pride that wells up inside like a balloon about to burst when the dog you created from a lifetime of work takes that Best in Show�. these are the things that make it all worthwhile. Ethics may not be profitable in today's society, but ethical breeders are of tremendous value to the entire dog world. They are raising the bar high, setting precedence in our hobby/profession to achieve excellence through honesty, and serving as role models for the fancy. To honor them is to celebrate our common bond -- our love of purebred dogs -- and their time has come. Debbie Meador |
| About the author... |
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| Debbie Meador has devoted her entire adult life to the betterment of purebred dogs through her extensive study and careful selection of superior quality dogs used in her breeding programs in Siberian Huskies, Schipperkes, and Shiba Inu. She has trained and handled over 20 breeds in the past 30 years, in obedience and conformation, and worked to help provide competitive sled dogs which performed in harness on the Rocky Mountain Canadian Police team, French Alpine racing teams, and the Tierra del Fuego sled dog camp for Antarctic excursions. With over 100 AKC champions in three breeds to her credit, Debbie's carefully selected bloodlines continue to be developed by fellow breeders around the world. She has served on the Board of Directors and as Show Chairman of various clubs over the years including the Middleburg Kennel Club, Colonial |
| Schipperke Club, and National Shiba Club of America, among others. She currently serves as the Middleburg KC delegate to the VA. Federation. One of her primary contributions has been as Editor for various club newsletters and magazines, from the hand drawn cut and paste �Ring and Trail� of the early 70�s to the internationally acclaimed, totally computerized �Shibas USA� which she currently publishes. She is also the past publisher of the Schipperke Club of America�s �Bulletin�. Debbie�s book �Siberian Huskies � The Family Albumn� (Denlinger- now Alpine) has been sold world wide since 1985 and continues to be the ultimate source for indepth pedigree research in the breed. A new book, Shibas USA Hall of Fame, the First Decade is scheduled for release in 2005. She is also currently updating a supplement to her well received seminars on the Shiba: The Shiba Primer, a Guide to Judges and Breeders. |