Breeders Are Always Right!

[RodRussell]

Over the past decade-plus, I've exchanged many exchanges with several very well known cavalier breeders who insist that they know a lot more about cavaliers than I do simply because each of them is a breeder and I'm not. It is as if some holier-than-thou spirit descends upon those when they bring two purebreds together for the first time, and unless and until I do the same, I'll never share in the wisdom that spirit imparts to the chosen ones.

This logic(?) has enabled these breeders to contend that they not only know more than I do about cavaliers, but that they also know much, much more than researchers do about the genetic health of the breed. Thus, they entitle themselves to ignore such things as the MVD and SM breeding guidelines and even to deny realities, such as the extent that the breed is affected by CM and SM.

Well, there is a great example of the idiocy of certain breeders' mindsets on the Pedigree Dogs Exposed blog. Granted, the subject is the American Cocker spaniel (ACS), but there is a chronological series of photos of that breed, showing how distorted its champions (and thus, presumably, its breed standard) have become over the years. See http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot....up-cocker.html

If the ACS breeders are so smart, how did they let this happen?

[Margaret C]

It is as if some holier-than-thou spirit descends upon those when they bring two purebreds together for the first time, and unless and until I do the same, I'll never share in the wisdom that spirit imparts to the chosen ones.

This logic(?) has enabled these breeders to contend that they not only know more than I do about cavaliers, but that they also know much, much more than researchers do about the genetic health of the breed. Thus, they entitle themselves to ignore such things as the MVD and SM breeding guidelines and even to deny realities, such as the extent that the breed is affected by CM and SM..

Seriously Rod, the dog show breeding world is like a self contained sect, a cult, where they do not question what they are told by their leaders.
When someone from outside questions the commonsense of what they are doing, they are amazed and offended.

Well, there is a great example of the idiocy of certain breeders' mindsets on the Pedigree Dogs Exposed blog. Granted, the subject is the American Cocker spaniel (ACS), but there is a chronological series of photos of that breed, showing how distorted its champions (and thus, presumably, its breed standard) have become over the years. See http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot....up-cocker.html

If the ACS breeders are so smart, how did they let this happen?

Really interesting blog. Those pictures really tell the tale.

[murphy's mum]

Very interesting reading indeed. Another example of how human interference has "improved" a breed... at least in the breeders eyes of these poor little dogs.

[RodRussell]

Here is another graphic example of the inate intelligence gained only by those who become purebred breeders. Far be it for non-breeders to question their supreme judgment in matters of breed standard and genetic health of their breeds.
http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot....l#comment-form