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NAMASCUSA - MASCA Registered Blue Ribbon Breeder |
Kathy &
Lucky
Lucky
Jim &
Lucky
Lucky
In The Begining
What Is A Hobby Breeder?
Hobby Breeders are dedicated to the preservation of a particular breed of dog.
We do not mass-produce animals. We do not breed our female animals at every estrus throughout their lives. We rarely make any profit from breeding a litter of
puppies. Hobby breeders do not “make a living” from their endeavors and very few even derive a significant portion of their income from breeding their animals.
Our litters do not buy us fancy boats or exotic vacations. We feel we’ve done well if a litter “pays for itself,” and occasionally there’s a bit left over to buy new
equipment or even attend a competition we would have skipped otherwise. There’s nothing wrong with a breeder making a profit, of course, but it isn’t the primary
goal.
We test our potential breeding animals for known adverse conditions they might pass on to their offspring, to the extent that tests are available (DNA and other
laboratory analyses, x-rays, physical exams by veterinarians with expertise in a condition). Some tests must be repeated annually to determine whether a late-
developing condition has appeared. Even conditions that may not affect the animal’s suitability as a pet and its quality of life are of concern to the breeder.
While tests do not yet exist for every condition in every breed, we support research to find a means of identifying heritable adverse conditions within our breeds so
we can reduce occurrences in our litters. The same adverse conditions sometimes found in purebred dogs are also present in mixed-breed animals if the ancestors
had them. The breeding of purebreds does not create “genetic defects” and the crossing of breeds within a species does not eliminate them. Hobby Breeders are
knowledgeable about their breed’s health issues and take responsibility to breed away from them.
Purebred breeders carefully select breeding animals for traits established by a “breed standard” adopted by a national parent club for that breed and endorsed by a
national registry organization. Physical appearance, temperament, and health and longevity of parents and ancestors are taken into consideration when planning a
breeding. Breeders research the pedigree and health clearances of potential mates – hobby breeders do not mate just any two animals that happen to be of the
same breed.
When a litter is produced, it is carefully raised in an appropriate physical environment. Veterinary care, socialization, exercise, good nutrition, and training are
essential elements of raising a healthy litter. Hobby breeders generally sell pets with a requirement that those not of breeding quality will be spayed or neutered
(S/N) by their new owners when they reach an appropriate age. Healthy pets must reach a certain level of physical maturity before they can safely be altered -
juvenile S/N can interfere with the normal growth of a pet and predispose it to abnormal bone development, incontinence, and illnesses including certain cancers in
later life.
Hobby breeders often keep one or more of the puppies in a litter that has the potential to grow into a future show prospect and/or compete in performance
activities appropriate to the breed. Many dog breeds were developed specifically to perform work such as herding and hunting, and their ability to do this is
demonstrated in field trials governed by the registry organizations and by actually working at this job with owners who hunt or keep livestock.
A Hobby Breeder’s next generation can’t be determined immediately, and those that appear to have potential for future breeding are raised by the breeder for
several months, or placed with other knowledgeable breeders, so structure and temperament can be assessed and health clearances begun. In some breeds, exams
can’t determine the absence or presence or degree of a potentially adverse health condition until the animal is fully mature – and this can be at least two years in
some breeds. Thus, Hobby Breeders often have adult intact animals that have not been, and may never be used for breeding. Many Hobby Breeders don’t
consider using an animal for breeding, regardless of its pedigree and health clearances, unless it can demonstrate its superior quality in the show ring and/or
performance arena, or by “doing its job” in real-life conditions.
Most Hobby Breeders belong to clubs on a local or national level that have a Code of Ethics whose provisions they follow. Typical elements include:
•Puppies are sold directly to carefully screened buyers, not through brokers or pet stores.
•Pet-quality animals will be sold with spay/neuter contracts, and on limited registration or without registration until evidence of S/N is provided to the breeder.
•Puppies will have age-appropriate immunizations and other veterinary care before they are transferred to a new owner.
•Buyers will be given documentation including the pedigree, health history, and instructions for care and training of their new companion; the breeder will assist the
buyer in dealing with problem behavior, health care issues, and other concerns that may arise.
•Throughout the pet’s lifetime, the breeder will accept the return of the pet they bred or assist in re-homing it if the owner cannot keep it – for any reason.
Hobby Breeders do not want their puppies in homes where they won’t be good companions because of size, personality, physical requirements, and other breed
traits, so we screen potential buyers and offer continuing support to those we sell to. We do not want the pets we produce to be given to shelters or rescue
organizations because there wasn’t a good match between breed and buyer, or because the buyer’s circumstances change due to illness, relocation, divorce, or any
lifestyle factor that may affect their ability to keep a pet. Many of us volunteer at our local animal shelters, foster and re-home pets for our breed’s rescue group, or
contribute financial support to these efforts.
We value our animals. They are not neglected or abused, or allowed to be a nuisance to our neighbors or a danger to our communities. Just as people who ski, sail,
or play golf may make substantial financial and time investments in order to enjoy their hobby, we have chosen to raise and show our dogs because of the
enjoyment they give us and our commitment to their well-being and the continuation of quality in their particular breed.
| I have always had a great love for animals. The first mini aussie I owned came from a rather exciting experience. When I was 19 I met my first miniature australian shepherd while riding home from a gymkhana (horse play day) one day. A couple of cowboys asked me if I would give them a hand getting a bull out of the mesquite trees. They asked me to go into the trees and run the bull out where they could rope him. I tied my horse up as the trees where to low to ride under. As I got into the trees I had to get down on my knees the trees were so low. All of a sudden there was this huge brindle colored bull in front of me. He was pawing the ground and swinging his head from side to side. I was sure he was going to charge me so I picked up a rock and threw it at him thinking he would go the other way. Go he did, but not where I thought he would. He came straight for me. I just knew that I was a goner when from the side this little blue streak flew by me and ran up to that bull grabbing him by the nose. The little dog took that huge bull to the ground. The bull jumped up and ran my way again, the little blue dog was all over that bull and kept after him until he ran out from under those mesquite trees. The cowboys where waiting for the bull when he came out, and ran after him roping him. After all of the excitement was over I headed for home with the little blue dog following me. I told the cowboys they needed to call their dog and they said the dog did not belong to them. I took her home and put an add in the paper trying to find her owner. No one ever came looking for her so I kept her and named her Lucky. As it turns out she was about the size of the miniature australian shepherds we are breeding today. I had lucky for many years and she had some beautiful aussie pups (you can see some of them below along with a couple of pictures of Lucky). I have always loved aussies for their intelligence and want to please attitude. Having lived on several ranches I found out just how much easier working stock is when you have an aussie at your side reading your mind and being in the right place at the right time. The first time I saw a miniature australian shepherd I was reminded of Lucky. I decided I wanted to start breeding these super smart aussies in the smaller package. I have been raising these wonderful little dogs for 16 years (not including Luckys pups) although I have had many standard aussies on the ranch's before then. I wanted a name to signify the quality's in these little dogs so I came up with the name Boldheart and first registered it in 1999. |
| Little Lucky Trevor, Yvonne and a orphaned baby havalina |