In a message dated 2/21/2007 10:58:44 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, bhahn0616@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Puppy mills would not exist if they did not fill a need. Does your interaction with potential buyers include John Q or exclude him? Barb You are exactly right Barb. I remember years back now, commenting on an article in the AKC Gazette that show or hobby or whatever the current politically correct nomenclature is for what "we" are weren't filling the demand for well bred puppies. The article went on to offer suggestions, mentoring co-owning (which I remember thinking was odd since that's a different twist for the AKC) and I remember thinking....nope....don't want to. I take calls, I try to educate, I refer to club members IF they have puppies, I talk 'till I am blue in the face and STILL I know IF a family who wants a dog can't find one from what I would consider "reputable", they'll still find one. I skip plenty of seasons. CH bitches w/ OFA numbers, TCs, performance titles, etc. are "skipped". I just don't feel like producing puppies unless I or the stud dog owner are going to keep/co-own something. It's too much work and on occasion too much heartache and aggravation. I'm not interested in putting a nice bitch with someone so that they can breed for the pet buying public either. God forbid something goes wrong! So you know what? When I read that Gazette article years ago, I "owned" that I am part of the problem. People want puppies. Hobby breeders don't breed enough to fill the demand. I have no intention of breeding "more" to put even the smallest dent in it. Kathy member GSDCA, DVGSDC three generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions live here! visit _Pine Hill German Shepherd Dogs_ (http://www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds/) <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================