ReCOHllections If you had a registered purebred Chow Chow, would you breed it to another purebred registered dog? If you had a registered purebred Golden Retriever, would you breed it to a mixed breed? How about a Chow Chow and an unrecognized purebred such as a Japanese Spitz? I have in the past, while I was a teenager, experimented cross breeding my dogs out of ignorance and curiosity. I have crossed my Japanese Spitz, SODA POP with my Pekingese, TABU. These dogs were purebreds but unregistered. I was young and was just learning about the birds and the bees. TABU is one great stud dog. Imagine a Pekingese having been able to mount a Dalmatian? Wasn't he one macho dog? My dogs followed the law of nature. The puppies were given away to neighbors, family friends and relatives. I had no idea what spay or neuter meant.

Now that I am dog literate, once in awhile someone would come along paying for stud fees for cross breeding. So I wonder and as I am pondering, these people actually know what they are doing. Why do they do it intentionally, may I ask?  And they're even paying stud fees but the nerve in saying "Give discount, it's not pure anyways."  A doctor whom I presume to possess more intelligence than I did when I was younger because after all, he was a doctor, called and inquired for stud services a couple of years back while I was just establishing Cob. I entertained his inquiry over the phone. He said he had a Golden Retriever and wanted puppies out of his bitch. He asked how much it would cost for Cob's best Golden Retriever stud, PHILIPPINE CHAMPION MARDOVAR'S CAREBEAR WHAT'S UP. As we conversed, I found out that his Golden Retriever was not officially registered with PCCI and so I suggested that he consider another stud with a cheaper fee. After all, his bitch didn't have papers any way so I don't see the sense why he would want a Champions' pedigree for the would-be puppies. He said that he wanted it that way because he has been into breeding dogs before, German Shepherds in particular, and that he is used to breeding his dogs to champions. So be it! We set the date and I contacted the shooter that would assist the mating. Dr. Old-Time-Breeder showed up with a mixed breed about the size of a Japanese Spitz, buff in color with ears spread forming across the head. I did not permit my champion to be mated with his dog. I told him that his bitch was in no way a Golden Retriever and that if he mates his dog with mine, he is risking her life. I couldn't talk him out of it and I, on the other hand couldn't get out of the situation. He settled for BORIS, my other stud dog as a compromise. About four months later, I saw two puppies in a pet store. They looked like young Golden Retrievers puppies and the sign said, "Golden Retriever Pups For Sale-No Papers."

A similar situation happened again. This time, it involved CHINO and a Japanese Spitz owned by a co-member within a breed club. Of course, however much against my principle, I couldn't refuse. Japanese Spitz are bred to Chow Chows. Puppies that grow bigger than the Japanese Spitz are passed on as Chow Chows while the tiny ones are passed on as Pomeranians. Puppies about the size of the Japanese Spitz are passed on as Chow-spitz. These Chow-spitz breed are bred back to Chow Chows until they look more and more like Chows and eventually get passed on as Chows. When you hear Chow-spitz breeders talk about their breed, one can faint on how they brag about how fast they could sell their Chow-spitz puppies. Like hot cakes and pancakes! And they often barter for stud fees with the bargaining punch line" Don't charge the usual rate. It's a mixed breeding." When selling the puppies, it's the other way around. Sometimes, one can not stop and wonder if the registered Chow puppies sold at low prices are for real?

One afternoon while we were whiling away at Dog City, a yuppy couple, husband and wife team came into the store with puppy cradled. The couple inquired for dog food, dog supplies and all the works. The bill came close to about a hundred dollars. It was pleasing that such a puppy will go to a loving environment. It's heartbreaking though that the couple thought they bought a German Shepherd. They were told it was a German Shepherd puppy. It looked more like a Belgian Malinois to me, you know this breed looks like ill-bred German Shepherds anyway. Wait till the couple finds out that the puppy will never grow up to be a German Shepherd. I doubt it very much if it will ever grow any bigger than a Japanese Spitz. Until that time, little puppy will probably have imported dog food to eat. Later, it will just be left chained in the back yard.

What good is a BREEDERS' CODE OF ETHICS when breeders do not adhere to it? What good is a club if it fails its goals?

Chows are so cute and cuddly. They look like teddy bears, the stuff we all used to cuddle when we were just kids. But did you know that they were bred as food in ancient China and that's why they are called Chow Chows. And if you're like us who have had a long standing love affair with China dogs, they are your typical China breeds. Loyal, aloof with strangers and good as guard dogs, Chow Chows have a temperament very typical of dogs of Chinese origins. Extreme in devotion to its master.

A Breeder's Code of Ethics

Just exactly how important is it?

I remember my first days at DTO forum.  I had nothing better to do so from one thread to another, I responded and posted my personal

"PAWS FOR THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON".

Posted ... "WHO SHOULD BE A PCCI DIRECTOR?"

And so, I babbled with my usual flare only to be censored after a couple of hours.  One, I used to be a PCCI Director sitting on the Board ... just sitting.  I headed the Publications Committee for 2 years during my term.  I had more freedom of speech with PCCI more than I did with DTO.  But to answer the big question, I will tell you this story that happened while I was sitting comfortably together with the other Board Members during a meeting at Saisaki Restaurant at West Avenue, Quezon City.

A fellow Board Director asked if I had a Golden Retriever Stud with a grin on his face, the kind one easily spots.  He tells me that his Golden is on heat and further inquires on the availability of a stud.  When I went through the motions and enumerated the terms and conditions ... informed him that I have to see his bitch and the pedigree before I decide whether I would consider puppy-sharing, he immediately remarked, "Oh!  You are one of them breeders!"  To my mind, just exactly "WHAT THEM BREEDERS?"  Hmmm ...  So, just exactly who should be a PCCI Director then?

Every month, we held meetings at the same restaurant.  The following month, I asked whatever happened to his bitch that was on heat.  He informed me that his bitch that was on heat was bred to his German Shepherd, not accidentally but intentionally ...

"THE BITCH WAS ON HEAT,

TOO GOOD TO PASS UP."

That was his reply.

SO TELL ME,

WHO SHOULD BE A PCCI DIRECTOR?

ONE OF THEM BREEDERS

or

ONE OF THEM BYB'S?