Belgians Du Soleil
Our philosophy
Our dogs were bred to be herding dogs. Breeding to keep this instinct intact is extremely important if we are to preserve the essence of what this breed is all about. We strive to breed dogs to be versatile and talented at every dog sport or farm chore they do. We don't breed just because we love dogs. We breed if we feel that breeding has something to offer the breed as a whole.
We believe that anyone who calls him or herself a "breeder" has a set of responsibilities to the buyer. First of all, any two dogs that are going to be bred should be good representatives of the breed. This can be told by placements, points, or championships from conformation dog shows, and by honestly comparing the dogs to the accepted breed standard set forth by the parent breed club. Keep in mind that the best male to be bred to a female is very rarely a dog that lives in the home with the female. In order to breed dogs true to the given breed standard, the breeder must search for a male that has qualities that will balance the qualities of the female. This means the best male may be in across town, in another state, or even across an ocean. People who keep "breeding pairs" are usually breeding for the wrong reasons, namely to make money, or simply because they want to have puppies, but do not have the overall breed standard in mind when planning a litter. Breeders who have large kennels, however, may have a male that will complement one of their females and may produce nice examples of the given breed standard. The breeder has the obligation to be aware of these issues and only plan a litter when two dogs truly have potential to produce puppies true to the breed standard.
We used to think it was necessary to use items such as coat dressing and bodifiers to enhance our dogs' coats prior to going in the show ring. After comparing the differences with and without these items, we realized our dogs could win with only spritzing of water and a bit of brushing. Now we no longer use any type of additives, but make sure our dogs have a clean, brushed coat, and trimmed nails before exhibiting. We feel better for this honesty, and strive to have other owners/exhibitors of Belgians do the same. The breed standard calls for a "natural" dog. To us, this means no trimming, no covering up of unwanted colors (usually white), no surgical (or other) alterations, and no coat additives. Anyone who does any of these things simply to win in the show ring may not tell you everything else you should know to make the best decision about purchasing a puppy.
A good breeder should be able to honestly evaluate dogs they want to breed. The two potential parents should complement each other well, and preferably not have the same conformational faults. Both dogs should have temperaments that make them amenable to being pets, as the majority of the puppies will live with families as pets.
Next, the health of the parents should be considered. Every possible health check for the particular breed should be addressed. This may include passing yearly eye (CERF) exams from a certified veterinary ophthalmologist, having the hips and elbows x-rayed at, or after, the dog is 24-months-old to check for inherited conditions (dysplasia), having a cardiac exam to check for heart conditions, or having blood drawn to test for thyroid disease. If Epilepsy is a possibility in the breed, the parents should be at least 3-years-old or more before being bred, as most seizures do not start until after the dog is age 2.
Finally, the parents should be able to do the type of work for which the breed was created. This may mean potential buyers should attend dog shows or other performance events to see the dogs in action. It is also preferable for potential buyers to visit the home of the breeder to get a feel for what the breed is like, and meet the potential parents. The breeder may even offer for the buyer to take a puppy home for a trial period, to make sure the buyer understands all that goes along with a new puppy.
The breeder should provide information about breed rescue, and direct potential buyers to the dogs available on the rescue program if they are interested. The breeder should offer a contract to guarantee the health of any puppies they produce, and the breeder should be willing to take back the puppy if at any time in it's life the buyer can no longer keep the puppy. The buyer must be willing to keep in contact with the breeder, in order to update the breeder on results of any health tests, and to share in the joys and sorrows that may be down the road.