Gatekeeping

I want to speak a little on gatekeeping in dogs and why it's problematic.

I'm going to focus on Border Collies but this is relevant to many breeds so feel free to fill in the blanks, so to speak.

Border Collies are extremely trendy right now. They have been increasing in popularity over the last decade and it's only going up. People see them in the media, they're so beautiful, so photogenic, they look so great in the hands of a trainer, they do all the things! It's valid why they're popular. They're awesome in so many ways!

I get new applications for pups every single day and (while it may take a while for me to respond) it doesn't matter if they are good fits for my program or not, I always give people kindness and support. Even if they won't be getting a dog from me.

I have friends who have reached out to many different breeders who have been in the breed a long time and have great lines, really nice dogs. But these breeders are straight up condescending. If you haven't been in the breed and been open field trialing for x amount of years, then you had better not even ask, because there's a good chance you'll be belittled.

I can understand why these breeders are hesitant, because Border Collies are experiencing the "Dalmatian affect", everyone wants one & at least half of them want to breed. It's problematic. There's no denying that.

However.

That gives no excuse to be rude, hostile & disrespectful. How about instead, take the time to kindly educate rather than ostracize?

Callousness towards newcomers WILL NOT stop what is happening to the breed. Although it will ensure that all of these newcomers will instead get dogs from unscrupulous breeders & shifty lines, further perpetuating the problem. It results in people having to start from ground zero trying to create good dogs, with little to no guidance. I'm a newer breeder myself, I'm not perfect and neither are my dogs. So I'm not making this post from a position of a gatekeeper but more from the side of the gatekept, because I do wonder sometimes where I'd be today if I had been welcomed instead of disregarded.

When you gatekeep the good genetics, you don't stop people from breeding. You stop them from breeding well.