Just A Pet? I obtained my first Giant Schnauzer in 1973. I was looking for a show dog: I wanted a female and I hoped to be able to get a pick of the litter. Lots of luck! I got a male, who was the third pick of the litter according to his breeder. No, this was not the way I had planned to start my life in Giant Schnauzers, but that dog did become my first champion. He acquired an enviable show record for his era: he sired approximately 47 champions, including a National Specialty winner. In light of his achievements, if this “number 3” boy had turned out to have some show defect nor produced a single puppy, let alone a champion, he still would have lived all of the days of his precious life with me. He was, above all else, just my very special pet.

In 1975 I decided to breed my first litter of Giant Schnauzers. Now, 28 years later, I have already been through the entire alphabet once in litters bred, and I am now at the letter “L” on my way back through. In all of the years of talking to prospective puppy buyers, the phrase that has run through at least 85% of those conversations is “I just want a pet” or “We do not know a thing about showing; we just want a pet.”

If we breeders are honest with you, as well as with ourselves, the truth is that we are lucky to get even one show dog in a litter and extremely fortunate to get more than one. Quite frankly, show quality merely means the dog is without show disqualifications at the particular point that the breeder assesses the litter. The disqualifications that we look for are the bite being over or undershot, a missing testicle, any color other than black or pepper and salt, and finally viciousness.

Obviously not much more than this can be determined at a young age. We simply use the Standard for the breed, our experience in the show ring and with breeding to make educated guesses. Many times quality dogs do not become show dogs, and pets turn out to be champions. Yet, through it all, most of them are just pets—just like they are supposed to be!

It does not matter whether I am selling a show dog to a show home or another puppy to just a pet home; they are all important to me. The first and far most important thing is that each dog gets a great pet home. Even for the best show dog, show careers are short. So, when the ribbons are all passed out, he still needs a pat on the head, someone to throw the ball and a warm lap to wipe a wet beard across.

All breeders sell more pets than anything else, since most people want pets. Somehow, we have allowed that word to stir up negative images. Pet is actually a wonderful word because it describes the infinitely important relationship between the dogs we breed and the people who love them.

When I place a pet puppy into your hands, I am giving you a puppy that I have loved, played with, nurtured and worried over no less than the one that the show home is purchasing. It is vitally important to me that the puppy grows into exactly the sort of dog you anticipated once you take him home. It is equally important to me that the show puppy fulfills the potential expected of him in his new home. If something goes wrong in either of those situations, I feel strongly obligated to help work out the problems in the best way possible.

Since I have now spent nearly thirty years in this breed, I know many breeders, who would agree with everything I have said here. We are breeders because some passion stirred us to play a role in the future of the Giant Schnauzer. We may breed for the stars, but we never forget the fact that the wonderful pet owners are the real backbone of the breed.

For the breeder it is wonderful to have a Star on the horizon. Still, the Star very likely emerged from a litter of 6 to 8 other puppies, maybe even more. Those puppies are Stars in the lives of the families that take them home.

We, as breeders, must aim high; we have a serious obligation to the future of the breed to make every effort to breed dogs that conform to the Breed Standard. When we select show puppies, we must think beyond the possible glory of a future win. We realize that these dogs will contribute to our own breeding program or that of someone else. It is essential that the show dogs be top quality so that they can benefit and impact the breed in the future.

Yet, there is nothing wrong with the pet puppy; it simply means that there is a physical attribute that would result in a show disqualification or a hindrance in the show ring. These attributes should not be passed along in the gene pool, but these pets are beautiful too! Honestly, many more people call me about the beautiful dog they saw in the park, at the ball game or when picking up a child from school, than the callers who tell me that they saw one of my dogs in the show ring. The next time you are ready to buy a new puppy, quite possibly a Giant Schnauzer, keep in mind the important role you will play in the total picture. For a breeder, the stars are few and usually far between, and there is simply no comparison to placing a puppy into a new home where he will become a beloved pet. So, perhaps your first inquiries about your next puppy could begin with the statement, “I am looking for a wonderful dog to live and be loved in my home with my family.”

“Just a pet?” I should say not! Rather, this Pet is an important addition to your life and a special obligation in the life of a breeder.

Judi Boston Payne, President
South Central States Giant Schnauzer Club

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