Quote Originally Posted by IWK View Post
A lot of people in the dogs hate folks like Tom because they're "peddlers". I couldn't disagree more. I think that, just like any other sport or industry, using the market to drive competition and improvements in these dogs is the best tool we have. Yes, some will have unscrupulous business practices, but in long run, the competitive forces of the market will drive better breeding practices, better health care for the dogs, and ultimately better dogs. Garner puts out a very large number of puppies each year, and maybe his percentages are great or maybe they're not, but if he continues to get good, tested dogs back from his customers for future breeding, they will definitely get better. Meanwhile, he protects his investment in the dogs by making some the greatest whelping and puppy pens out there just to ensure he loses as few pups as possible. It's good for him, and it's good for the puppies. Making these dogs a business is the best thing that could happen to them.
I whole heartedly and very STRONGLY disagree. Making these dogs a business is the furthest thing from making them good you can possibly get. A business is about money over quality more often than not.

Take a look at other "working" breeds that have become a business. The German Shepherd, English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Doberman....etc etc etc. Those dogs are a shell of their former selves, not to mention all of the accepted defects.

As far as your comment on how his customers are bringing him back good tested stock....this is another glaringly obvious reason it is not good to make the APBT a public business.

S_B