FAQ - Breeding to Improve
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The motto of the responsible breeder of chinchillas is "Breed to Improve." Responsible breeders do not breed to make money-because they know they won't. Responsible breeders do not breed to show their kids the marvels of reproduction and birth-because they know that breeding can be a difficult, and sometimes heart-breaking, process. Responsible breeders do not breed their chin just to produce some cute kits - because they know that each of those cute kits will require many hours of care, and must be placed with a responsible owner who will continue that care even when the cuteness of baby time is over.
Responsible breeders do not breed unless they are convinced that their knowledge, experience, and devotion to their favorite animal will result in a mating that will produce an exceptional litter of kits, with qualities that are as near as possible to the ideal for chins. They breed to preserve and to enhance the characteristics that make chins unique. In short, they breed to improve.
Every chin is the best chin in the world to its owner. Responsible breeders, however, know to avoid "herd blindness"-- in other words, they take a step back and honestly evaluate the good and bad points of their own chins before making the decision to breed them. The goal of breeding, after all, is to produce a better chin.
Examine your chin carefully. Recognize its flaws. If you decide to continue with the breeding process, look for a mate that will eliminate or balance those flaws.
The best way to get an objective opinion of your chin is to test it against others. Enter chin shows to determine how your chin measures up against the best chinchilla specimens. If your chin is a success at these shows, you will be more confident that breeding it will make a contribution to the breed.
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The motto of the responsible breeder of chinchillas is "Breed to Improve." Responsible breeders do not breed to make money-because they know they won't. Responsible breeders do not breed to show their kids the marvels of reproduction and birth-because they know that breeding can be a difficult, and sometimes heart-breaking, process. Responsible breeders do not breed their chin just to produce some cute kits - because they know that each of those cute kits will require many hours of care, and must be placed with a responsible owner who will continue that care even when the cuteness of baby time is over.
Responsible breeders do not breed unless they are convinced that their knowledge, experience, and devotion to their favorite animal will result in a mating that will produce an exceptional litter of kits, with qualities that are as near as possible to the ideal for chins. They breed to preserve and to enhance the characteristics that make chins unique. In short, they breed to improve.
Every chin is the best chin in the world to its owner. Responsible breeders, however, know to avoid "herd blindness"-- in other words, they take a step back and honestly evaluate the good and bad points of their own chins before making the decision to breed them. The goal of breeding, after all, is to produce a better chin.
Examine your chin carefully. Recognize its flaws. If you decide to continue with the breeding process, look for a mate that will eliminate or balance those flaws.
The best way to get an objective opinion of your chin is to test it against others. Enter chin shows to determine how your chin measures up against the best chinchilla specimens. If your chin is a success at these shows, you will be more confident that breeding it will make a contribution to the breed.
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