Raising the
Standard
Ethics, Responsibility and Buyer education
The Program Comes Before Ego
Standard #6
Ethical breeding requires the ability to step outside your own perspective.
Kennel blindness is real. When you live with dogs day in and day out, it becomes easy to overlook faults, rationalize shortcomings, or convince yourself that a dog is “good enough” because of time, effort, or emotional investment. That’s human nature — and it’s exactly why ego has no place in responsible breeding decisions.
Putting the program first means prioritizing objectivity, consistency, and long-term breed health over pride, attachment, or validation.
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Key themes in this standard include:
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Recognizing and managing kennel blindness
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The importance of unbiased, outside evaluation
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Resisting trend chasing and short-term validation
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Making hard decisions when lines no longer serve the program
Written by Ashley Young, LakeHaus Kennels — Breeder, trainer, and advocate for purposeful, ethical German Shorthaired Pointer breeding.
Ego Undermines Objectivity
Putting the program first means actively seeking unbiased evaluation. It means valuing outside opinions, objective testing, and honest feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable. Judges, evaluators, mentors, and working venues exist for a reason — to assess dogs against a standard, not personal attachment or kennel loyalty.
Ethical breeders understand that objectivity protects the program from emotional decision-making and self-justification.
Humility Over Trends and Attachment
It also means resisting the urge to chase trends. Popular bloodlines, fashionable traits, and social media hype can be tempting, but ethical programs aren’t built on what’s currently in demand. They’re built on consistency, purpose, and long-term vision. Trend chasing often sacrifices stability for short-term validation, and the breed pays for it later.
Sometimes, putting the program first requires the hardest decision of all: walking away from an entire line. When issues surface — whether structural, temperamental, health related, or functional — ethical breeders don’t double down out of pride. They reassess. They change course. And when necessary, they scrap a line entirely rather than trying to justify or “breed around” problems that shouldn’t be perpetuated.
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about accountability.
Core Principles
Ego Distorts Evaluation
Unchecked attachment and pride make it harder to see faults clearly and honestly.
Outside Eyes Protect the Program
Judges, mentors, and evaluators provide perspective that breeders cannot generate alone.
Long-Term Vision Requires Humility
Ethical breeders are willing to change course — even when it means letting go of a line.
Raising the Standard Means…
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Actively seeking unbiased evaluation and feedback
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Valuing consistency and purpose over popularity
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Resisting trend chasing and social validation
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Being willing to reassess — or walk away — when a line no longer serves the breed
Takeaway
Raising the standard means breeding with humility — understanding that no dog, no line, and no program is above scrutiny. Ethical breeding isn’t about defending decisions or protecting egos. The breed must always come first.