Top dog breeder Albert Balmer reveals how passion for improving German Shepherd line 'costs me money'
Albert Balmer of Alberdale Kennels has been showing German Shepherd dogs since he was just 13-years-old.
And he is very clear about what a good dog breeder should do – and should not do.
Albert should know after making up the fifth generation of Irish Champion German Shepherds.
His idea of breeding German Shepherd’s has the purist aim of trying to improve the breed.
Trying to break even financially, or making an income is not his primary goal.
“I was kind of born into dogs, we always had dogs around, always a German Shepherd,” said the 60-year-old.
“I got my first show German Shepherd when I was 13 from Rachel Rea from Carnalbana who was a big German Shepherd person in the 60s, 70s and 80s.”
Albert explains that he and his wife Claire are hobby breeders and have eight dogs at their home.
"For about the first 20 years we had limited success, but then wins started about 26 or 27 years ago when I bought a bitch from Wales from a great line called Champion Peterwell Happy Hooker which really started our kennels off and built reputation,” he said.
“We had one or two good dogs in our time, but they were not exploited.”
He added: “There are a lot of breeders out there who sell dogs very often. Some breeders think that after a dog has been used for breeding purposes they should move them on, which I don’t tend to agree with.
“Our dogs stay with us and are our pets to they die.”
Adding ‘we have got to a stage in life where we don’t need to advertise our dogs’, he said that is in complete contrast to “overpriced designer dogs being sold through Gumtree”.
"The dogs you see on Gumtree (like a Cockapoo or Cavapoo) you pay more or maybe the same as our pups for because they are people trying to make money.
“They advertise designer dogs who don’t shed.
"But how do they prove that? And if anyone tells you the designer dog is a pure bred they are lying – the mother and father could be full bred but when you cross two different breeds you have a mongrel.
“The majority of breeders in this category would not do a health test, like we do.
“Our pups are hip scored, elbow scored, DNA tested and usually a German Shepherd breed survey.
"They are also a member of the Kennel Club too – and this all comes at a cost to me”.
Albert added that just because “one of the parents does not cast hairs – it doesn’t guarantee the pup’s genes”.
He adds that “the majority of German Shepherds you find in dog shelters are ones that started life with back street breeders”.
Referring to the cost of pups – his last litter cost around £1600 each – the upsurge in the cost of pups took place during Covid – Albert said many of the prices have not come down since then.
"We had pups during Covid but most of them were sold before they were born to be honest. At that time we sold the pups for £1000.
"Yet at the same time other dogs were selling on Gumtree for £2,000, without all the health checks and Kennel Club Registration that we had.
“For instance, recently with one bitch we travelled to Brighton along with her and had to pay £900 for the male, our fare and overnight stay. Then if it doesn’t work you have to go through the same process again.
"And that is before you talk about optimum food, vet bills and everything else.
“It depends if you are in it to improve dogs or are in it for the money. And there are a lot of people in it for money.”
Albert, who works in sales for a national food company, laughs when he hears people say you make money out of dogs.
"I have never made money out of dogs in my life – in fact, they have cost me, but they are my passion and my hobby,” he said.
"German Shepherds are more intelligent than other dogs and really need exercised which is hard work if you are showing.
"Showing German Shepherds is hard work especially in Germany where they are from. A top dog in Germany could sell for £500,000.
"But it is important people know how much money and effort goes into breeding dogs for the right reason, to improve the line.
“This is my hobby and my passion and I do it for that reason. We enter dogs in competitions to improve the dog and breed – and that is costly too, of course with the travel involved. But it builds reputation.
"We live in a society that is disposable and not prepared to wait. My success with dogs came because I was prepared to wait and it was worth it.
“There is a lot of trial and error when you are breeding.
"When you are breeding dogs you have to have a vision of what you are aiming for. You have to have in your head what you think is the perfect German Shepherd and you have to work towards that.
“There are not as many people showing dogs now as there was 10 years ago. And let’s face it showing dogs is corrupt as you are paying for someone’s opinion.
"But the cream does rise to the top. I have judged dogs in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
“I am old fashioned and like a German Shepherd sound in mind and body.”
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