Hi Juliets - I am happy to hear you are interested in my breed and working to do your homework - always refreshing to hear. I have been in Berners for a long time, am a member of the national club and my local club, as well as Berner Rescue for Southern California. I have plenty that I can share on the breed, getting started, and breeders if you're interested.
I can't speak for other breeds, but I can speak for the Bernese community in the U.S. and Canada - and can offer this: NO reputable breeder charges more for a show dog and I can repeat NOT ONE SINGLE ONE that I could point you to. The fact is, the best breeders in this breed are trying to breed for the betterment of the breed and many, for top titles - because they do all of the health testing (including hips, elbows, thyroid, eyes and often heart and shoulders as well) which becomes costly, they sell each pup, male or female, show quality or not, for the same price believing they are all worth the same (and aren't they?). If this doesn't sound like the people you have been speaking to, then you are likely not yet finding the good breeders.
Because these breeders often have wait lists, I am not familiar with any of them giving the top pick or two to a first time buyer - BUT if you were to go to shows, show commitment to learning and seeking mentoring, it is possible if a relationship is established. Depending on your reasons for wanting to breed, they may or may not want to mentor and work with you.
Bernese Breed Stewards are a great way for referrals - in this breed, the breed stewards know who is having puppies in the next 6 months and who already has them on the ground. They further know pedigrees and dogs firsthand (and very experienced in the breed) and have signed a contract and code of ethics to only refer to those breeders who are complying with the Bernese Code of Ethics for breeding. The stewards are listed by state on the BMDCA website, but you can contact absolutely any one of them regardless of location. I highly recommend you contact those stewards who are NOT breeders themselves (and therefore have nothing to gain) and they will be willing to educate on what to look for and breeders to contact. Feel free to contact me for specific recommendation s on stewards and breeders.
Here are some red flags however to watch out for: If any of these exist, I would encourage you to walk away:
--They charge a deposit (no reputable breeder in this breed charges money up front and does not need to - its not about the money)
--They charge more for females or show pups (this should be obvious but again, is not about the betterment of the breed)
--They do not do all of the health testing on all dogs - you should be able to review the certifications on both parents, their parents and all of their siblings.
--They are not involved in any breed activities, such as showing, drafting, etc. and as a result do not have any mentors in the community. All good breeders get their start from other good breeders.
--As a result of the above, they breed exclusively their own dogs. They have one male they breed to all of their females, regardless of strengths and weaknesses. The best breeders go outside their own, at least occasionally to find the best mate for their dog, who will best complement their dog.
--They sell directly over the internet, having never met you, and will ship the puppy to you (I don't know a single breeder, over 20 who will do this and the BMDCA does not condone it). Making initial contact with a breeder over the internet is perfercly appropriate, but they should then be working to get to know you by phone, interviewing you at length, and usually expect you to come and pick up the puppy in person. I have always flown to pick up my Berners firsthand.
--Another great sign is they show pics of dogs on their website with horrible structure and conformation, but only show the dog from the front, or sitting in a "sloppy sit" position - never properly positioned to see the full structure. They are breeding dogs of poor type but don't know it.
--Use OFFA.org and bernergarde.or g to research pedigrees and health certifications . The Berner resource makes it very easy to see the backyard breeders and mills.
--Always ask the weight and height of the parents - a good first start at assessing whether the dogs even meet the breed type. If the male is 80 lbs., walk away because this is not a breeder selecting for proper breed traits and the proper amount of "bone". Eyes should not be round, heads should not be domed, ears should not be set low, the tail should not be "gay" set and look like an Akita arched over the back etc.
A few easy tips:
When reviewing pedigrees, look for a dog called ARTUR Z LOUCCKE KOTLINY - one of the, if not THE most overbred puppymill dogs and thought to be the backbone of the mill auction business in the U.S. (his owner is THE broker who is credited with establishing the breed in mills and petstores by importing the first dogs from eastern european countries without health certification standards and registries such as Hungary and Russia). This dog's owner was the focus of the BMDCA and the Newf Club of America's rescue and legislative efforts for several years.
Look for dogs originating from Hungary or Russia as a result - not a good sign.
Is this fitting what you have found?