Hey {{first_name}} , it's Gerald.
I little while back, I spent two hours talking with Terry Cornish. A guy who's been deep in Rottweilers since 1991, trained under legends like Echart Quellquist at Jennix Rottweilers, and isn't afraid to say what most breeders won't.
Here's what he told me that changed how I look at breeding across all working breeds: "Most people are breeding for one dog. They're not breeding for consistency in character and temperament… they're not doing the research."
What to Expect in This Issue
Why the female matters more than the stud (and most breeders get this backwards)
The difference between line breeding and inbreeding—and why both are necessary
How confirmation shows and working titles should work together (but don't)
Why pedigrees are useless if you can't research what's behind them
What changed the Rottweiler breed—and not for the better
The Foundation Most Breeders Ignore
Listen, I went into this conversation thinking I knew what I was doing with my Dobermans. Terry schooled me on principles that apply across all working breeds—Rotties, Dobes, Shepherds, all of them.
Here's the deal: Most breeders are chasing titles and looks. European breeders who've maintained consistency for 15-20 years? They're breeding for something completely different.
“Most people are breeding for one dog. They're not breeding for consistency. There's no way you can, because they're not doing the research.” said Terry.
“Every single area of the breed has been monetized.”
What Changed the Rottweiler Breed (And It's Happening to Dobermans Too)
I asked what changed. Why do old-school German Rottweilers from 20-30 years ago look different than today's European dogs?
"Every single area of the breed has been monetized."
Everybody's a trainer now. Everybody's an "experienced" trainer. People jumped into the breed when they realized it could be a couch potato instead of a protection, working, guardian dog.
The pet industry exploded. Confirmation shows became the focus instead of what the dog was bred for. People started looking at dogs from 180 degrees instead of 360 degrees—and they forgot the standard.
Here's what the standard actually says:
"Medium, large, compact, robust-built male."
That's the description. That's the foundation. But breeders started chasing looks, chasing wins, chasing handler fame. They watered down temperament. They changed structure because they were focused on how the dog looked in the ring, not how the dog functioned in real life.
Terry said it plainly: "People talk about structure, but they're forgetting the brain is part of the structure. The Rottweiler is supposed to have a specific character and temperament. If you're not breeding for that, you're not breeding for the correct ideal portion of the standard."
The Timit-Tor head controversy:
I asked Terry about the Timit-Tor look—the shorter muzzle, exaggerated head that's popping up everywhere now.
He didn't hold back:
"Darko (the breeder behind Timit-Tor) used tight line breeding and inbreeding to lock in breed type. He added dogs he knew would give exaggerated features. He stacked that genetic and made it a dominant gene—the shorter muzzle."
The result? A "wow factor" that sells. Something different. But Terry was clear: "A lot of his dogs, you strip the skin, you strip the head—he has correct fronts, sweet pasterns, nice big large ribcages, strong bones. But there can be too much. They're not correct. They shouldn't be that big. I'm sorry."
What this means for you:
Whether you're breeding Rotties, Dobes, Shepherds—whatever—monetization is killing breed integrity. When looks and titles sell more than function and temperament, the breed suffers.
Real breeders still exist. But you have to know what to look for.
The Bottom Line
This conversation with Terry reminded me why I do what I do.
Breeding isn't about chasing titles. It's not about producing one standout dog per litter. It's about generational consistency—temperament, structure, character, health—across entire litters, across multiple breedings, across decades.
Most breeders don't have that patience. They want wins now. They want sales now. They're breeding for one dog, not for the breed.
Terry's been in this game since 1991. He's seen the best dogs Europe and America have produced. He's trained under legends. And he's still learning, still researching, still refining.
That's the difference between a breeder and a producer.
If you're serious about this; whether you're breeding Rotties, Dobes, Shepherds, whatever,
Stop chasing hype
Start researching pedigrees four generations deep
Start prioritizing females over males
Start breeding for consistency, not for one flashy dog.
The breeders who've maintained elite programs for 15-20 years? They all do the same things Terry talked about. Line breeding. Inbreeding when necessary. Female-first philosophy. Deep pedigree research. Temperament over titles.
Until next time,
Next week: The 51% coefficient of inbreeding number that shocked an American Bully breeder—and what genetic testing actually reveals about European bloodlines vs. composite breeds.
Interested in Mentorship?
Want to build your kennel the right way from day one?
I'm launching a Mentorship Program for breeders—whether you're starting from scratch or scaling an existing operation. Monthly, quarterly, and yearly options available. Affordable. Opening early sign-ups. Can only take on a limited amount.
Interested? Comment "MENTOR" below or DM me for details.
How did you like this week's newsletter? 🐕 Loved it! 👍 Good 💢 Needs work