Yes, I think that may be true. I suppose you could ask a few, impartial, experienced breeders to give you an opinion but I think you will still miss out a lot by not networking at shows and seeing other breeders efforts, have first hand knowledge of what your chosen stud dogs antecedents and produce looked like for instance. Was this what you were thinking of or can you see other ways of doing it as effectively?

I was thinking more of breed club events....seminars, assessments etc. No doubt these would be run mostly by people with allegiance to the showring but nevertheless, a good starting point.

I agree, there are many who have excellent quality dogs which would / are beneficial to the betterment of their breeds, [ certain breed standards not included imo ], but are not in to Showing or working their dogs for one reason or another, and while there are Breed Clubs with ethical expectations, there are no actual governing bodies as such regulating ethical and healthy breeding.

I would like to see something formal and legally enorceable set up for each breed, something with more `ooomph` than a Breed club, perhaps a law / regs so that whether people Show or work dogs or not, no one anywhere, be it a `top` breeder or Mrs Miggins round the corner with her nice little dog, should be allowed to breed for any reason unless their dogs are formally assessed plus health tested which should be, [ imo ], a legal requirement, full stop.

I know a lot of people will disagree on a `personal rights` aspect and will feel society has enough laws as it is, but to me, how people might feel about it is irrelevent.
The current licensing system is totally inadequate, it would be laughable if it were`nt for the fact that dogs suffer daily as a result of it being so lax.
Its dogs being bred so much and so badly which causes me to believe that they should have the right to protection from the unscrupulous or ignorant, human ego or anti-big brother or whatever should not come in to it.

Any breeders already doing everything right, [ whether Showing or not ], would not be phased by such a law / regs if they were implemented, and frankly I would expect them to welcome something like that on behalf of dogs - I`d be suspicious if they didn`t...

The breeder of my next pup produces fantastic dogs. Good all rounders. You know what, I don't have the first clue if she 'shows' and I don't care, she is a good, ethical breeder who produces amazing dogs.

If you are happy to spend hundreds of pounds on a pedigree that might not actually look as you thought it would then I am a little surprised :smt001 but agree that is your choice.
Unfortunately the unpredictability of this type of breeding is not just about looks, being an inch or two taller or a variation in coat type, things that people may be very content to live with, even regard as desirable but it can just as easily lead to things like a poor mouth that may require dental work, expense and painfull treatment for the dog, poor construction leading to arthritis in later life etc.

I understand there are judges that prefer the straighter back so there is still scope there for obtaining a knowledgable critique for your dog.

Hmm yes, possibly but I don't think anyone who is not inclined to join the spectacle of the show world should have to, just to justify breeding. There are other ways to evaluate breeding stock.

Which breed Ramble? Good all rounders in what respect? Define "amazing"

On the subject of show breeders selling substandard stock to pet home, just because in the breeders opinion its not good enough to show it doesnt mean that the animals inferior just that the breeder prefers another form the litter.
What are we supposed to do wiht the ones that dont exactly meet the show standard if we dont sell them to pet home?