Breeders often emphasize the significance of titles, arguing that dogs without them are unworthy of being bred. However, we hold a different perspective. Two, three decades ago, breeders sought to distinguish themselves from ‘Backyard Breeders,’ and titles were considered an added value. Back then, acquiring titles was more challenging, but we believe titles don’t necessarily determine a dog’s trainability or suitability for breeding.

While some may perceive us as anti-titles, that’s not accurate. We simply don’t prioritize titles in our breeding decisions. Comparing it to humans, you can have athletic parents with a child uninterested in sports, or vice versa. Family dynamics can be diverse, such as fit children born to parents who struggled with weight. The key factor for us is temperament, not titles.

Just as a child’s profession can vary from their parents’, our focus is on the temperament of our dogs. If they are biddable, calm, confident, free from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, they are likely to thrive with a dedicated owner. Our dogs exhibit these qualities – they are biddable, owner-focused, and confident. Some may be observant without being nervous, and certain lines may lean towards athleticism. Regardless, all our offspring are fully capable, and titles have no bearing on their abilities.

As breeders, we are passionate advocates for our dogs. We applaud competition and take pride in the commitment our owners demonstrate through time, effort, and financial investment to foster unique relationships with their dogs. Titles, to us, are mere adornments, while our offspring enjoy the occasional ribbon. Ultimately, our focus remains on the intrinsic qualities of our dogs rather than external accolades.

With all that being said, we have several dogs with successes to share, proving to those that really struggle with our views on Titles that there is so much more to success than the breeding pair having Titles. In our experience, the essence of a successful breeding program lies in the inherent qualities and temperament of the dogs, rather than the titles they may or may not possess.

Here are just a few up and coming Willowcreek dogs in the competition ring!