Rules of SM

[MandyMc65]

Originally Posted by Hunter's Mom

Thank you for the link to the rules Yung.....I read hrough them and I found it to be helpful to have them linked at the top of each forum. VERY easy to find now!!!!

As for the new rule regarding breeders, there was an intensive discussion that all members were invited to participate in via a public thread. I am certain that Yung and the powers that be read through the post and weighed each opinion and position. Then, like any government, board of directors, supervisor, president, etc., they made a decision that they felt would be most beneficial to the community while protecting the integrity of this site.

I do not envy Yung or his people, I am sure this decision was not made lightly nor easily.

As I read the rule, you cannot post that specific puppies are avaliable but can
(1) post your first hand experience concerning a breeder in response to an inquiry
(2) give newbies or others looking for breeders in their area links to the breeder's home page OR simply the name of the breeder.
(3) post about your experience with a breeder

As I read the rule it simply prohibits the posting of puppies for sale.

Great post!

[admin]

Originally Posted by Hunter's Mom

As I read the rule, you cannot post that specific puppies are avaliable but can
(1) post your first hand experience concerning a breeder in response to an inquiry
(2) give newbies or others looking for breeders in their area links to the breeder's home page OR simply the name of the breeder.
(3) post about your experience with a breeder

As I read the rule it simply prohibits the posting of puppies for sale.

Erin, you are correct. We're not saying you guys can't talk about breeders or discuss your experiences with a particular breeder.

[admin]

Folks, with regards to the rule about not posting about threads announcing puppies for sale from breeders, we (as in myself and the mod team) DO NOT have the time to go back to OLD threads and enforce this retroactively. That means we're not going to go remove them.

[MaryH]

Originally Posted by admin

Folks, with regards to the rule about not posting about threads announcing puppies for sale from breeders, we (as in myself and the mod team) DO NOT have the time to go back to OLD threads and enforce this retroactively. That means we're not going to go remove them.

I can understand and appreciate that removing the old threads would be a huge task and should be unnecessary (except for those who are now "bumping" old posts to continue the very thing that the new rules prohibit).

[almitra]

LOL! Yup, they'll just kinda keep adding to the old ones continually.

[Snowbody]

Sigh -- the reason I have my beloved Tyler is because one of our members posted the link to Tyler's photo in his breeder's site. She was applying no pressure but "look at this cutie who's a really good price." I had done research, PM'd members, called them on the phone, checked the AMA list, breeders in and out of my area and many other avenues but I couldn't constantly keep checking the websites of the half dozen or so breeders I was interested in. I happen to work for a living So that thread helped me so much and I can't imagine my life without my special boy. Remember, I was a newbie then. Just sayin' it was really a service to me.

[MaryH]

Originally Posted by Snowbody

Sigh -- the reason I have my beloved Tyler is because one of our members posted the link to Tyler's photo in his breeder's site. She was applying no pressure but "look at this cutie who's a really good price." I had done research, PM'd members, called them on the phone, checked the AMA list, breeders in and out of my area and many other avenues but I couldn't constantly keep checking the websites of the half dozen or so breeders I was interested in. I happen to work for a living So that thread helped me so much and I can't imagine my life without my special boy. Remember, I was a newbie then. Just sayin' it was really a service to me.

Ouch. I happen to work for a living, too. And live alone. And care for multiple dogs. And attend dog shows and responsible dog ownership events to promote and educate about our lovely breed. And, for the past 10+ years have been more than active in rescue, actually taking in the castoffs (so many of whom were impulse purchases) to rehab, retrain and rehome. If someone told me they didn't have time to do some research in looking for a puppy or rescue dog, I'd be wondering how much time they'd have once the puppy or rescue dog actually arrived.

[Cosy]

Wow! You mean if someone pointed you in the direction of a pup you were looking for and saved you some time you wouldn't be happy about that? I certainly would be!

[Crystal&Zoe]

Originally Posted by Snowbody

Sigh -- the reason I have my beloved Tyler is because one of our members posted the link to Tyler's photo in his breeder's site. She was applying no pressure but "look at this cutie who's a really good price." I had done research, PM'd members, called them on the phone, checked the AMA list, breeders in and out of my area and many other avenues but I couldn't constantly keep checking the websites of the half dozen or so breeders I was interested in. I happen to work for a living So that thread helped me so much and I can't imagine my life without my special boy. Remember, I was a newbie then. Just sayin' it was really a service to me.

Originally Posted by MaryH

Ouch. I happen to work for a living, too. And live alone. And care for multiple dogs. And attend dog shows and responsible dog ownership events to promote and educate about our lovely breed. And, for the past 10+ years have been more than active in rescue, actually taking in the castoffs (so many of whom were impulse purchases) to rehab, retrain and rehome. If someone told me they didn't have time to do some research in looking for a puppy or rescue dog, I'd be wondering how much time they'd have once the puppy or rescue dog actually arrived.

Mary, I think that was just a tiny bit uncalled for. When you are a newbie and just learning what makes a breeder reputable, and even then finding out that some 'reputable breeders' may not really be, but know the lingo so they sound reputable, it does make it very confusing and difficult to find the right breeder. I simply do not understand why you feel this strongly about this when in the very beginning of the original thread that started this whole sorry mess, you were on the opposite side of the fence. I've spoken with 3 different breeders who are seldom if ever mentioned here on SM and they all feel that type of a thread is a helpful educational place for people to come and learn. Sue's research on finding her precious Tyler extended over a very long period of time. She PM'd several people here on SM, myself included, asking for our info and personal knowledge. Hardly what I would call an "impulse purchase". So yes, we were her research tool. However she only took info that was based on first hand knowledge. Yes most of it was done via PM's, but the PM's were because someone posted a thread about someone having puppies. Isn't that part of research? Making contact with those who are knowledgeable and have first hand info. in the subject you are researching?

Perhaps you've been doing this so long now you forget how difficult and confusing it can be to find not only a reputable breeder, but the right breeder for you. I truly respect you and think you a wonderful person and great breeder but feel you are a bit hard on those who don't have your extensive knowledge.

I'm truly beginning to wonder at the reasoning behind all these sudden rule suggestions. To me, it's not making SM a nicer place to be, but making it one like other forums many were unhappy with. And it's making many long time SM'rs unhappy.

Maybe I just need a little break. I'm unable to get here very often right now and every time I do, it seems that something like this is going on. I used to look forward to getting on SM, but now I almost dread seeing what new nonsense is developing.

btw...I work more then full time, help with rescue and have fostered some, and STILL use SM as a research tool.

[CloudClan]

Originally Posted by Snowbody

Sigh -- the reason I have my beloved Tyler is because one of our members posted the link to Tyler's photo in his breeder's site. She was applying no pressure but "look at this cutie who's a really good price." I had done research, PM'd members, called them on the phone, checked the AMA list, breeders in and out of my area and many other avenues but I couldn't constantly keep checking the websites of the half dozen or so breeders I was interested in. I happen to work for a living So that thread helped me so much and I can't imagine my life without my special boy. Remember, I was a newbie then. Just sayin' it was really a service to me.

Hi Susan,

I totally get where you are coming from on this. If someone hadn't posted the picture of Tyler maybe you would not have found him.

I know I got my Clouseau after seeing his picture posted on the Petfinder website. And so I know how it feels to think there was some kind of kismet involved. Clearly this is the best case scenario. A lovely match made when the stars lined up in the right way.

I really think though that the rule of the forum (which I don't see as a new rule, but instead as a new enforcement and clarification of an old rule) is meant to prevent the worst case scenario. That is people using SM as a storefront window to sell puppies in a kind of back door.

SM is very powerful. Many breeders know it. I have seen and heard long time breeders mention that they get puppy sales from this website and frankly some do see it as a source of advertising. While I think many breeders rely on earning the respect of the "Maltese Pet Community" others actively solicit assistance in announcing the arrival of their puppies and even ask people to post for them here. The problem is that it is difficult to determine which is which. I think that is where this rule comes in.

IMHO, the ideal is for us as a Maltese Community to be able to share as much accurate and honest and fair information as possible. I believe that means that when someone comes here looking for a Maltese we should be able to refer them to the breeders we know and have respect for. We should even IMO be able to refer them to the websites of those breeders. But I guess I don't feel the same necessity of sharing puppy pictures and available puppy pages on those websites. It seems to me that all puppies are cute. But the first step in anyone's research process when looking for a puppy should be to learn more about the breeder, and her adult Maltese in the breeding program, their show records, and their pedigrees. Yes, that means they have to learn a lot about what those things mean, but again hopefully we can continue to be helpful in that regard.