
In Response to LouiseDDB
I think unless you are going to shows regularly you really should not be offering a dog at stud, and not be breeding unless you have a reputable mentor. the few dogs you are likely to personally see do not give you a broad enough picture.
Not only are you looking at the individuals and how they suit each other, but you need to look at trends in the breed as a whole, which you always have. This should be how you spot and limit exaggeration in a breed. time spent in a breed when you see trends come and go helps too, and these are the people to seek out as mentors.
For example my own breed has an ideal height , nd an inch over and a bit less under that is generally acceptable.
There will be times when the breed as a whole is tending to the smaller end and other times the dogs will be generally getting taller. The same with bone, sometimes it will be generally getting heavier at other times more individuals with lighter bone.
As a breeder you try and be aware of these and other trends. For example a fault may be considered minor if it is not one that appears frequently, but lets say ear carriage for example is atrocious in the breed, then the fact that a dog/bitch has very poor ears will make more of an impact and carry more weight in your decision making than it otherwise might.
In my breed we have a breed means score of 13 for hips, but no-one would panic about using a dog or bitch of a few points over that as generally hips are pretty good. In a breed where hips are generally pretty poor with a higher breed mean you would be more concerned about the hip score, but might also have to accept that a less than ideal score may need to be used if there are very few with low scores, but you would ensure at least one partner had a low score, but preferably both had average or better.
I can only go to a few shows a year as due to disability I cannot drive. I am also a divorced Mum so money is short, I just make the most of the opportunities to show I can. I think I attended 10 or so shows last year.
I would say that a would be breeder/stud dog owner needs to attend the shows with the most representative breed entries at least. that normally means the breed club shows, and the group championship show as well as Crufts and the other representative shows who have the most breeds scheduled.
As a breed just off the Import register you can probably find out how many championship shows schedule your breed and aim to choose say one a month within a 100 mile radius to attend.
If you join a local Ringcraft class you may well find someone in your group (working) willing to share travelling costs and transport.
Barbara and the Grey Curly Tails.