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Objectives in dog-breeding - demands on breeders !
The following is - with only a few
additions - taken
from the book „Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders“
by Malcolm B. Willis 1992 - H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd. - German
edition - I would not have
been able to express it so remarkably clear myself - but it
covers completely my opinion
on the conc. matters.
Why do we breed dogs ?
Desirable characteristics
in dogs are:
Fitness - Vitality, reproductive viability, maternal
instincts.
These habits are easily measured, they have a genetic basis but
they are not inheritable at high degree
Socially determined attitudes - these belong to
the most important traits of a dog but their significance is often
misunderstood (difference between Nervousness, Aggression, Dominance)
Characteristics - quality - to put it simply, if the
dogs colour is black, white or brown .... this will not
influence it’s well-being. These traits are the result of breeding for aesthetic purpose
Characteristics - quantity - means anatomy, size
... and some of these when overenhanced by breeding are not always of benefit to the breed. Size,
bone structure, angulation
... all can influence the functionality of an animal
Resistance against diseases (the strength of the immunological system) - there may
be a genetic disposition because certain breeds experience a greater
influence
than others by a given disease (connection with breeding to giant size, stunted growth, extremly formed head e.g.)
Requirements
/ demands to the
breeder !
It’s far too easy to „just take a bitch, take a dog ....“ but many people do just that.
- they mate 2 dogs and sell the puppies.
Even decades of experience do not qualify this as breeding
- it’s
producing dogs and nothing more.
A real breeder is an individual who is interested in dogs as a species and especially dedicated to one precise breed by trying
a) to learn almost everything about this breed
b) to live with one or more dogs of this breed
c) to breed
occasional litter as a product of a judicious
mating in an effort to maintain / improve the quality of the
breed
To achieve the above it would seem necessary
a) to posess only as many dogs as one is able to provide complete
care for
b) to integrate these dogs completely in daily life
(proper socialisation)
c) to concentrate on the breed's faults and defects
and to endeavour to
improve the breed through
utilization of organic genetic law
d) to place puppies
with the correct people / situations and to
maintain communication / data exchange with the
owners
e) to breed with
"ethics" (moral) even in times of difficulty
- no club/organization/institution rules should be necessary therefore, this
must
be deep inside of the person who breeds -
f) to make
assure that he/she can rescue dogs bred by him-/herself should the
need arise or to make all efforts possible to safely relocate the dogs
g) to be prepared to cooperate with other breeders for the
„sake of the
breed“ (should be possible by
„healthy competition“)
h) to esteem the success of the breed
over fame and fortune
It is surely no crime if genetical faults appear by breeding,
this is simply
a result of the laws of genetics
and can happen to anyone
(even the most famous kennels/breeders).
Recently I received an e-mail
from an American Friend, with years of
experience in "rescuing dogs" and this last sentence impressed me
and
fits very well to the breeding-goals:
"If you can't rescue
(take back distressed dogs bred by you, help to re-home dogs etc.)
don't
breed"
No explanation is necessary here. I agree wholeheartedly !
It is a human's
responsibility (breeder, dog-owner( to draw out all the natural qualities of
character
in order to arrive at a dog we can trust 100% - just as our dogs put their trust
in us!
This is copied from the STERN-magazine Germany - and the table
shows the most famous breeds in 1996 - the breeders should consider
that it is not easy to find a "good home" for all those puppies of
various size and character - and therefore breeding-plan should thought over
thoroughly in advance !
Best would be to have more
puppy-applicants on the waiting-list then
puppies available - as the human nature appreciates more all that what's not to
easy to get -
that's "human's nature" - all over the World !
