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 clearly myself - but it concurs completely with my/our opinion on the  matters concerned.

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 to a 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 dog’s colour is black, white or brown .... this will not influence it’s well-being. These traits are the result of breeding for aesthetic purposes

Characteristics - quantity - means anatomy, size ... and some of these when over-enhanced 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 from a given disease (connection with breeding to giant size, stunted growth, extreme form of the 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 responsible breeding 
- it’s producing dogs and nothing more.

A real breeder is an individual who is interested in dogs as a species, especially dedicated to one particular breed and tries

a) to learn as much as possible about this breed

b) to live together with one, two or several dogs of this breed                

c) to breed an 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 possess only as many dogs as one is able to provide complete care for

b) to integrate these dogs completely in one’s 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 conviction) even in times of difficulty

- No club/organization/institution rules should be necessary, these must
  come from deep inside 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 regard the success of the breed over and above any personal fame and fortune 

It is surely no crime if genetic faults appear through 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 in very well with 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 bring 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!

It would be best to have more puppy-applicants on the waiting-list then
puppies available - as human nature tends to appreciate more those things that are not to easy to get -
that's "human's nature" - all over the World !

         © Leonidas-Leos