Page 10 - 9 Spring 2023 Newsletter

Anji Marfleet H.C. Kitxe

2022 ended up as one of the worse problem is that Keeshonds no
years for puppy registrations for longer have any large kennels that
over 40 years, with just 15 litters regularly produce several litters
born, resulting in only 60 puppies each year. We are all, in the main,
– 32 dogs and 28 bitches; with at what is classed as Hobby Breeders
least a whopping 12 ‘misses’ - low volume, but experienced
although I’m 100% sure that ‘miss breeders. (Recent figures from the
total’ in reality is even higher. KC suggest 81% of breeders who
Contributing to that number were register puppies only breed 1 litter
just three unproven males and 6 per year).
maiden bitches. Last year there There is a huge demand out there
were only 3 bitches having their
for well bred, carefully reared
first litter, 5 having a second litter Keesie puppies and there is no
and an astonishing 5 litters were shame in breeding for what many
repeat matings. The same goes for derogatorily call ‘the pet market’.
the males. There were only 3 boys There are so many people who
being used at stud for the first time have recently lost their Keesie or
and 1 male was siring his 9th litter. their Keesie is getting on and want
All of which will do absolutely zilch another. Or just people who are
to improve our virtually non- new to dogs in general and think
existent gene pool.
that Keeshonds are the breed for
Apart from there having been more them. A lot of people forget that
bitches missing for whatever we were all ‘newbies’ once and none
reason; litter sizes have also been of us are getting any younger;
smaller. Eleven out of the fifteen we should all be encouraging
litters born (75%) have been five newcomers to the breed who want
puppies or fewer – or just 4 litters to learn and begin breeding.
with over 6 puppies; which is
Only having a litter when you want
as equally worrying as the number something for yourself is really no
of matings which have resulted in longer a viable option if the breed
no puppies whatsoever. Without is to continue. We all need to think
a dramatic influx of genetic about having an ‘extra’ litter and
diversity, used by everyone, we are not keep a puppy for ourselves.
on a rapid downwards spiral to Some attitudes are going to have
extinction.
to change, whether we like it or not,
As I wrote in both breed clubs’ if the breed is to survive.
newsletters last year, part of the

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