Page 6 - Chow Life - Spring 2017_Neat

22
Knowledge-Based
Breeding by Dr.
Carmen Battaglia

KNOWLEDGE-BASED
BREEDING 36
By Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
INTRODUCTION have the same objective, which is to these things breeders must pay
When two breeders meet in produce something of perfection. close attention to the traits of Meet the Breeder:
conversation they often exchange If the producer of a puppy is only the ancestors and what they have
produced. For breeders interested in
interested in the commercial aspect
information about litters and of breeding and intends to sell dogs improving the front assembly they
then go about sharing ideas only to make money or because must work to produce offspring
which eventually lead to a future
breeding. These conversations they want some cute pups for their that do not have forequarters with
children they will have no interest in scapulars (shoulder blades) that
remind me about how we learn this article. For those whose interest are short and steep which give the
from our exchanges of information, focuses on producing quality dogs appearance of a short neck. To Jim & Sue Brough
Life
experience and mistakes all of that are close to the breed standard, avoid these pitfalls, information
which promote learning. Successful sound in temperament with good must be collected about the
breeders know that they must be health, read on. fourteen ancestors in the first
practical and patient in estimating three generations and if possible,
the time and number of litters it will
take to solve a problem or produce KNOWLEDGE BASED their littermates. In the simplest
of terms, each breeding is a mix of
a special dog. Thus, when a planned In the past, before new genes from the sire and dam (50
breeding occurs there is usually technologies such as DNA tests and – 50). The breeder who is serious Meet the Breeder Meet the Breeder
the expectation for something health databases were available, about producing quality must
good. It is an assumption based breeders did the best they could study and evaluate these ancestors Jim & Sue Brough
on the idea that if a really good with what they had to work and then develop a strategy based
pup comes along the breeder has with. Today things are different. on the information collected. In
sufficient skill and knowledge to Knowledge-based breeding has Winsong Chows
recognize it. In this sense breeders emerged. This means that when order to shift the odds in favor chow
of the breeder, knowledge-based
are the producers of a product. quality information is collected breeding helps move the needle.
Thus it makes no difference what and then coupled with the It requires the collection of the
product you produce the goal is advancements of science, progress right kinds of information and then
quality. Take for example the baker is more certain. Even with this kind the willingness to use it properly.
of cakes. We expect that a baker of knowledge the time and effort It begins with the fourteen direct
required to fix ancestors of the sire and dam (three understood that market to high school in Bethany Missouri.
We were fortunate to have a good
time was inevitable, so we
Knowledge-based breeding translates a problem or generations). They are central were always steered toward education in Science, chemistry and
produce litters of
into more than just knowing if a dog consistent quality to managing risk and making keepers for pets, and there basic mathematics. We graduated 2
improvements.
has produced a defect or is known to is not always Knowledge-based breeding many we named and years apart…didn’t really know each
enjoyed. Later, James’ father other until after graduation.
be a good producer. short and it can translates into more than just became a factory Rep for After marriage in 1953, we spent
not be quantified.
For these reasons knowing if a dog has produced a Purina Feeds. time traveling and living in Europe
defect or is known to be a good
careful thinking
My father was a gifted
knows what a good cake looks like is expected. For example, more is producer. It is more than saving a stone mason who was with James serving in the US Army.
After the military years, we settled
and can recognize a cake that has now known about how to analyze few pups as replacements for older called to Boulder, Colorado in Cortez, Co, then Durango and
dogs. The example that follows
faults or short comings. A good pedigrees and use new breeding explores how information which is in the mid 40’s to set the on to Moab Utah where we started
baker is expected to be able to make methods. Take for instance the stone arches on many of a business. We experienced the
a cake that is tall, flat or round. breeder who intends to produce gathered about the relatives in the the University building Uranium boom years there. We loved
To do so requires knowing what a specific trait such as a dog with first three generations can be used built on campus during the desert and Canyonlands, and
ingredients are required, the bake a body that is longer than tall, a to make specific improvements. In
time and how the cake must wedge shaped head, a strong and practice, knowledge based breeding CH Ken Chi’s Pooh Bear those years. It was both an spent a lot of time exploring Indian
be treated after it arrives. level back, or a tail that curls up or begins with the reminder that there exciting time and a very sad Cliff Dwellings along the Colorado
time for my brother and I,
Bakers and breeders both hangs down. In order to accomplish are two known ways to evaluate Q. Tell us a little about yourself as well as we had to leave our beloved and Green Rivers. Our dog was
always our “Chief Archeologist “on
outside of dogs – i.e. family,
22 work, other hobbies dog, Molly, a chow mix, behind. There these adventures. Our dog was a spring2017
James and I were country kids are many Molly stories that have constant companion. Our minister
growing up in North West Missouri. carried over influencing breeding and said that he had better attendance
Neither of us can remember a time training chows much later in life. Her than some of the parishioners; he only
napped in the car, not in church!
intelligence has always influenced my
when we didn’t have a dog. Most choice of chow puppies to keep out of
pictures of us growing up include a We moved on up to Grand
special dog. Early on, our families a litter. Junction, CO. for me to complete
were farmer/ranchers. Animal James and I started our education in Associate degree, then transferred to
babies were “Pets”, and our parents a country school, and then transferred The University of Colorado, Boulder Official Publication of The Chow Chow Club, Inc.
All material for the SUMMER Issue
must be in the editor’s hand’s by
CH Winsong’s Chumley Chow Winsong’s China Blue Ken Chi CH Winsong’s Diamond Jack April 15, 2017
36 Ken Chi
FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE
Rocky Mountain CCC Specialty.................48 President's Message .................................................... 6
Breed and All-Breed Standings .............................. 28
Knowledge-Based Breeding
by Dr. Carmen Battaglia .........................................22 New Chow Chow Titles ........................................... 30
New Members & Applicants................................... 35
CCCI 2017 National Specialty Show ......27
CCCI Board Minutes................................................ 48
Beginning Novice Obedience Stud Dog Directory ................................................... 52
by Louise Wilson .......................................................34 CCCI Health Database ............................................. 54
Meet the Breeder: Jim & Sue Brough ...........36 Register of Merit ........................................................ 56
Focus On Regional Clubs ........................................ 57
Meet the Breeds - AKC National Championship Chow Chow Specialty Calendar............................. 62
by Mary Wuest ..........................................................47
World News ................................................................ 63
CCCI Donation Recognition ........................68 Where to Send / CCCI Board ................................. 70
Advertising & Subscription Rates .......................... 70
Chow Chows In The Summer
by Love Banghart ......................................................72
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