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PURPOSE
The Seven P’s PASSION
PERSPECTIVE
Of A Successful PHYSIQUE
Breeding Program PEDIGREE
PATIENCE and
By William Given PERSEVERANCE
W hile stewarding for a friend and breed It is my privilege to share with you what I call
The Seven P’s of a Successful Breeding Program,
colleague, she said to me, “I believe I am
going to breed Martha (not the bitch’s real however, the information in this work is, for
name) when she comes into season.” I am the most part, not mine. It was shared with me
well acquainted with her bitch’s pedigree and by friends who are highly successful breeders
accomplishments in conformation, so, all I had and mentors who were already showing and
to ask was “To what dog?” and “What is his breeding superior show dogs when I was still
pedigree?” There was some beating around the in high school, and award-winning authors of
bush and then she responded, “My only real some of the best books on breeding purebred
requirement for using any stud dog on one of dogs. The knowledge, wisdom, and advice
my bitches is that he must have won at least provided herein is aimed at putting the odds of
two Bests in Show.” I have to admit, I could not proven genetic power in your favor.
believe what I had just heard. It was breeding In real terms, it can be expected that the very
practice blasphemy. It was diametrically best dogs in the toughest of competition will
opposed to everything I had ever read or had be found among the dogs whose conformation,
been told by my mentors and highly successful movement, temperament, and showmanship
breeders, whom I most respect.
comes closest to their full genetic potential.
I drove home with my mind in a fog. The fog
was beginning to clear as I was pulling into my Purpose
driveway. As I relayed the tale of my encounter It is rational that our motives for having and
to my wife, she responded, “That, certainly, is showing a specific breed and breeding should
one way of looking at your beliefs of applied vary. It is also reasonable that our goals and
genetics.” I was bewildered at her statement, desires may vary. However, our purpose for
but she continued, “She has owned more than breeding should be, basically, the same. Our
one ‘Best in Show’ dog. You have never had a purpose should always be “for the betterment of
dog win Best in Show.” My wife immediately the breed.” The purpose of breeding is to bring
followed with, “She has bred two dogs that to the sport young dogs which will, at some
have won at least one Best in Show. You have point, prove themselves to be a real credit to the
bred some truly wonderful dogs, but none have breed. The show wins, the ribbons and trophies,
won a Best in Show, and you have always done and the titles that come with winning simply
everything designed to put the odds in your make a good thing better.
favor.”
That purpose should serve as a unifying force
My wife continued with, “Ann (or so we will call for all of us. Purpose should be the foundation
my friend), may or may not fully understand of every breeding program. Without it, a
the principals of theoretical genetics, but breeder would have nothing upon which to
the argument can certainly be made that she build. Without purpose, a breeder would
understands the practical application of genetics possess no direction, have no goals, nor have
as it applies to phenotype.” My wife explained any way to measure achievement. Goals serve as
that, by requiring a stud dog to have two Bests, a reference point, allowing breeders to measure
she is counting on the fact that the breed judges, their progress. Our goals should be concise
group judges, and BIS judges all recognize and well-defined because poorly defined goals
the superior qualities of the animal. “So, will not contribute positively to any breeding
if phenotype results from genotype, she is program.
attempting to put the odds in her favor.”
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