Page 54 - Chow LIfe - Fall 2021.pdf

classify those traits as primary or secondary. puppies with pedigrees that set you and your
Primary traits are ones that a breeder deems
essential. Secondary traits are those which
are nice to have but may not be absolutely
necessary.
Focus first on the primary traits, which should
include traits that are highly heritable, such as
conformation. While imperfections of structure
do not mean that a dog will not perform well
outside of the show ring; flaws such as hip
dysplasia can certainly place limits on a dog’s
ability and longevity. A good rule of thumb
on heritability is that structural traits are
more heritable than functional traits (such as
reproductive traits), which are more heritable
than behavioral traits (for example, working
a scent). Because of this, a breeder should be
more critical of traits with high heritability, such A breeder’s achievements are directly
as conformation.
Secondary traits are those which have very little
impact on success in the show ring. Secondary
traits that
could be
important, “Great achievements in the whelping box
depending require long hours of study, dedication
on your and hard work, and often take years to
breed,
include attain.”
nose
strength if
you also participate in scent work, instinctive
response if your dog herds, or speed if you
compete in agility or coursing.
Once a breeder has created a list of the strengths
and weaknesses of their bitch, the next step is to
identify a very small, select group of potential
sires. While the decision can sometimes be
difficult, you should already be half-way there.
Using the list of strengths and weaknesses of
the bitch, you select the two or three traits
that you desire to improve. If the bitch is only
slightly weak with respect to reach and drive,
select potential sires that are particularly strong
in that area. Consider stud dogs with rock
solid toplines if your bitch is a bit weak in that
regard. You are trying to offset just a couple of
weaknesses in the bitch by choosing a stud dog
that is especially strong in those traits.
Additionally, the bitch’s strengths should offset
any weaknesses the stud dog might possess.
Simply breeding your bitch to the “good dog”
will probably get you a litter of puppies, but
certainly not the quality of puppies with the
pedigree you truly want. As a breeder, it
is important to strive to produce quality
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breeding program apart from all of the others in
your breed.
Pedigree
How can any breeder make an honest appraisal
of the probable inheritance of phenotype
without knowing which of the dogs in a
pedigree are responsible for passing on specific
traits with any measure of predictability? It is
important to know how many of these dogs can
be relied upon to pass on their superior traits
consistently through future generations? It is
also important to know how many of these fine
qualities were deliberately selected for, and how
many were the result of a fortunate convergence
of genetic potential?
proportional to their ability to produce high-
caliber show dogs breeding after breeding.
A good eye and exceptional instincts as a
breeder are certainly
important, but more
is required. And,
while success does
not depend upon
an advanced degree
in genetics, it does
necessitate a good
working knowledge
of the influential lines in your breed and of the
overall quality to be produced when bred with
one another, both within and outside of the
bounds of their particular bloodlines.
Quality begets quality. One of the most
interesting aspects of researching pedigrees is
the way the names of the great dogs of the past
can be found in the pedigrees of the truly great
dogs of today. A pedigree is not just a piece of
paper with the names of a bunch of dogs on it.
It represents a thing of value when a breeder is
committed to producing exceptional animals.
There is power in pedigrees.
Your pedigree research may even be the key
to cracking the genetic code that could prove
crucial to future breedings.
Patience
Success as a breeder does not come overnight.
Great achievements in the whelping box require
long hours of study, dedication, and hard
work, and often take years to attain. Try not to
be in a hurry, it may only serve to discourage
you. Every breeding endeavor has its ups and
downs. Expect them and be patient. If you lack