Page 25 - Chow Life - Winter 2025

COMPLETE HEALTH SCREENINGS pedigrees of some of the great dogs in your breed.
It is a good idea to have a book on applied canine
A happy and healthy litter begins long before the genetics; Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders should
breeding takes place. This means the sire and dam do nicely. You should also have a book on breeding
have received proper nutrition and regular exercise. dogs, one of the better ones is Breeding Better Dogs
It also means they have had routine veterinary care by Dr. Carmen Battaglia.
and screenings for breed-specific genetic concerns.
These screenings are growing in importance as the Objectivity is paramount, but it is often hard to
many benefits are becoming more understood by maintain. You must remain as objective as possible
puppy buyers. in all conversations about your dogs and breeding
program. It is easy to take things personally; after
When the sire and dam have been health-tested, all, these dogs are your animals and you naturally
buyers know the purchase they are contemplating is have a great deal of affection for them. Remember,
a good one because they are looking at puppies that the breed standard has its place in everything you do
have a reduced risk of developing inherited health as a breeder.
issues.

If either sire or dam is due for vaccines, they should
get them well before the breeding is scheduled. This
is important for both animals, but it is especially
important for the dam. She will pass immunity to
her puppies through her colostrum, so it is crucial
for the health of the puppies that her immune
system is protected. She should also be protected
against heartworms and all other parasites.

Both sire and dam should be tested for brucellosis
before the breeding is conducted. Brucellosis is an
infectious bacterial disease that can be transmitted
between dogs via bodily fluids, including respiratory
and reproductive fluids. This advice should not
be ignored; brucellosis can cause sterility and
may cause the bitch to experience a spontaneous
abortion. Additionally, brucellosis is zoonotic,
which means it can be transmitted to humans.

TAKEAWAYS

Before the creation of the internet, books were
considered to be the ultimate source of knowledge.
Books are a storehouse of specific topic information
and, I believe, have proven to be more reliable
than the internet. This is because books have
been peer reviewed, fact-checked and/or edited
before publication. The internet has some really
outstanding articles on canine genetics, pedigree
analysis, breeding techniques, and so on, but you
may not always know if what you are reading is fact
or fiction. Almost anyone can post anything at any
time.
This article first appeared in Canine Chronicle -
Have a handful of good breed books. Some of the November/December 2024, page 354 and is reprinted
older ones will have photos of the breed’s founding with permission. CanineChronicle.com
sires and dams. Others will have pictures and

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