Page 55 - Chow LIfe - Winter 2018

Choosing the Right Sire

by Dr. Carmen Battaglia
It’s not the weight of the load that breaks you down, The five most popular reasons used to select a sire
it’s the way you carry it ~ L.Horne are listed:
1. Convenience - proximity to the residence of the
There are two reasons that will cause most people bitch
to hesitate when selecting a stud dog. The first is 2. Cost - the economics, the cheapest stud dog
the uncertainty of possible health problems and the
other does not know if they will produce the traits 3. Pedigree - number of champion ancestors
that needed. 4. Offspring produced – quality pups
But regardless of the lack of information and these 5. Ancestors/litter mates - known producers
concerns, the selection of the right sire begins by By themselves these reasons are not sufficient for
knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the bitch selecting a stud dog because no one of them can be
to be bred. If she has well over all conformation, used to assess and evaluate the faults and virtues
health and temperament the job of finding the of the bitch. Cost, convenience and show records
right sire is less difficult. If she has some good traits are sometimes perceived as legitimate reasons
and several faults, the job of finding the right one by those who lack experience and knowledge.
requires more research. The best search for the right stud dog always
The selection process should begin with a clear includes knowledge about his traits, health history,
understanding of what is expected from the temperament and the qualities seen in his offspring.
breeding and what the bitch has to offer. Using Geography and economics have nothing to do
pedigree analysis techniques a breeder can learn with his genetics or his ability to compliment the
about the qualities and the lack of qualities in strengths and offset the weaknesses of the bitch.
her pedigree as well as those of each sire being Once a list of 10 dogs has been developed, each
considered. dog should be checked against those traits and
As soon as the strengths and weaknesses of the characteristics, which are considered to be
bitch are known, a list of stud dog candidates can important to the breeding. Some of the traits might
be developed. Start with a large number of good be related to breed function such as sound hips,
candidates. Ten may seem to be more than enough temperament, size, strength etc. The diseases to
but you will find that ten is not too many once you be checked should be those that are specific to
begin to check them out. Developing a list of 10 the breed. In the final analysis the ideal stud dog
stud dogs begins by contacting breeders, handlers should be one that can reasonably be expected to
and judges who are knowledgeable about the breed. compliment the strengths of the bitch and off set her
This will take time so the search must begin several faults or weaknesses.
months before the bitch comes in heat. In gathering Evaluating each stud dog must be systematic and
information avoid using photos and advertisements. include the careful examination of his pedigree
Most are flattering and are not forth coming about including the relationship of his ancestors to each
problems. Most usually promise more than a stud other. If there are common relatives in his pedigree
dog can produce. As a general rule, one should be that have produced serious health problems, poor
cautious about those who recommend their own temperaments or life threatening diseases, take
dogs because of they have a vested interest in the them off the list. When you are finished it is best
matter. to write down what is known about each pedigree
The list candidates must be screened, sorted and in a summary statement. Compare them to what
then reduced to a smaller group, usually to only the is needed to compliment the pedigree of the bitch.
best 2 or 3. Experience teaches us that some will This is a sorting process that will result in finding
be better then others based on their appearance, one or two candidates that have the best health
quality of pedigree, health history, and offspring histories, temperament, breed traits and progeny.
produced. Selecting the best one is usually difficult What you will discover is that the most popular
because information about each of them will not be sires will usually be the ones that have produced
equally available. Generally speaking, there are five more offspring then the others. There will also be
reasons that explain why breeders select a particular more information known about them and less
stud dog. about those used less often. In either case, as

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