Breeding Goals

Goals in dog-breeding - demands on breeders !

This is with only a few changes taken from the book „Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders“
by Malcolm B. Willis 1992 - H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd. - German edition - and I would not have
been able to express it that clear and remarkable myself - but it covers completly my opinion
on the conc. matters.

Why do we breed dogs ?

Desired characteristics at dogs are

Fitness - Vitality, Reproductivity, maternal duty qualities
Those habits are easy measurable, they have a genetic basis but they are not inheritable at high degree

Socially determined attitudes - those belong to the most important habits of a dog but also being often
misunderstood in interpretation of their genetic difference (Nervousness, Aggression, Dominance)

Characteristics - quality - simply meant if the dogs colour is black, white or brown .... this will not at all
influence it’s well-being. Those habits are the consequence of breeding for aesthetic purpose

Characteristics - quantity - means anatomy, size ... and some of those where overdone in breeding 
- not always to the best for the breed. Size, structure of bones, angulation ... they all can influence the functionality of an animal

Power of resistence against diseases - there might be some genetic disposition because certain breeds are influenced more than others by certain disease (connection to breeding to gigantic size, stunted growth, extremly formed head e.g.)

Claims / demands to a breeder !

                                                    It’s far too easy „just take a bitch, take a dog ....“ 

                                    but many people do just for the whole period of life exactly this:

- they mate 2 dogs and sell the puppies. 
But even by doing this for decades ..... it’s still not breeding (it’s producing dogs).

A real breeder is a human who is interested in dogs in generally, especially dedicated to one 
certain breed by trying

a) to learn almost everything about this breed

b) to live with one or more dogs of this breed

                       c) to breed from time to time a litter by trying to do carefully
                       mating and trying to go on with the quality of the breed

                    To achieve that the following seems to be necessary


                a) to have just as many dogs as one is able to take intensive care for

                b) to integrate all this dogs completly in daily life

                c) to put all attention to the faults and defects of the breed and to try by using 
                    all genetical opportunities - to improve the breed

                d) selling puppies to the right people/right places and to try to keep 
                     in touch with these people

                e) to breed with a personal "code of ethic“  (moral) even in hard times period
                    - no club/organization/institution rules should be necessary therefore, this must
                      be deep inside of the person who breeds -

                f)  to make sure that he can take back dogs bred by himself if there is 
                    need to do so or to do anything to help, find a new place for the dogs

                g) be prepared to work together with other breeders for the „sake of the breed“ 
                    (should be possible by „healthy competition“)

                h) to put the success of the breed in generally over the own success

It is surely no crime if genetical faults appear by breeding, this is simpyl due to the rules of genetic 
and can happen to everybody (even the most famous kennels/breeders). It is just "natural" as nature still has some "secrets" for us left.

Just recently I've got an e-mail conc. "rescuing dogs" from the USA - and what the lady which sent the mail wrote on the bottom, impressed me deeply - and she is right -

                    "If you can't rescue (take dogs back, look for a new home etc.) don't breed"

                There is really nothing to add to the text - and I agree completly with this!

This is copied from the STERN-magazine Germany - and the table
shows the most famous breeds in 1996 - the breeders should consider
that it is not easy to find a "good home" for all those puppies of
various size and character - and therefore breeding-plan should thought over
 thoroughly in advance !

Best would be to have more puppy-applicants on the waiting-list then
puppies available - as the human nature appreciates more all that what's not to easy to get -
that's "human's nature" - all over the World !