So you want to be a Breeder?

For Diversity Guidelines we follow Click here

The following Blog entry has been transcribed from our Facebook Fanpage

Well, look at this link.... and absorb it.  Take note of the work involved.  The research required. Then consider it again.

http://www.seppalakennels.com/articles/population-genetics-in-practice.htm

There's so much to consider when you decide on breeding

I have a neighbor who is so stuck on wanting to breed his yellow Labrador bitch because he just thinks its something a dog needs to do because every dog needs to.  HMMMM????  I've spoken to him on several occasions and really try to see his perspective, but just don't get it.  So, I ask him what good reason is there for breeding your gal, because I really don't see a need for adding yet another litter of Labradors into the world when there are so many already?  I get a lot of well, I got some friends that want to have one of her pups or well she's such a good dog I want to see her have puppies.  Ummmm , Okay? What good does her having puppies do for the breed?  Then I often get that blank stare before he hits me with, well, you're doing it, why can't I?  When I explain what our goals are, I always get to a point in the conversation when the talk about the money comes up.  Wow, you guys must be making a killing.  Your dogs sell for how much?  Wow, if I were you I'd breed my dogs all the time.  And there you have it, for him and most others like him its about breeding his bitch because he can and the ultimate return he sees on all the pups that will net him a nice chunk of change.  How far off from the truth this is doesn't compute for him.  The dollar signs have blinded him of what our true goals are.

Well, dear neighbor, for one thing, I don't breed for the sake of wanting to get a DAM

Hybrids when created from healthy
parents have a genetic advantage

to experience having a litter before her life is over.  A Dam really doesn't give a crap about that, you do.  We, plan our litters and map out the future for the breed we love so much and make as best as possible every effort to make sure we don't contribute to an already existing problem.  So, if you wish to become a breeder then you really need to become an expert on your chosen breed.  To the point where you can defend your endeavors when challenged by others who have their own very strong ideologies about their own dogs.  Most breeders we've encountered tend to think they are producing a unique product rather than just another litter of a chosen breed.  And that's where we contend they are wrong.  Because for us its not about disparaging them, its more about doing the right thing for the breed as a whole.  And trying to address a larger problem one litter at a time. And regardless of what others are doing, we continue to march to the beat of our drum and eventually will find others who like the sound it makes and will not only listen to it, but start beating that drum with us.

Closely line bred for generations Purebreds have associated health problems as a result.

As for my Neighbor, I've learned that you can't change others minds for them, they have to educate themselves and come to these conclusions on their own.  Until then, I feel sorry for what may become of his yellow lab girl.  But, when he see's firsthand that pups don't always come out healthy or alive or that the Dam may require some assistance or that a Veterinary service on call is required just in case there is a problem the reality will hit hard.  And when the pups are born and he learns they need some assistance to thrive or the mother has no interest in this one or that one or all of them, he's now confronted with a lot of long sleepless nights or the choice of letting them die.  Then he has to change the feeding cycles for the mother, then adjust to feedings for the puppies that live to 5 weeks and really start to ask himself, where all these puppies are going?   And does he really care who gets them?  If its about the money, I would suppose he doesn't give a crap who gets one of his pups.  But after all is said and done, and the time spent was an honest effort, there's not much profit left to say, WOW what a big chunk of change.   But you've still got vet bills to vaccinate the litter and examine the mommy. 

Sometimes the best way to help improve a breed of
dog is to go back to basics and cross it with another breed.

What gets me is how many people don't really know the true facts about their own dogs.  People who if you ask them... have you met the parents of your dog?  Do you know the history of those parents?  And they haven't got a clue, and we're only talking about the first generation.  Yet they see a need to breed their dog.    With all the problems in the dog world today I would think they would at least research this decision to the point where they can learn about their own dog.   And once they have this knowledge they can make a better decision on whether it is beneficial to breed it?  And then to start the entire process over again when they choose the mate for their dog.  It's almost a sure thing that when they look at another dog that is from the same demographic region their own dog is from, that they're looking at a relative.  And that's the root of all the problems we see in many pure bred dogs today. 

I've recently had a conversation with a client who owns one of our FCR gals.  Its not

Often times there are otherwise healthy dogs that
are removed from the breeding populations based
 on outdated breed standards.

clear whether they fully understand the reasons to breed that we stand behind, but it is clear they have their hearts set on breeding their girl.  Whether its about the money or just associating human feelings with their gal and thinking she wants to have a litter, is the only thing that has come across to me.  Because in a nutshell I posed the same question to them that I gave my neighbor.  Why do you want to breed her?  And the answers I got were not very encouraging.  And in all honesty, she is too young to consider it right now anyway.  We have our future mapped out with two girls from our first FCR litter and a male We have under a partnership from another breeder working with us from the midwest, and recently our Yellow boy Mozart has studded to two bitches again from the midwest.  We're working with breeders overseas to exchange semen and therefore, from our perspective, there is now enough of his DNA to say we now need to look at introducing another Sire into the equation.  And that with enough litter mates from Our Yellow boy in the equation already its not favorable to say yes right now.  Even for the two gals we have its still early.  Within the next year a hip could go or blindness start to show or some other ailment associated with this breed.  And then we need to reshuffle our genetic deck once again. 

At one point in history a "retriever" was a description of a function not a breed.

 Any dog that retrieved was called a retriever.

We carefully interviewed every one of our homes for our puppies and chose our clients.  We can only hope we did the best job possible to put them in the best possible situation for both the puppy and the new families they have.  We have declined many families after having met with them.  We've given them back their deposits knowing in our hearts that one of our pups would not be right for them.  Or that they just weren't good for our pup.  All our dogs were sold with papers but their registrations were limited as our only way of preventing the breeding for "the sake of breeding" that I've detailed here.  We do not enforce a spay/neuter policy because if in the future we see a benefit to using one of these dogs in our breeding plans then the option is still open.  But ultimately if we decide there is no benefit, all we have is the ability to prevent registration of a litter via the AKC.  We do not tell any of our puppy owners what they can or cannot do with their dog as far as breeding or spay/neuter.  But we don't have to release a full AKC registration until we've evaluated the specimen in question, and mapped out just where it would benefit long term to breed it. And if we see no benefit, then there is no reason to breed.  But, this is not to say that as an owner of your own dog you can't prove otherwise to Us that there is a good valid reason.

A healthy dog is so much more than what you see
 in front of you. Its more about what 
went into what you see.

Research on your own and find a stud or Dam from someone else that is clearly not related to your dog.  This is a challenge by itself.  Because, just about every FCR in the USA is related, within 12 generations you may see several common links with common sires or dams or siblings.  So when you do find one that is willing to stud or brood, then call us.  And we'll help you research the intended mate.   Look into that dog's history and see if in fact that dog is not a product of close line breeding itself,  because if it is, there is again no merit in using it unless you want to see dogs die early on from some necrotic cancers or other inherited debilitating diseases.  Even our own offspring don't have all the details back.  Until we start to see how long they live and what disorders turn up, we can't say with certainty what lay ahead nor make any changes in the lineup or exclusions or additions.   With 7 studs and 7 bitches right now... we have choices.  And that's just with the FCR.  We also have other cards to play as far as outcrossing and back crossing in the future.  Perhaps during our lifetime we will see the average lifespan of the FCR go back to where it used to be or even exceed it.  If we can see that happen along with fewer deaths from cancer or suffering from thyroid, kidney, and arthritic joints then we can say all the effort was worth it.  Right now, we're just shuffling the deck and playing our hand. 

On a final note.  Look at other breeders.  Take a long look at their lineup of dogs. 

We owe it to our dogs to provide a long healthy life.
As a Companion and a friend.

Really examine the look of those in their lineup.  You'll probably see something that was pointed out to us by a very meticulous biologist who took an interest in our dogs.  He noticed that the breeders who've been in this long term, for maybe 20 to 30 years.  All of their dogs look similar.  They all have a certain look about them that is specific to the lines they were bred from.  A Phenotype that is exaggerated from close line breeding to keep that distinct look.  All to the detriment of their puppies long term.  Then examine our lineup.  And tell me who looks related to the next one?  Who has a blocky head, a slender head a regal head, short coat, long coat, stocky build, athletic build etc etc.  They're all different looking, have different parents and different lines.  And this alone is an advantage for their puppies more so than any physical testing that can be done.  Even more than DNA testing alone.  And to all the purists that think purebred dogs from champion show and trial lines are superior.  Oh well, it might just be dogs from a long line of healthy pets that saves their asses from infertility and extinction.  How Ironic is that?