Searching for the Perfect Genes
This article appeared in the Bagpipes in July 2008.
In April of 2007, I attended the AKC Canine Health Foundation Breeders’ Symposium held at Michigan State University (MSU), and would highly recommend that you attend this event if you have the opportunity. The AKC/CHF has announced that the next canine Breeders Symposium will be hosted by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on August 2 and August 3, 2008. A fall session is scheduled for September in Oklahoma City. The written educational material provided is well worth the fee for the program which is $135.00 for both days.
One of the speakers is Claudia Waller Orlandi Ph.D, author of the book, ABC’s of Dog Breeding (What Every Breeder Should Know). I received a copy of the book (which includes a home study program) at the seminar I attended last year. I finally found the time to complete the sixty page test earlier this year and have received my certificate from the AKC. The book explains many genetic principles in simple terms and provides an easy-to-understand approach to the art and science of breeding dogs. Dr. Orlandi also dispels some of the myths, misconceptions, and old wives tales about breeding. I thought this information was valuable enough to share. Below are a few of the topics that are covered in greater detail in her book. Dr. Orlandi has graciously given permission to reprint the following excerpts from her book.
- If an outstanding dam and sire are mated, all their offspring will always be outstanding. (False) The dam and sire each give 50% of their genes to a puppy. It’s possibly for a puppy to receive a mix of the best and worst genes, or it could receive mostly good or mostly bad genes. No matter how good a dog is, he or she will always produce some inferior puppies.
- Breeding to a littermate is the same as breeding to the favored dog, since they carry the same genes. (False) Each sperm and egg cell resembles a new one of a kind blend of chromosomes and genes, and although they have the same parents, each littermate inherits a different set of genes (except in the case of twins). This is why puppies in a litter are genetically different and why breeding to the littermate of a favored dog is not the same as breeding to the favored dog itself.
- The “pick” puppy in a litter is always a great representative of its breed. (False) Often the best puppy is only good compared to the littermates. In fact, when compared to the breed standard, the pick may be simply mediocre.
- Breed type and breed style are the same thing. (False) Because breed type is defined by the breed standard, there can be only one breed type for each breed. Style can vary because each breed is bred by breeders who interpret and express the essential traits described in a breed standard in individual ways
- On the whole, males have a greater impact on a breed. (True) Because males may be bred to numerous bitches, their potential impact on a breed as a whole is far more expansive. A stud dog should be as close to the breed standard as possible.
- Inbreeding creates genetic defects. (False) Inbreeding does not create genetic defects; it simply brings them to the surface when carriers of recessive genes are mated together.
Searching for the perfect genes or trying to build a better Beardie is not a simple task. In fact, genetics can be a very complicated topic. The phenotype (the outward appearance of a dog) depends on so much more than dominant and recessive genes or even an outstanding pedigree. Some traits, called threshold traits, need a critical number of genes to be expressed. Other genes may improve one trait, while bringing another unwanted trait to the surface. There are polygenic traits, additive traits, sex-linked traits, sex-limited traits and sex-controlled traits. If you want to be a conscientious breeder, you should make yourself familiar with all these terms and more. Finally, remember that with dog breeding, you’re getting involved with the lives of animals (and their owners). A reputable breeder is not a person who is in it to make money, but one who has a genuine concern for the breed and the new puppies’ families.
This is just a snippet of the wealth of information you will be provided at the breeders’ seminar. It’s never too late to learn! For more information about upcoming AKC/CHF symposiums, visit the AKC website:
http://www.akc.org/breeders/symposia.cfm
If you cannot attend the Breeders’ Symposium, copies of Dr. Orlandi’s book may be purchased on line. Please visit http://www.abcsofdogbreeding.com/ for information on how to place an order.
