Breeding Articles

60 Breeds-Extinction in the Conformation Sport

This study focused on four major factors related to the risk for extinction from the conformation sport. Factors studied were: number of litters and dogs registered, low conversion rates, status as a low Entry breed (LE) and use of Limited Registrations.

A Gathering Storm Pt 1

Learn how the animal rights groups have gained momentum to change the dog world as we know it..

A Gathering Storm Pt 2

Learn how the animal rights groups have gained momentum to change the dog world as we know it.

Be Prepared

Learn how to protect your pet from loss or theft using microchip technology.

Bloat and the Risk Factors

This articles focuses on the risk factors and things owners can do should their dogs bloat. The Bloat Survey and Report was the joint effort of Dr. Carmen Battaglia PhD of the AKC and Dr. Cindy Otto DVM, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary.

Brackets Formula

A proven method that can retain certain from a high quality dog.

Breeders Skills

Breeding the better dogs depends on your learning eight breeder skills. We must remember that it takes one set of skills to breed, another to exhibit and a third set to judge. The eight breeder skills are a necessary part of every breeders education.

Breeding Winners to Winner Part 2

Learn about breeders who breed winners to winners, type to type with average results. Read about why the fail to understand how to breed by direction rather than by chance.  Read about the breeder interviews and their knowledge of the  strengths and weaknesses of their pedigrees.

Breeding Winners to Winners Part 1

Learn about the problems of breeding to the winners  and why more breeders are not successful. Read about knowing why it is important to know their strengths and weaknesses and how to use pedigree analysis.

Closing the Gap – The Time Path

More DNA tests have become available that makes breeding’s more certain. Listed are the disorders, breeds affected and the laboratories that will do the testing.

Continuing Education

A program that gives you the ability to develop the skills needed based on your dreams.

Control of Dreaded Disorders in Dogs Pt 1

(Hip Dysplasia): Health issues are among the top concerns of all owners and breeders. Some are worse than others. At the top of the list are those called the dreaded diseases which can cripple, kill, cause early death or blindness. Learn about how to control and manage them.

Control of Dreaded Disorders in Dogs Pt 2

(Legg-Calve Perthes, Patellar Luxation, Elbow Dysplasia, and Hypothyroidism): Part II continues the discussion from Part I and includes four other dreaded diseases.

Do You See What I Do

learn to see dogs from the judges point of view. Learn why ring side observers often times get it wrong

Fleas and Their Control

By the time most owners discover fleas on their pet; their home is usually part of the problem. Controlling and eliminating fleas requires understanding that the flea life cycle has three working parts.

Founder's Effect

Genetic influence on a breed of one dog. Why it is called the Founders Effect.

I hear by Declare

Chosen by the Dog Writers Association of America as the best article for 2004.

Limited Registrations

Learn how  breeders are using the limited registration and what it was intended to do for breeders.  When the Bell Curve is applied some clubs fall below the line.

Maintaining and Improving Breeds

Learn about why breeds with large and small gene pools should pay attention to what is happening in their breed. The author, Dr.Jerod Bell discusses what and why it is important to think  through each breeding. Popular sires in large and small breed populations affect them differently.

Managing the Carriers Pt 1

This article explains the basic principles associated with making improvements involves the quality of the information collected about the ancestors and how to use it.

Managing the Carriers Pt 2

As discussed in Part I, breeders can use the Symbols Pedigree to map the inheritance of genetic traits from one generation to the next. It is useful because it

Maternal Influence

This article focuses on using the mother to influence later behavior as an adult.

Mendel's Puzzle

Mendel discovered the gene. An explanation of the recessive genes and how he discovered them in pedigrees.

Modes of Inheritance

Backing into a pedigree by extrapolating from what is observed in the pups is one of the best ways to understand the carrier status of the ancestors.

More than Meets the Eye

In the confined space and limited time allowed in the show ring, even the educated eye that knows what to look for can be misled.

OFA Tables for Hips

OFA serves as a central source of information for breeders and owners based on the standards for evaluation. See two useful tables for risk.

Pedigree Analysis

This article explains the differences between the "Traditional Pedigree", "Stick Dog Color Chart Pedigree" and the "Symbols Pedigree" and how to use each pedigree.

Reported Risks Associated with Spay, Neuter

Gonadectomy, or neutering, is a very common surgery for dogs having many positive effects on behavior, health, and longevity. There are also certain risks associated with neutering including the development of orthopedic conditions, cognitive decline, and a predisposition to some neoplasias. This study was designed specifically to identify if a correlation exists between neuter status and inherited conditions in a large aggregate cohort of dogs representing many different breeds.

Structure and Movement Pt 1

The basic principles associated with making improvements involves the quality of the information collected about the ancestors and how to use it.

Structure and Movement Pt 2

The basic principles associated with making improvements involves the quality of the information collected about the ancestors and how to use it.

Why three Pedigrees

The term pedigree is an old word derived from the French "pie de grue", meaning crane's foot. After more than six centuries, the tradition of using the pedigree continues to be the primary breeding tool of breeders based on the logic that when the frequency of a trait or disease occurs among several the ancestors it signals that something is likely to be heritable.