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DOG BREEDING

In the beginning, the reason for dog breeding has been the purpose of working dog. Breeding dogs was initially just a way to regulate the number of stray dogs living in villages. Throw domestication the people understood the value of the hunting dog, a shepherd and a guardian. If a village had to move, the dogs were transferred with people and those who survived the dangers of the trip brought a new strain in the region in living populations. There were no birth regulation of dogs, but only those individuals were left alive who had the features needed by people. Slowly, the dogs began to change even more, and had features that wild dogs didn't have.

Many of those external features that we find in today's
dogs has originally been necessary for the use of the dog. Such are example the dachshunds long and narrow shape of the intrusion of the caves to find their prey, the shape of the collie's ear listening to the shepherd's whistles in the field or Komondor strings probing to protect it from predators while a flock guardian dog is at work. Also characters of the dogs have been important, although their potential loss is not in the same way considered as the appearance. Cave Dogs had to be independent and spunky when they have applied for prey underground and sometimes even lost the fight against foxes or raccoon dogs. These dogs nature knew no giving up and they had the ability to bite to kill. In turn, sheepdog had to have enough independent and courageous nature in order to move cattle or sheep, but at the same time be humble enough to listen to the shepherd's voices and to obey the commandments if necessary, over long distances.

 

Only in the 20th century breeding is also strongly associated with the appearance. The first dog exhibition was held in 1800 in England and it quickly became common in a pleasant pastime of the nobility and court circles. The breed standards were created around the same time, and many old breeds, that were already disappearing, began to revive.

The breed standards have been ever since breeders help while trying to keep the breed characteristics, but also improve the already existing position. I think the breed standards are a good thing, because they tell us what the breed should look like, and also point out the nature of the properties dogs should be. However the variety is amount and how a good dog should look like or behave, is always in eye of the beholder.

In my opinion, one should only use in breeding dos  that have a strong and steady proof of character as well as appearance. But it is not clear how these features can be measured. When the dog is adaptable and highly trainable, breed clubs and breeders wrestle with major problems. How to measure the dog's breeding value? Characters, the health or appearance? Since the acquired properties are not inherited, breeders need the skill to look "under" the gained results.

 

Today's society is a result-oriented examined it from any angle. The so-called business thinking eats space for the rest of the company in the world. When the work demands of efficiency and productivity requirements for overtime, and the results, the schools will begin to favor such a vision to strengthen children's ability to adapt to the adult world-employed. At our leisure time we are fighting with the same issues: hobbies, studying and trying to adapt to society's demanding schedule.

 

A certain kind of formality is also seen at dog hobbies. We define our dogs by the results of our dogs, not in how they operate in normal life. The dog has to adapt rhythm of our life, and we require nothing but the best of it. Breeding with only top dogs is common, and certain features we can certainly keep in a becoming offspring. Such processing, however, gives space for only a small number of the desired results dogs, when the population of the genetic diversity decreases. This in turn brings new problems, such as increasing the health and character problems. Therefore, alone with the top results it is difficult to breed in the long run, and try to get the level of the whole race up. When breeding so called average position, the race will develop more slowly, but at the same time the gene pool remains broad. Dogs used for breeding are healthy, good-natured, and the correct type. They may not be tops in any sport, in particular, but important to bear its inheritance diversity.

 

Most of our dogs live in families as a pet. Even those animals that are used for as a "working dog" are living in families rest of the time. In this living environment, dogs are required in many cases much broader capabilities than from the actual working dog. Society Dogs "operating characteristics" are example good resistance to stress, stimuli, and frustration tolerance and ability to be not too suspicious or aggressive, so that they would be easy to live with. For the owners of the dogs the properties of the nature is most important. Yet many of the breeds breeding only seems to be criterion for the appearance.

Finnish dogs are on the outer shape of the world's
top. Dogs are exported for breeding purposes and we dog lovers are very proud of it. But even if the parents of the particular litter would be selected with care and skill in accordance with the criteria of appearance, the majority of the puppies would still be family pets, in ordinary people's homes. Dogs spend the exhibitions, competitions and in tests only a fraction of their lives, other times they are at home-environment. There, the congenital abilities and characteristics, behavior and nature has far important meaning than the outer shape.

 

In dogshows alone the dogs character can not be measured sufficiently and diverse with the dog in the ring and home can be big. It is difficult to guess what kind of  behavior dog has at home. The specific mental test's have been developed for this deficiency, but they will not fully describe how strongly certain characteristics are inherited. Mental test is, at the end, a subjective vision of the dog at that moment and in that place. Sometimes everyday life and the result of the test do not apply. I am hoping that my puppies would enter a wide variety of tests, so that I would obtain more comprehensive information about them.

 

In addition to appearance and character of the dog, the important thing for dogs living is its health. A sick dog to its owner is not only emotionally heavy burden, but also costly. Structural defects or respiratory problems with a dog's life is hardly enviable. The animal might experience symptoms of pain and have aggressive behavior, or it may at least in the eyes of the owner be inconsistent. Many dog breeds have certain diseases brought by this processing, which are already considered to be part of the nature of the race.

I think it is clear that the dog's breeding value can not be measured solely on the basis of the results. The fact that the dog is healthy by papers in hips, elbows or knees, it is only part of the story. The fact that it successfully passes the character test does not tell directly what kind of the dog is to live with, or what part of the test areas can be directly inherited think of posterity. The fact that the dog gets the required result is an exhibition does not tell its working ability or the characteristics of it should have.

 

The breeders have great difficulty in forming opinion should the breed to be changed for the today's society, where only a few can take the dog breed characterized by the use. Example a dog, which has a great need to hunt for game, can be difficult to manage for the owner, and a dog with a strong tendency to security can be even dangerous in the wrong hands. While the human society has changed, tries a dog - and breeders - to stay up to date in urbanization, urgency, schedules and business way of living.

Therefore it seems reasonable to stress out the importance of breeders as guardians of the particular breed. In my opinion, we breeders today are not allowed to alter the characteristics of the dogs for only because of our society. We should seek puppy owners, who are sufficiently well informed to seek information about the characteristics of different breeds, and to accept that not all breeds are for them. Breeder should be able to maintain a comprehensive view of the things, and not to narrow gene pool, which is in Finland, regardless of the breed, already too narrow. We should emphasize the results in addition to good basic health, the natural instincts of dogs and vitality. Knowing one's own breed through and through, respect for history and knowing present-day opportunities are to my opinion breeder's most important features. In the end, we breeders are only small points in the history of dog breeds, so we should keep the loved breeds for future generations. I hope that in the future an increasing number of breeders would began to build a new kind of dog breeding of a comprehensive design and implementation.

 

Dog Breeding Selection

Few of the dog breeder has started with knowing of becoming a breeder. Females living at home may not have been acquired with the idea in mind that it would someday make puppies. Many people belittles the issue and says that they only have a desire to make puppies out of their bitch, not so much
to become a breeder. It is worth remembering that every one of making a litter out of their bitch, is in fact a breeder.

It's good to plan in advance what kind of dogs are used for breeding. A particular litter may have several individuals, each of them living and affecting later in their environment. Therefore features of the dogs used in breeding should have a lot of weight, especially from the perspective of the puppy buyers. Also for procreation, it is important to understand that one or more
puppies can be used later in breeding, and will continue to pass on their parents' properties. In many cases, the owners of the females spend a lot of time to find a good male, and sometimes it is easier said than done. If the critique of their own females should  be as demanding than the males, many litter would not be done.

 

Good processing characteristics of the dog is definitely in good health. Collie is in a PEVISA program, so the dogs used for breeding are hip and describe for eyes. Often the elbows are now described. Dog's basic health, however, are lot of other things as well. Dog used in breeding needs to have a normal appetite and well-functioning stomach. A dog who eats poorly, or a stomach reacts even to small changes of the circumstances is not a good breeding dog. Usually dogs with bad stomach are more sensitive to their very nature, perhaps even skittish, and even these features are no good breeding dog. Allergies are common among Collies, so it should pay attention to breeding. Bad stomach may be the first symptom of a latent allergy. It is good to write down the vet visits, and to consider whether there made trips could influence the dog's breeding value. Several antibiotic's, strange physical symptoms, or even a continuous eye-or ear infection may be reasons to leave the dog out of the use of breeding. For normal domestic dog such factors are not so relevant, but for breeding the dog must be healthy in every way.

Character is the most important requirements for present breeding dogs. A strong, balanced and calm bitch will transfer a model for her puppies. Restless, anxious female are doing the same for their puppies, even if the man would try to influence the development of cubs natural growth. Stud dog's character is not quite as important as the male rarely spend time with his puppies. However, it is important to understand the male nature in order to correspond as closely as possible the nature of a bitch. The longer the puppies will grow with the breeder, the greater is the importance of the nature of the breeding bitch. Is no longer enough, that it is able to breast-feed their puppies and treat them to weaning. The mother must be able to teach her puppies to sociability, and provide important models for the future.

 

In addition, breeding dogs should be typical of the breed. This means that, by holding a dog man gets a clear idea of what breed it is. In Collie's case it should be passed on to the viewer that this is a Collie, not Bearded Collie, nor Ibiza Podengo or Whippet. Naturally, the breeder will explore the breed standard, and an experienced viewer can immediately see whether the dog is VG's or EX's dog.

 

Breeding dogs should always be, in my opinion, awarded at least VG, because a good breeding dog may not always be placed in the prize place in dog shows, but it can equally do well from show to another and transmit strong qualities to her puppies. The dog should have the proper contour, which means in Collies the fact that its structure is in good condition. The right shoulder and upper arm posture and adequate angulation to ensure that the dog has lines. In addition, it should have the right type of bone for working dog.

The right kind of bite is small, but extremely important part of breeding dogs.
Collie's should have a full, complete scissor bite, but some missing teeth occurs. In addition, breeders should take a good look at breeding pedigree. Appearance, temperament, health and family together define what kind of puppies will be. That is why I want to know as many dogs found in pedigrees first hand, as well as their brothers and sisters. I try to follow puppies throughout their lifetime, so I am able to make decisions for future developments. If some of the stud dogs littermates has already been used for breeding, what are their descendants? Is there a family history of hereditary diseases found in nature or characteristics that should be avoided?

Breeding bitches features are important to the breeder, of course, but because one male can produce several litters during his life, and thus obtain more offspring, males should also pay attention by the properties. Good breeding dog is not necessary a top-dog, but a average dog with good proportions over all. Often the so-called top litters are exceptions, but on the other hand if the whole litter is high quality, then the parents are sure to have it too, and
their good properties can be preserved in further processing. Since there is no perfect dog, the breeder is responsible for finding complementary dogs all of the above aspects. After this, he can begin to consider whether he has enough time or space, so that the combination would be possible.

 

Holistic dog breeding

Holistic is a Greek word and means aa a direct translation whole "Holos". It is a philosophical concept, according to which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. For example, there is no awareness in one neuron, but as part of the brain one neuron is part of the awareness ass well.
Holistic view chalenges the traditional views on the fact that the objects under investigation should be split up so they could look at. This kind of thinking leads to a review with a new, diverse way. I came across with holistic human perception in my practical nurse studies, where we were pointed out that man is always a sum of many things.

In dog breeding I also want to keep a holistic view on mind. My dogs are all individuals and their care and breeding is the sum of many small matter. As I have written above, in the last hundred years people have been breeding their dogs mainly appearance in mind. Nowadays there is a lot of discussion taking place about dogs hereditary diseases, disorders, and the loss of the typical characteristics of some breeds. These problems are due to small populations, where the breeding ground grow narrow, only the external form of processing based on the criteria and requirements of society in relation to dogs. Holistic Dog breeding is the idea that all the dog features should be processed and taken into account. As simplest, it would be the co-work of breeder and the puppy owners for the benefit of the breed as well as respect for the unique animal.

First, the breeder should study the characteristics of a dog, regardless of the breed or purpose. Certain types of "breed blindness"  is woefully common among breeders. On the other hand, more intensively following more than one breed is  a time-consuming task. Removing an eye on their own breed, however, would provide new perspectives and opportunities. The breeders should educate themselves on various courses and lectures as well as to update his or her skills. Also a general history of the dog and its relevance to the present day, is important to be able to understand dogs instincts and behaviors.

When making breeding selections, they should pay attention also to other things than just the results. As I wrote above, the dog's basic health as well as identifying what is important in the consideration of a good temper is important. Character is also relevant to the type of the breed, breeder should know what kind of representative of the breed's purpose should be pursued. The fact that a dog is doing obedience, agility or a service dog does not always mean that the dog would be such a good shepherd, what primarily I think collie should be.

 

The fact that today so few breeders are able to truly measure the value of their dogs is due to the fact that the Kennel Club and breed clubs do not organize typical activities to the breed. The history of many breeds is spread so far that the actual use of the values of them are lost.

 

I think this should change, because if we want or not, the breed features begin to change when their use is changed from the original to the current desire. The answer to whether we really have a right to do so is something everyone should think, deep down. If during the hundred years we have gained the status of breeds today, where we are after the next hundred years?

Canine Health should be measured not just in testing and descriptions. Many breed associations have had forms in order to obtain more information on dogs health. Unfortunately, these queries correspond to only a very few. If the breed is thousands of individuals, and only 150 to provide an answer, Will it tell us about the level of the breed or something else? The breeders have a unique opportunity to follow their breeding by being in connection with the owners. The Kennel Club is making forms, so that they can be distributed them to breeders and puppy owners.
Things are coming to change, but disappointingly slow.

Many breeds have serious problems with the dogs ability to create or manage the puppies themselves. Causes are the result of processing caused by the structure of the vitality of the puppies, or a high COI. The care of the normal reproduction and the maintenance of nursing bitches is one of the most important tasks of the breeder, but dogs quality can not be observed if it is not given the opportunity. If the breeder 'help' routinely stud dogs, puppies, and births of animals, the absence of behavior go unnoticed. Are we people better to nurse the puppies than bitch itself? The nature and quality of the care bitch is giving to her puppies affect the behavior of pups and therefore is influencing how they react in their future adult life. If a bitch can not survive the birth without the help completing by human or even have to have the emperor cut, it is necessary to consider is it worthwhile to bred her again. Focal weakness, and other female congenital problems are inherited characteristics.

The breeder should also consider the spiritual growth of the dogs. Now a days we have a lot of separation anxiety in one way or the other affected dogs. Also other kind of problem behavior is more and more common. It is the assertion that something is seriously wrong with just bringing up the dogs. Is it perhaps, that we sell our puppies too soon, when a small puppy's social development is disrupted and it is influenced later in life?
Or is it always the fault of the owners who can not train the dog? Dogs live in the human world. Its rules and habits are not inherited by the dog, but the adoption of new things is. Thanks to their ability to adapt quickly to the new family and become stigmatized strongly to people dogs are easy to live with. Puppy is said to adapt better to live with humans if it is weaned earlier, but should people adapt to the dog and not vice versa? If the breeders would pay attention to dogs as part of the human society, I think a dog could have a better life right from the beginning.

We do not require
any other animal as much as we do from the dog. For example, if we would sell puppies slightly later, perhaps at 8-10 weeks, the puppies would stay longer with their mothers. The mother's role in the development of the puppies does not end when she gives aup feeding them, even if it is often thought. Even the wild dog pups do not leave the nest 6-7 weeks of age. Kennel Club has an important role in changing things. Contracts are going to be changed so that the female has to be longer than 5 weeks with the breeder, in order to have the puppies spiritual growth a good start. Vets have for years been trying to get changes to the Kennel Club and in dog breeding. Show judges are required now more stringent screens for exaggerated features. Too tightly embedded in regulations also restrict the gene pool, and trigger a major problem. Too high inbreeding and the number of ancestral presence of the dog's pedigree does cause harmful interference to health, nature and aesthetics.

Puppy buyers should examine the dog books and get to know the different breeds in depth. They should also understand that owning a dog - is it any way how small - is always a lifestyle change. The dog is not a man, not a substitute for the child and the wolf at all.
The dog is really its own kind, and every dog is an individual, even within a breed. Purchasers should carefully consider what they have opportunities and, above all, look at the dog breeds and their nature of activity. Appearance is a side issue in the purchasing of a dog, even though it is often the primary criterion of selection. Puppy buyers should look for a breeder, with whom they come along later and which has also grown interested in the future. Buyers have a great responsibility for the welfare of dogs and the types of places you can buy a puppy. So called puppy mills are successful, because people do not question them or understand what kind of responsible breeding should be. In the future, buyers should inform breeders about the problems, and also the good things, so they would have the opportunity to draw attention to the issues in the future breeding work. Puppy owner has a great significance, in eyes of the breeder, because only a fraction of the dogs bred by her actually live at home. For this reason every pure bred dog buyer should also be interested about the welfare of the breed to  to do her bit to help breeders.

 

Holistic dog breeding will perceive the animal. It can be attend by anyone who is familiar with the matter close to his heart. In breeding one should be strongly aware of the dog's history, present, and also in the future, in order to bring things forward. The dog is a unique creature in creating a strong link to us.

 

Its loyalty is a rewarding and sometimes over the power of. The Dog is an important assistant for our Society, but also to us individuals the presence of a dog is invaluable. Who could resist joy of puppies, or sigh with satisfaction the elderly? Living with a dog is one of the greatest riches in life and we would have so much to learn from them. The look your loyal dog gives to you melts your heart.

I think it is our duty to worry about the dog's overall well-being of the future.

"If there is a heaven, surely our dogs will get there. Their life is so tied to our
s, that it would require more than the Archangel to disconnect us from each other."

 

Surces: Irish Wolfhound 1994 by Merja Viertokangas

Dog Behavor, WSOY 2007 Tuire Kaimio

HETI RY http://www.koiranjalostus.fi

 

 

 

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