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I
t is a sad reality that there
are far too many dogs
ending up in rescue centres.
This may often happen
because owners have been sold
a puppy which is unsuitable for
their situation and/or lifestyle.
Unfortunately there are many
irresponsible breeders who
won’t take back a puppy
they bred, or help re-home it
where there is a change in
circumstances. All too often we
see pedigree dogs advertised
on the internet needing a new
home. This is often the time
when the breed societies step
in as sadly the ‘breeder’ wasn’t
there to help because they
just don’t want to take
responsibility.
With the emergence of
‘designer’ breeds this problem
could get worse because there
are no controls or governance
over their breeding and so
health and temperament
problems may be generated
or perpetuated. With pedigree
animals in the main,
temperament and health
issues are recognised in the
breed and a purchaser will
know how that dog
ought to develop.
Although the Kennel Club
Assured Breeder (AB) Scheme is
falling out of favour to a degree,
at least if buying puppies from
an AB you will know that the
parents have been health
tested and screened and
one would hope bred with
care to promote health and
wellbeing in the breed. Likewise
breed club/society members
also have to agree to certain
guidelines if they intend to
breed. For example, when I am
approached to use my stud
dog, not only do I limit the
number of times he is used
annually, I ensure the bitch
has the minimum health tests
as required by my breed club
and society. I also check that
she is not too old, of nice
temperament and that the
mating will add value to the
breed i.e has she done well in
the show ring, is she worked
regularly, does she excel in
other forms of competition
and most importantly does
she conform to the breed
standard as stated by the
Kennel Club which includes
good temperament?
On the continent some
breed societies will not allow
registration of litters unless the
‘Breed Master’, who governs all
mating’s, allows the dog and
bitch only to mate after
studying the pedigrees and
attributes of both dogs. We in
the UK ‘self-govern’ mating’s
but, the Kennel Club who
registers all pedigree litters,
have now developed two very
useful tools, Mate Select and
the Inbreeding Coefficient
value. The latter serves to
reduce inbreeding by working
out values of a potential
mating against the breed
average. Breeders obviously
should aim to be near, or
ideally below this average value
to ensure genetic diversity.
So when
breeding
, it can
be great fun, but with it
comes a huge burden of
responsibility to avoid
health and welfare problems
for future generations.
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