Trait Prediction by Punnett Squares in Dog Breeding

Mathematics plays a crucial role in dog breeding when it comes to understanding and predicting certain genetic traits and probabilities. Here are a few mathematical concepts that can be applied to dog breeding:



Punnett Squares: Punnett squares are used to predict the probability of certain traits being passed on to offspring. They can be helpful in determining the likelihood of inheriting specific characteristics, such as coat color or type, based on the genotype of the parent dogs.


Inbreeding Coefficients: Coefficients of Inbreeding (COI) measure the level of inbreeding within a pedigree. They can be calculated using mathematical formulas that consider the number of common ancestors in a given number of generations. Inbreeding coefficients are used to assess the risk of genetic disorders and to make informed breeding decisions that minimize the occurrence of inherited diseases. 

Related Reads About Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI)

Aringsburg German Shepherd Blog: An Insight Into COI

Welcome Dog Lovers Blog: High vs Low COI in Dog Breeding

Genetic Diversity: Calculating measures of genetic diversity, such as effective population size and expected heterozygosity, can help breeders assess the overall genetic health and diversity within a population. These measures are important for avoiding the negative consequences of inbreeding depression and maintaining a sustainable breeding program.


Probability of Inheritance: Probability calculations can be used to estimate the likelihood of specific traits being inherited by offspring. By understanding the mode of inheritance (dominant, recessive, etc.) for a particular trait, breeders can make predictions about the probability of certain traits appearing in the next generation.



It's important to note that while mathematics can provide some guidance in dog breeding, it should always be used in conjunction with ethical considerations and a comprehensive understanding of breed-specific traits and health concerns. Responsible breeding practices prioritize the well-being and genetic health of the dogs involved.



What is Punnett Squares and how it works?

A Punnett square is a simple visual tool used to predict the possible genetic outcomes of a cross between two individuals. It helps determine the probability of certain traits being passed on to the offspring. Here's how it works:

Determine the Parent Genotypes: Start by identifying the genotype of each parent for the trait you want to examine. For example, if you're looking at coat color and one parent has a genotype of "BB" (homozygous dominant for black) and the other parent has a genotype of "bb" (homozygous recessive for brown), you would use these genotypes for the Punnett square.

Create the Square: Draw a square divided into four boxes. Label the top and left sides of the square with the alleles from one parent (in this case, "B" for black and "b" for brown).

Fill in the Square: Combine the alleles from each parent by placing one allele from the top row and one allele from the left column into each box. For example, in the top-left box, you would place "B" from the top and "B" from the left, resulting in "BB." Repeat this process for the other three boxes.

Determine Offspring Genotypes: The combinations of alleles in each box represent the possible genotypes of the offspring. In this example, the Punnett square would show that all the offspring have a genotype of "Bb," meaning they would all have the dominant black coat color.

Analyze Phenotypes: Once you have determined the genotypes, you can also infer the phenotypes (observable traits) associated with each genotype. In this case, "BB" represents black coat color, and "Bb" represents black coat color as well since the dominant allele masks the recessive brown allele.

The Punnett square provides a visual representation of the possible genetic outcomes and allows breeders to estimate the probability of certain traits appearing in the offspring. It is important to remember that Punnett squares assume simple Mendelian inheritance and may not account for more complex genetic interactions or other factors that can influence trait expression.

Video Credit Disclaimer: Bright Biology, USA

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How to Calculate Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) - Chapter for Dog Breeders

Please Note: Please seek permission to reproduce/use this article. Please reproduce this article with the link of this post after getting permission.

The coefficient of inbreeding (COI) for breeding dogs can be calculated by examining the pedigree of the individual dog and identifying all common ancestors. The following steps can be used to calculate the COI:

1) Identify the common ancestors: Start by identifying all of the common ancestors in the pedigree of the individual dog. This includes any dogs that appear on both the sire and dam's side of the pedigree.

2) Determine the degree of relationship: For each common ancestor, determine the degree of relationship to the individual dog. The degree of relationship is expressed as a fraction and represents the proportion of genes that the individual dog inherited from that ancestor.

3) Calculate the probability of inheritance: For each generation between the individual dog and the common ancestor, calculate the probability of inheriting the same allele from that ancestor.

4) Multiply the probabilities: Multiply the probabilities of inheritance for each generation to obtain the COI for the individual dog.

Let us understand the above 4 points with an example. 

Let's say you want to calculate the COI for a dog that has a common ancestor 4 generations back on both the sire and dam's sides of the pedigree.

1) Identify the common ancestor: In this case, the common ancestor is the same dog on both sides of the pedigree, so it should only be counted once.

2) Determine the degree of relationship: The common ancestor is three generations back, so the degree of relationship is 1/16 or 6.25% for each parent.

Here's how I have arrived to 6.25% Relationship Degree

When a common ancestor is 3 generations back, the degree of relationship is calculated as 2^n (2 to the power n, where 2 is base and n is exponent), where n is the number of generations back to the common ancestor. In this case, the common ancestor is 3 generations back, so the degree of relationship is 2^4 (means 2x2x2x2), which is equal to 16. This means that the individual dog shares 1/8 or 12.5% of its genes with the common ancestor. So, in general, the degree of relationship is calculated by taking the number of common ancestors and the number of generations back to each ancestor into account. The closer the common ancestor is to the individual dog, the higher the degree of relationship and the higher the COI.

3) Calculate the probability of inheritance: For each generation between the dog and the common ancestor, calculate the probability of inheriting the same allele from that ancestor. For example, if the dog is the great-great-grandchild (4 generation) of the common ancestor, the probability of inheriting the same allele from that ancestor is 1/16 or 6.25% (for which the decimal value is 0.0625).

4) Multiply the probabilities: Multiply the probabilities of inheritance for each generation to obtain the COI. In this example, the COI for the dog would be (0.0625 x 0.0625) = 0.00390625 or 0.390625% (means 0.00390625 x 100%).


Hence the COI for a dog that has a common ancestor 4 generations back on both the sire and dam's sides of the pedigree will be 0.390625%.

Repeat this process for each common ancestor in the dog's pedigree to calculate the overall COI.

Related Links (Must Read the Below Links):

1. A Deeper Insight Into Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI)


2. Is Low Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) Always Good in Breeding Dogs?

Understanding the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) is important in dog breeding for several reasons:

Health concerns: Inbreeding can increase the risk of inherited health problems in dogs, and a high COI indicates a higher degree of relatedness and a greater risk of genetic health problems. By understanding the COI, breeders can make informed decisions to reduce the risk of inherited health issues in their breeding programs.

Genetic diversity: A low COI indicates a higher degree of genetic diversity, which is important for maintaining the health and vigor of a breed. Inbreeding can reduce genetic diversity, which can lead to a loss of genetic variability and an increased risk of inherited health problems.

Breeding goals: Understanding the COI is essential for achieving breeding goals. If a breeder aims to improve a certain trait, such as conformation or temperament, they need to carefully select breeding partners with low COIs to avoid the risk of genetic health issues.

Breeding Ethics: Responsible dog breeding is about producing healthy, well-tempered dogs that meet the breed standard. Understanding the COI is an essential part of responsible dog breeding because it allows breeders to make informed decisions that prioritize the health and well-being of the dogs they breed.

In summary, understanding the coefficient of inbreeding is an essential part of responsible dog breeding. By carefully selecting breeding partners to maintain genetic diversity, minimize the risk of inherited health issues, and achieve breeding goals, breeders can produce healthy, high-quality dogs that meet the breed standard.

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Is Very Low Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) Always Good in Breeding Dogs?

Is very low coefficient of inbreeding (COI) always good?

What if the breeder wants to reinforce a specific good trait in the pups?


A very low coefficient of inbreeding (COI) can be beneficial in certain situations, such as reducing the risk of inherited genetic disorders or improving overall genetic diversity. However, it is not always the best approach for every breeding goal.

If a dog breeder wants to reinforce a specific good trait of the dog, they may need to consider a higher COI. This can increase the likelihood that the offspring will inherit the desired trait. However, this also increases the risk of inheriting deleterious recessive alleles from both parents, leading to a higher probability of genetic disorders or undesirable traits in the offspring.

Therefore, the decision to increase or decrease the COI should be made with careful consideration of the breeding goals and the potential risks associated with inbreeding. A responsible breeder should prioritize the health and welfare of the dogs and strive to produce puppies that are both healthy and possess the desired traits. This can often be achieved through selective breeding practices and careful genetic testing, without resorting to high levels of inbreeding.

Important Reads (Not to be missed)
Click Through Below Links

An Insight Into The Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI) in Dog Breeding

How to Calculate Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI)

Popular Sire Syndrome - A Curse for Many Popular Breeds Today

So, how should a dog breeder consider Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) while framing his breeding program?


A responsible dog breeder should seriously consider the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) when framing their breeding program. COI is a measure of the likelihood that an individual dog has inherited the same alleles from both parents, indicating a high level of relatedness between the parents.

Breeding dogs with a low COI can help to reduce the risk of inherited genetic disorders and increase genetic diversity, which can be beneficial for the health and welfare of the offspring. However, this may also result in a lower likelihood of producing offspring with specific desirable traits.

On the other hand, breeding dogs with a higher COI may increase the likelihood of producing offspring with specific desirable traits, but may also increase the risk of inheriting deleterious recessive alleles from both parents.

Therefore, when framing their breeding program, a dog breeder should carefully consider the goals of their program and select breeding pairs with a COI that is appropriate for their goals. This may involve conducting genetic testing to identify potential risks and to ensure the health and welfare of the offspring.

A responsible breeder should prioritize the health and welfare of the dogs and strive to produce puppies that are both healthy and possess the desired traits. This can often be achieved through selective breeding practices and careful genetic testing, without resorting to high levels of inbreeding.


Here's an example of how a dog breeder might consider the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) while framing his breeding program:


Suppose a breeder wants to produce puppies with a specific desirable trait, such as a slightly longer croup, and also wants to minimize the risk of genetic disorders like displastic hip, in the offspring. In this case, the breeder might select breeding pairs with a low to moderate COI to balance the competing goals.

The breeder might start by conducting genetic testing on potential breeding dogs to identify any carriers of genes for common genetic disorders. Then, they would look for breeding pairs that have a low to moderate COI to reduce the risk of inherited genetic disorders while also increasing genetic diversity.

Once the breeding pairs have been selected, the breeder might also use selective breeding practices to further enhance the desired trait, such as hypoallergenic coat, while also ensuring that the puppies are healthy and well-adjusted.

By carefully considering the goals of the breeding program and selecting breeding pairs with an appropriate COI, the breeder can increase the likelihood of producing puppies that meet their desired traits and are healthy with minimal chances of developing genetic disorders. When these pups are grown enough to be bred, the same plan can be repeated by selecting breeding pair for him/her with a low to moderate COI to meet the competing goals, without resorting to high levels of linebreeding.

Important Reads (Not to be missed)
Click Through Below Links

An Insight Into The Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI) in Dog Breeding

How to Calculate Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI)

Popular Sire Syndrome - A Curse for Many Popular Breeds Today

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Selective Breeding and Its Severe Adverse Effects on Dogs

 

Human intervention in animal breeding has done bad alongside good to species.

Humans have been striving hard to have specific characteristics (of human interest) in plants and animals, thereby setting a goal to produce offspring, inheriting specific traits. Selective breeding procedure have been in the scene for several hundreds of years now. Humans have been taking very strategic actions, with knowledge of science in framing breeding programs that help both plants and animals to achieve adaptability (as desired by humans). 

Selective breeding has definitely come as a blessing to the planet in many fronts. Selective breeding has helped to discard many health disorders. It has tremendously helped in refining a species or a breed. Moreover, we can get more fruits and crops, cattle can produce more milk, sheep can produce more wool and so on... 

However, on the other level, human intervention in animal breeding has done and has been constantly doing massive harms. Some of the most significant adverse effects on dogs 

1) Animals are restricted to evolve naturally (for human interest), which is against the law of nature!

Selective breeding programs have hugely impaired to the natural evolutionary processes. With a goal, in mind, to produce offspring with specific traits and to contribute to the adaptability, humans are trying to take Nature's responsibilities in his own hands. Animals are losing their natural adaptability in a gradually manner, which is certainly due to genetic loss! And that's a permanent loss. 

Many people who wonder why stray dogs are more hardy and more adaptable to atmospheric and environmental changes than their pure breed counter parts, should get their answer here!

2) Selective Breeding Programs Have Exposed Dogs to The Risks Being Inbred

Purebred dogs often times come from the same small group of ancestral lines. This allows the coefficient of inbreeding to shoot up eventually generation by generation. This means the measurement of consanguinity index (that are found in the dogs based on their overall pedigrees) becomes little higher generation after generation with selective breeding programs that are designed to push the desirable traits.

Higher the index of consanguinity, closeness is the relationship.

Many so-called breeders forget that they are working with life. Most often they select breeding partners that have a great specimens present in the 3rd, 4th or 5th generation of both breeding partners, in order to get the desirable traits. The desirable traits are flown in, along with certain issues as well. Identifying the common ancestors is of immense importance.

Screenshot of a paper (authored by Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London and The Kennel Club, London) published in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

3. Selective Breeding Generates Possibility of "Popular Sire Syndrome" 

Many of you may be new to this phrase - "Popular Sire Syndrome". Popular Sire Syndrome happens when a particular stud is being overly and widely used for a particular trait of a particular set of traits. If too many breeders are looking for particular trait(s), then there will be too many breeding requests for a specific stud. Too much of genetic materials being shared for a particular trait that a large community of breeders are running behind. This has a positive effect, because good traits are being passed on to generations. But in the long run there will certainly be severe adverse effects as there will be a noticeable depression in genetically strong population of any breed of dogs. Sooner or later the index of consanguinity will rise exponentially, and that will mark the start of breed extinction.

I guess the victimized breeds are German Shepherds, Dobermans, Boxers, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bullmastiffs etc. because these are some of the most popular breeds that have been making money for breeders (both knowledgeable breeders and puppy millers).

     

4) No Body Can Ensure That The Positive Traits Will Be Passed On to Next Generation 

There's no way to ensure that the offspring from a particular selective breeding will bear the traits that the breeder is looking for, until the breeding partners bear "exactly same" genetic profile that the breeder wants to see in the next generation. There's only one parent with the desired trait and hence there's not more than 50% (or even as low as 25% in some offspring) probability that the offspring will bear the trait desired. However dominant the stud may be, there will always be a chance that the offspring be seen with entirely different traits than the sire and dam. There may also be some probability that offspring instead of bearing desirable traits, may exhibit better traits that in future may be considered as more desirable!

Most often breeders who have invested hugely in dog breeding business, comes up with guarantee about specific traits. Outcome of a breeding at the end of the day is the Nature's decision!

Breeders Boasting at Linebreeding Programs

It is most important to understand that Linebreeding programs are also exposed to the similar risks as Inbreeding programs. While inbreeding involves breeding partners that are genetically related, linebreeding involves partners that are genetically related - but more distantly. Breeders who talk about the disadvantages of inbreeding, and line-breed their dogs should know that Linebreeding Is Also a Type Of Inbreeding That Involves Breeding Partners That Are Genetically "Distantly" Related.

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Evaluate Breeding Values By DNA & Performance Tests

Photo: Rex (India) - May 30, 2004 - Jan 18, 2015

Dog Breeding Goal: Performance & DNA Tests Should Be a Must For Ethical Dog Breeding Practice

In an attempt to spread an awareness of ethical practice for dog breeding, WelcomeDogLovers.Blogspot.Com seeks to bring in this chapter that talks about how DNA tests can contribute in evaluating breeding values. Not only owners, but aspiring dog breeders should be benefited from this chapter and may be more inclined towards setting a breeding goal, aiming towards scientifically eliminating genetic defects – both mental and physical.

Breeding Value for a Dog: So what is this? Breeding value for a specific dog is the set of genetically governed qualities that helps you decide whether to breed him/her or not. Since breeding goal should be development of the breed by eliminating defects and carriers of defective traits, a dog is considered to have a higher breeding value if it genetically close to the standard, insofar psychological, physiological and physical traits are concerned and is capable to pass on the strong traits to its progenitors, which in turn contributes to the breed development. Dog breeding values can be effectively evaluated by understanding the degree of contribution a dog (dam or sire or both) can genetically make. Passing on the traits (desirable or undesirable) to progenitors is simply quite natural.

Evaluating the statistical estimation of breeding value can be done through:

1) Testing the performance of direct parents, close relatives and their progenitors
2) Testing the DNA of direct parents, their offspring, close relatives and their progenitors


Performance Test to Evaluate Breeding Value:

Dog breeders should adopt the practice of evaluating breeding value, and clubs and canine organizations have to encourage breeders to keep closer eye their dogs’ overall performance with respect to behavior, temperament, traits, gait, and other physical and psychological features. Success can be achieved only through testing 100% of the offspring and it should be an ongoing and consistent process. In an article appeared in GKF Info 26 Dec. 2007, pages 13-19, Gesellschaft zur Förderung Kynologischer Forschung e.V., Bonn, Germany, Dr. Helga Eichelberg said it right: “breed clubs must look after the prerequisite, which is to find ways to increase the rate of performance testing and making the data available.”

(Translated in English by Joe Schmutz)


DNA Tests to Evaluate Breeding Value:

DNA tests for dogs are not yet available everywhere, which is an excuse for overwhelmingly growing numbers of backyard breeders for not getting a chance to effectively determining the breeding value of their dogs. Implementing the practice of DNA tests in dog breeding will efficiently filter out the genetic defects, which should be the one most important breeding goal. Through DNA tests more and more complicated traits can be determined to contribute to the evaluation process of breeding value. Proper DNA tests will help filtering out the defects and undesirable traits and characteristics and also effectively filter out the carriers of defective psychological, physiological and physical characteristics.


DNA tests are important to evaluate the actual genetic characteristics of a dog. Even if a dog has a rich bloodline with all desirable traits, still more complex and subtle undesirable traits may not be noticeable without an appropriate DNA trait. A seemingly close to perfect dog when combined with a very good female with apparently high heritable qualities may still produce unreliable progenitors with subtle or pronounced defects. Very nice dogs may still have siblings that many educated and ethical breeders may consider as unreliable and non-breedable. DNA tests help to effective determine all strengths and weaknesses of a dog which helps a breeder to make valuable decision when it comes to breeding his dogs.


Takeaways From This Chapter: Dog breeding is a serious activity that demands a responsible approach that should be backed with scientific knowledge and an inclination towards breed development, and not just making money. Emotional approach in breeding dog is bound to make mess.



Great Related Reads On GSD:

True type German Shepherds have typical basic instincts that should be retained while breeding. To retain the basic German Shepherd instincts and type SV has set some rules. Click to read the SV Rules For The Breeders - Article Reproduced from SV. Dog breeders should draft an effective and scientific breeding goal (breeding program) to eliminate the defects and reinforce the desirable quality of the breed. Here's how a GSD breeder needs to frame his mind while breeding.

You may find this interesting too: Basic instincts of German Shepherd that all breeders should understand

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Fights in Pack - Dominance vs Submissive Gesture and My Big Mistake

Nature's Rule for Pack Hierarchy and My BIG Mistake

Do not make the same mistake as I did by getting into their fights to stop the war. To many dog lovers across the globe this post may sound a bit too off-beat as I have always spoken against cruelty to animals and saving lives...

Well, this post is published followed by a few months of critically studying behavioral components, dominance signals in dogs that live in pack - in houses or in the wild. I have also consulted documents of several canine psychologists and behaviorists, including Nick White and the genius Professor Stanley Coren and several others before coming up with this post.

I suggest dog owners - especially those who have more than one dog - not to tread into the conflicts between dogs. The situation may worsen up, not just because you may be hurt badly, but  because by interfering you will actually prevent them from framing a natural hierarchical structure. People who share lives with dogs should know that there are "set of natural rules" that act as determinants of "dominance", "ownership" and "territoriality".

Conflicts between two dogs in a pack usually starts, progresses and ends based on these natural rules. And there are very rare instances of big blood shed. Often times there's nothing more than small wounds, punctures and cuts, which are not usually fatal. These are situations when dogs should be better left alone to fight and things will be sorted out naturally, with one of them exhibiting submissive gestures. The moment one shows submission and backs off, the other dog usually stops his attacks. This submission of one dog automatically places the other dog higher in the natural pack hierarchy, which he was fighting for - the "Dominance" in this case.

What mistake I did?

Some of my readers may have this question now... what was my mistake with Reva and Rechie. The situation was little different. It wasn't a fight for position, but for ownership.

Mistake 1: I pushed them into competitive play (fetching a single ball and there were two dogs), which generated a fight for ownership of the property (ball).

Mistake 2: I got into their conflict to stop them and ended up with some minor wounds that required stitches.


However, in continuation with my Mistake 2, the wounds on my palm, hands and face, and some cuts in their bodies here and there were not the points of concern. By interfering I could set them apart, locked them in separation for a couple of hours, but they could not determine who among them were dominant. The fight did not end naturally with one being submissive. Which means they could not instinctually use the "natural rules" for determining the dominant member of the pack. Therefore, there was always high chance for re-occurrence of similar fights again in their life time.

Here a better understanding of Why Clashes Occur in a Pack could be found.


Dominance vs Submission - Does that work for all dogs?

As long as the dogs are properly bred by educated and sensible breeder things should work fine. Incorrectly bred specimens will fail to understand their limit and will not be submissive. This indicates a tendency to disregard the signals to stop and natural rules. Correctly combined genes should strike a proper behavioral balance. Aggression and Submission are two most significant component of temperament that are governed by genes. Hyper-submissive nature and hyper-aggressiveness are as undesirable as hypo-submissive nature and hypo-aggressiveness. Conflicts among dogs with imbalanced behavioral configuration can be fatally dangerous without human intervention. Dog breeding is an art and a science both... rather a "scientific art" or an "artistic science". Science of Dog Breeding needs to be considered seriously. It is not everybody's cup of tea. Dog breeding for making money has always ended up with wrong types of progenitors, with major and suppressed or visible problems either related to physical or physiological or psychological. A related study on Role of Gene in The Character of a Dog.

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Dogs' Crossing

Amongst the entire variety of dog species, hybrids and half-breeds (“metis”) comprise a separate group. The whole process of dogs’ breeding is a set of science and art, which has interested thousands of animal-lovers all over the world. Most of them raise two main types of dogs: hybrids (the result of two different breeds’ crossing) or metises (do not have any signs of specific breeds or even pure-bred ancestors). There is also the third group of wolfdogs, which, as one could guess, look like wild wolves after crossing. Most of these dogs are the result of German shepherds’ or Siberian Huskies’ pairing.

Most of the zoologists and dog handlers agree that new breeds possess pretty distinctive behavioral and psychological features, oriented on accomplishment of specific assignments. However, mutations are not excluded, and constant breeding of several generations is not recommended. In this context, it is appropriate to consider the main methods of dogs’ crossing.

Inbreeding is a crossing of close relatives (mother, father, daughter, brother, sister, etc.) In fact, this method requires detailed analysis of physical and mental shape of dogs, and even their ancestors. Amateur breeders are recommended to learn dogs’ history up to fourth generation at least. In particular, inbreeding result might reveal the defects of dogs’ nature of the oldest generations.

Linebreeding is much alike inbreeding, but the “actors” are dogs, which have a common relative in third or fourth generation.

Outcrossing (outbreeding) is a pairing of unrelated breeds. Animal-breeders use it to invest any specific characteristic of the other line, or to correct the deficiency, penetrated into the line in terms of physical or mental characteristics.

The specific trend of dog breeding emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, which focused on design of dog breeds. Regardless this method has nothing in common with design of general meaning, but getting a dog with peculiar characteristics. It has started when breeders crossed thoroughbred poodle with other dog species. Their main goal was to create hypoallergenic breed, which would gather the best features of other ones. There are several general issues, associated with designer dogs.

First of all, the name of their breeds is a set of a few words of the parents’ breeds. For example, Pomapoo is a mix of Pomeranian and Poodle, Yorkipoo - Yorkie and Poodle, Foxy Russell - Jack Russell Terrier and Toy Fox Terrier, German Australian Shepherd – German and Australian Shepherd, Golden Shepherd - Golden Retriever and German Shepherd, etc. The tradition of such names roots back to 1960s, when Dorgi dog was crossed (a mix of Dachshund and Corgi).

Secondly, designer dogs are usually bred as decorative companion dogs. In addition, the main purpose of their breeding is a decrease of genetic mutations and health problems, much observed among purebred species.

Thirdly, registry of a new dog breed is quite a long process. If a breeder got a new designer dog it won’t be registered despite the whole blood of the parents. However, if several generations was created accompanied by necessary documentation, the dogs’ club might be organized, which is a necessary condition for new breed registry.

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Dog Breeding – The Art of Breeding Dogs

Dog breeding is an art – Rather a scientific art

Wondering if your female dog should or shouldn’t be bred? Remember, if you are dream of a good healthy litter, you need to do it perfectly and it involves a huge deal expenses and you need to master the art of studying bloodlines (Pedigree Research). Dog breeding is an art… rather a scientific art!

Most people just want to make some money. Well, they are novice and just cannot understand the fact that they will be lucky if they could meet the breakeven point. If you are an aspiring breeder you need to know that dog breeding involves a huge volume of expenses, starting from bringing in a female pup, maintain her and make her fit to be bred when time comes. You need to wait until she attains the age of at least 2 years, but the story doesn’t end here! Then comes the phase when you need to look for the right dog for her. Remember, all good dogs cannot be the right mate for any good bitches. Someone said it perfectly right that the best female of the litter can produce the worst puppies! Yes, this is very common… many good females have produced substandard quality of puppies. Remember good female doesn’t mean good producer. It’s not always the females’ fault either. It’s the breeder who does not study the bloodlines to pick the right dog for his female.

Health issues associated with wrong dog breeding program

There are certain things that a breeder should check prior to breed his female. Every breed has it’s own unique inherent disorders. While some dog breeds to susceptible to ailments like Degenerative Myelopathy, Collie eye anomaly, Ectropion etc, others may be prone to Hemophilia type of problems, for instance, von Willebrand's disease Musculoskeletal Disorders like Chondrodysplasia (dwarfism), hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia. There are loads of hereditary problems associated to wrong and unplanned dogs breeding. If you are planning to breed your female make sure that the dog and the bitch (the female you are planning to breed) are free from all medical conditions and hereditary disorders. Make sure that your female and the stud dog are both free from problems like brucellosis. Brucellosis causes eventual sterility in both genders, which causes the puppies to be aborted prematurely and usually die shortly after birth. Bad news is that many disorders are not apparently visible, while many are unknowingly overlooked!

Temperament check before breeding dogs

Well, now I would like to move a step ahead. Aspiring breeders… please be noted that only the structural soundness and sound health condition are not the end of the story! Genetics play an immense role in building up the dog's character. Temperament is another vital factor that has to be kept in mind. Breeding over-aggressive or shy specimens will result in progenitors with unbalanced temperament. Temperament depends on the breed. You should know your breed to the fullest extent if you want to breed dogs. A related study could be found in the article - Role of Gene in The Dog's Character.

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