Breeding And Observations Of A New Dam

The best advise I, Lesley Weeks ever received was from one of my best Mentors and International Judge and Breeder of German Shepherds, Mrs. Doris Wilson. (God bless you Doris, I miss you so)! Her words to me were simple and it took me a long time to completely understand her knowledge that she was passing on to me. "Watch over the bitches with a cautious eye and separate such as are going to be proud." This admonition was Doris's way of saying that the bitch with something extra is the one that bears closer scrutiny than her less-endowed sisters. Such a bitch has the best chance of being successful as a producer as well as a show winner!! It has always been something of an inequity that great credit is heaped upon successful sires, but fewer accolades are accorded the bitches that bring forth tomorrow's winners. Stud Dogs known to be superior producers have the potential to cast their influence over a wide segment of a breed's population. Bitches, however, are limited by their own biology. While a popular stud dog can sire numerous offspring with little stress on himself, his sister must expend tremendous effort to bring a litter into the world. Also, it often takes a very long time for the worth of a given brood matron to become known.

Still the dedicated breeder knows, while the influence of a given stud can be far-reaching, the potential of a gifted brood matron can impact the type produced in her own kennel. With any amount of good fortune, her gifts will echo down the generations of her own family, ultimately benefiting the entire breed. One learns very early on in this "Dog Game", the real worth of quality bitches, and what they can add to a breeding program. For openers, it is not easy to purchase a bitch with the potential to found a family. The proven brood bitch has been called "a pearl of great price", and she justly deserves this description. The would-be breeder must begin her efforts long before setting out to find her own "pearl." One must spend long hours studying the breed standard alone, and with truly qualified mentors. Pedigrees, photos and live dogs at ringside also demand study, and if possible kennel visits to observe examples of the breed. And through it all, there must be an interminable stream of questions --and answers.

There will always be exceptions but an aspiring breeder is unlikely to find a top-class brood bitch. Why? With all the blood, sweat, and tears that normally accompany the development of superlative breeding animals, most breeders would be skeptical about selling a bitch with top potential to a person who is untried and unproven. If the established breeder feels the aspirant is well motivated, the latter can probably acquire a quality "foundation matron". However, she should be prepared to breed from her for several generations before producing the dog of her dreams. Not infrequently, the beginning breeder learns that one foundation bitch is not always enough. The gambling fever begins!! I personally searched to find the very best two to three bitches I could lay my hands on. One is not enough because inevitably, they don't all do as well producing as they might, and the potential of finding one bitch that is nearly perfect is remote. I went to look in person, no ordering by mail. I went top kennels so I could see, photograph, and learn what each breeder had. I searched three different countries and took my vacations searching for knowledge of the breed's gene pool so I could figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. I went to all kinds of specialties so I could see as many different dogs as possible. I came up with "Darling Ginny of Silberfell" bred by Clair Snetsinger. And I purchased a bitch from Holland and one from the United States. But as luck would have it the "Girl" from Canada with the German gene's pulled it all together for me. Only two were good enough to appear more than once in a pedigree. Only one won well at specialties or big supported shows, and all were from strong female families that had produced quality in quantity. All three gained their titles. However, I believe the best success that comes to a breeder is the success that comes by having the strongest possible female side of the pedigree. Darling Ginny produced Two Best in Show Winners, and a great daughter who was unbeatable during her time called "Caix's Bubbling Champagne". Bubbles went on to produce her own son that earned the honour of "Best in Show". Together they produced over 18 Champions, seven CD titled dogs, one CDX titled dog, one UDX titled dog and many perfect little "angles" for their children made excellent pets.

Hard work? Undoubtedly. Frustrating? There can be little doubt. Expensive? You will never admit to what you spent! My outstanding success offers eloquent testimony to my lasting rewards in producing not just good dogs, but quality that bred on one generation after the other. "Snowshoes, Gusto of Charisma" was a perfect example of that! And so was "Caix's Caf� Royal", know to the world as Roy Boy.

My advice to a new breeder: Try to find a top brood bitch that possess a tightly line bred pedigree based upon genetically clean top producers. Look and demand good type, conformation, and have a stable disposition� Bred into her own line to a top producing male should spell success for you.

Consider what is behind this bit of advice, a tightly line bred pedigree means that the genotype of such a bitch will not be all over the map. For the new person, this means a certain predictability in what a bitch will produce--especially when bred to a stud from her own family. In dog breeding, as in most other areas, one learns to walk first and run later. There will be plenty of time to experiment after becoming familiar with the breeding side of the sport. Your foundation matron should also be as free as possible of genetic defects, especially those known with the particular breed. It will avail a breeder little if she starts with a gorgeous bitch from a family known to produce health problems. If you would breed from such a background without regard for the outcome, think of the puppies destined to be family companions. This applies even more in the matter of producing good temperament. As dog exhibitors, we may be willing to put up with a beautiful "flake", but if that flake has siblings that are also flakes, what has been accomplished by breeding from behaviorally unstable stock? "of Good Type" means she should look like her breed. Touching on this point, there is always the question whether a prospective brood bitch should also be capable of finishing her championship. Most experienced breeders would agree that this is desirable, and would not breed without championship! Most great breeders use the term "TAIL FEMALE"! I believe too in breeding "tail Female" to bring about a great bitch line. Tail female is the term given to the bottom line of the pedigree, so it goes from dam to maternal grand-dam, to maternal to the grand-dam's dam and then her dam�etc This system does have the potential for resulting in a great producing female line, and is a time honored means of establishing an exemplary line of producers. My advise again: When a top-producing foundation bitch of any breed is the result of tail female breeding, her influence will provide many generations of quality off-spring. My breeding philosophy has been totally focused on the production of the female. We apply constant pressure on the ability of the studs used to produce top females. Their success speaks eloquently for the effectiveness of their focus. The males will always go down first in history, but the bitch will live on!! When you have been breeding for many years, you will know the tremendous importance the brood bitch represents to a breeding program. If you are contemplating breeding, or are new to this most intriguing challenge of the dog sport, remember that you must be patient. Overnight success in breeding is a very rare phenomenon, and in most of those instances, the success does not last. The strength of a breeding program is in the producing ability of the bitches. When knowledgeable judges and informed fanciers can recognize your newest homebred as carrying the stamp of your breeding, you have every right to take pride in your own success. My Standard Schnauzers and their offspring and theirs' in turn are still recognized for their great presence in the ring, their sense of style, movement and the elegance that is so desirable. Their records speak for themselves and that is why their sperm is held in Pottstown, Penn. "Awaiting the perfect bitch"! Test required before breeding your Dam or Stud: Have a veterinary exam to ensure she is healthy enough to carry a litter.

Test your bitch for hereditary health problems. Ask for a DNA.

Have a veterinary examine the reproductive system to ensure it is healthy.

Test for potentially sexually transmitted diseases. Brucellosis can destroy a dog's breeding future; this disease is not just transmitted thru sexual contact, but also through ingestions of bacteria. Also test for transmissible venereal tumors (warts)! These tumors are most common in tropical populations of free-roaming dogs, but they can occur anywhere.

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