Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

V The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control

by Jerold S. Bell, D.V.M.

(This is an updated version of an article that originally appeared in the American Kennel Club Gazette in September 1992 entitled, “Getting What You Want From Your Breeding Program.” It is reprinted with the permission of Dr. Bell.)

IT’S ALL IN THE GENES

As dog breeders, we engage in genetic “experiments” each time we plan a mating. The type of mating selected should coincide with your goals. To some breeders, determining which traits will appear in the offspring of a mating is like rolling the dice ­ a combination of luck and chance. For others, producing certain traits involves more skill than luck ­ the result of careful study and planning. As breeders, we must understand how we manipulate genes within our breeding stock to produce the kinds of dogs we want. We have to first understand dogs as a species, then dogs as genetic individuals. (Read on …)

I often receive calls from fellow breeders as well as clients who are interested in the strategies we might employ in our programs to move forward in reduction and elimination of Genetic defects and diseases as well as how we might utilize Pedigree data as a tool in breeding selection. Firstly, let me say that we make great use of a Breeder software program purchased from Australia and produced by Wild Systems Pty Ltd. The software is Pedigree Explorer 5.4 and can be purchased on line (support@breedmate.com).

We have every dog in the kennel together with all known ancestors entered into the data base.This enables a wide selection of menus to generate pedigrees, family trees, photo pedigrees, email pedigrees, as well as the recording and manipulation of data on every aspect of breeding, competing and showing. Wrights Inbreeding Coefficients can be obtained on any dog at the click of the mouse, health and inoculation records generated and many more areas covered. (Read on …)

It is only natural I suppose that if you have been lucky enough to get a Female dog who really excels in the field that you would want to breed her and make the offspring available to those not so fortunate. Your friends and relatives must surely want a dog just like yours!

In addition,”It is common knowledge that having a litter of pups is good for the female dog, it helps to settle them down” So, I am shopping for a male pup, which I will be able to breed to my bitch eventually. All breeders get calls all the time with this type of input. Let us consider this matter. (Read on …)

Very few subjects are more controversial or problematic to both the breeder and the client than that of how and when to decide on which puppy you will take into your life. There has been much written on this subject and almost all of what has been read by the writer seems very questionable or totally non applicable, at least to the Llewellin breed. Let’s start with what age should the pup be?

In the State of Pennsylvania at least, the state law prohibits the sale of pups under 7 weeks old. This is a good law–there is no good reason to take the pup away from it’s siblings before this time and plenty of good reasons to allow it more time with them. (Read on …)

There is much discussion by Setter owners, and would be owners, on the topic of Setter tail carriage. In particular, how the tail will or does appear when the dog is on point.

This is of much more interest in the United States than in Europe. The reason for this is that the field trial community, especially the horse back trial enthusiasts in America, have selectively bred both Pointers and Setters over the past 100 years to be “High at both ends” meaning the dog should point its birds with the head held high and the tail at or close to vertical, the so called, “twelve o’clock”, position.

This is the appearance we have all become most accustomed to seeing in gun dog magazines and sporting artwork of more recent origin. The reason for the high tail being preferred is connected to increased visibility of the dog on point at long ranges associated with horse back trialing. (Read on …)