Interesting article on breeding Rotts

[MybabyZeus]

Breeding Better Dogs

Malcolm B. Willis, Ph.D. - Dept. of Agriculture, University of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

A better dog is a relative term and depends on ones definition of better. While for many years dogs have been bred to perform a specific function or job, too many times breeding is done to have dogs for the show ring. There is nothing wrong in
seeking beauty but it must be secondary to functional aspects of the dogs. Attributes of beauty must be subservient to functional traits and especially those associated with character.

Dog breeders should review a farmerºs selection process for farm livestock:

fitness traits,
production traits,
quality traits,
type,
behavioral traits,
and genetic defects.

Fitness in an animal closely correlates with high fertility. Older bitches lose more puppies, is this related to fitness? When statistics on a dog are examined, the US breeders totally overlook and can not even find statistics on the total number of puppies born to a bitch (including the number that die) because this information is not recorded by the AKC. It is impossible to accurately track the reproductive record of an animal if these data are not accurately recorded. Data must be collected - not to have a witch hunt but rather to get a real picture of what is going on and more importantly why it is happening.

DNA work will identify carriers of disease. DNA will enable the breeder to remove carrier animals. Skill will still be required to select proper dogs for breeding. Identity of the best will still be the problem. Willis stressed the importance of breeders to look at the big picture when selecting breeding stock and not just a few good traits like OFA and eye color. Willis demonstrated the
importance of staying with the same registry for a particular genetic problem. He used the OFA as an example, for breeders to introduce data into Penn Hip databank is to throw away years of data already in the OFA. Willis termed this as
a tragedy. Instead breed clubs should be working closely with the OFA to improve that registry. Willis showed data on hip dysplasia in Rottweilers in Sweden and how over years of careful breeding Swedish Rottweiler breeders have greatly reduced the incidence of HD in their breed. The Swedish Rottweiler breeders are currently trying to lower the incidence of elbow that is currently at
48% in Rottweilers.

Character in a dog is one of the top attributes Willis looks for in his breeding program of German Shepherd dogs. Breeders must select dogs with high
character. He stated that 35% of dogs being bred today do not have good character. The selection of these animals into a breeding program is based upon what judges put up in the ring. Producing puppies with poor character is far worst than a puppy with poor color. Willis pointed out the importance of his selection process being benefited by how a dog reacts on a Schutzhund field. This assessment of character supplemented by an accurate breed survey report,similar to what the Germans record, and the appropriate health clearances on the bitch and dog is the best measure of his selection process.

[BostonRott]

Couldn't agree with this more!! "Type" is nice, but without health and temperament, why bother?!

I'm still floored by what I saw in NH a few summers ago........there was a large AKC show and Herding Instinct Tests were being offered. Take the word Shepherd and break it down: Shep herd (Sheep herding). So it's kinda obvious from this dog's name what it was bred to do.

My Rotts took the HIGHEST MARKS OF THE DAY for herding. This against "typical" herding breeds. What I found to be particularly sad were American Shepherds (don't even THINK of calling them German Shepherds, they're far too bastardized for that) who hid in the corner and peed......afraid of the sheep. Totally disgusting.

It is sad what is produced for the show ring, and how far it deviates from the intended purpose of the dog.

To quote a 1930's ADRK book: "Do not chase Siegers" Ah yes, back in the days when Rotts were bred to be a truly working dog, and type was secondary to temperament, structure and health.

There are a few of us who still believe in the working Rott and breed for it...........

[luvarott]

Without type you do not have a Rottweiler. Problem is that too many people allow all breed judges at AKC shows to determine what type is instead of sticking to what the FCI standard says it is. There has to be a happy medium in there. A yellow eyed/houndy or bowling ball headed/overangulated Rott that does well in working forums is no more worthy of being bred than a Rott with perfect conformation that has rocks between its' ears....