Conformation flaws to avoid

[althea]

I was wondering if there are any conformation flaws (not disqualifying faults) that are harder to "breed out" than others. For example, I heard that lighter eye color is hard to "breed out" and therefore those dogs should not be bred even if conformation is strong otherwise and they are being bred to a partner with otherwise darker eyes.

Does anyone have any experience that has shown that some conformation flaws, such as eye color, mouth pigment, etc. should be avoided.

[Tri-Star]

Originally posted by althea:
I was wondering if there are any conformation flaws (not disqualifying faults) that are harder to "breed out" than others.
Does anyone have any experience that has shown that some conformation flaws, such as eye color, mouth pigment, etc. should be avoided.

Uh, those are cosmetic faults not conformation falts. Conformation faults are like east west fronts, straight in the stifle or a bad topline. Eye color, mouth pigment or coat color is cosmetic.

I have found fronts to be hard to correct as far as conformation goes and mouth pigment as far as cosmetic goes.



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Tri-Star Rottweiler's
Champions & Companions

[Nancy Estes]

I think one of the most difficult conformation faults to breed out is a bad front - either shoulder placement or too short upper arm, incorrect angulation, shoulder blades set too far apart. Not only can it be hard to breed out, but bad fronts are pretty common, unfortunately.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers

[Orville Story]

Originally posted by Tri-Star:
Uh, those are cosmetic faults not conformation falts.

[/quote]

I disagree. Conformation is the Structure, the temperament, the pigmentation, the muscle devolpement, the overall symmetry. It is how the dog "conforms" to the standard. And snice all are described in the standard then the confromation is the entire dog.

The best plan to breeding is to breed dogs without flaws.

[Michele Baxter]

I use the term "conformation" faults to deal with the "conformation to the breed standard". All faults are conformation faults--i.e. How well do they conform to the standard? That said, there are structural faults such as bad fronts, lack of angulation, dipping toplines, etc. And cosmetic ones such as sooty or not clearly defined markings, lack of mouth pigment, and light eyes.
Light eyes are a hard trait to breed out. Structurally bad fronts (and there are a lot of them out there!) and layback of shoulder are some of the harder faults to breed out also. From the looks of the dogs out there now toplines must be a hard to breed for--they look like roller coasters going around the ring!

[Tri-Star]

[/quote]
The best plan to breeding is to breed dogs without flaws.[/b][/quote]


Oh if only someone could!




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Tri-Star Rottweiler's
Champions & Companions

[Orville Story]

Oh I know, "there are no prefect Rottweilers". There are several Excellent ones that are very close to prefect. With these dogs you don't have to worry about improving angulation, pigment, temperament, movement, or muscle mass. You only thoughts as a breeder are to match type with type.