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| Summer 2007 Newsletter |
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| Breeder Responsibility by CCO & CDRN Columnist Michelle Harrington |
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| We all know that shelters are brimming over with dogs that for various reasons no longer fit into their previous owner�s lifestyle. At a recent Rally-Obedience trial, I was watching a Swedish Valhund and a Collie earn legs toward their titles. Both were rescues from shelters. The Collie owner, also a breeder, talked freely with me about her breeding practices. I listened with great interest as she spoke passionately about the love of her breed, and at the end of the conversation, she said �if one of my dogs ever ended up in a shelter, I would cease breeding.� She now fosters abandoned collies. |
| Four years ago, I met my first Canaan Dogs in Markham, Ontario, and have never looked back. I was blessed to have witnessed the first Canadian mating and litter born in the 21st century. One of those pups is my Maccabee, who, to date, has produced offspring with complimentary bitches from breeders from the United States. At a herding trial, I was asked if I was a breeder. I replied that our male had been studded. The Aussie owner said �Well, that makes you a breeder.� She offered her opinion that a breeder is someone who is involved in the selection of breeding two animals regardless of whether they have plans covering years of time, or but a single litter.
Reasons for Breeding Did your breeder tell you to keep your new pup intact? Or through your own explorations, did you conclude that your male or female would make a positive contribution to the breed? If you've made a commitment to breed the dog you need to have clear lines of what is expected between you and your breeder. Certainly the dog's well-being should come first, and the dog's welfare may depend upon fitting into your lifestyle. Laying a Foundation No breeding should take place without a well thought-out plan. Knowing and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your dog is fundamental to the art of canine breeding. Finding a complimentary mate for your dog to build on the positive and eliminate the undesirable attributes is the key contribution to any breeding programme. Attending shows and breed specialities provide avenues for learning how your dog compares with the breed standard. Specialties, in particular, allow the newcomer to meet experienced fanciers and breeders to further foster their knowledge of the breed. Mentorship is an invaluable educational tool that any new breeder should welcome and established breeders should continue to foster. Training toward performance or service venues can offer an objective evaluation of the temperament and fitness of your dog. Testing and trialing in activities such as therapy, obedience, agility, tracking, herding or stockdog work, can provide insight into how your potential stud or foundation bitch mentally and physically �operates� � not to mention keeping them stimulated and involved in the general community . These activities demonstrate skills that access stability of temperament, soundness and physical fitness, and problem solving ability. Obtaining appropriate orthopedic and eye clearances certified through OVA (in Canada) or OFA and/or PennHIP, and CERF is also an imperative ingredient in evaluating the health of your dog. A Responsibility to the breed�s welfare Getting comfortable enough to breed is a serious undertaking. As a new breeder in the community, I feel it is my responsibility to keep the overall breed's welfare in mind when making choices in breeding and placements. We are all equals in this community, and the decisions we make are ultimately our own. There is no hierarchy, and no breeder alone should be considered an institution. However, ask yourself �what are you prepared to do if you cannot place a puppy or the owner of one of your placements can no longer keep the dog?� If you place a dog outside of your province, state or country does your responsibility to take back or help to relocate a dog at any age end at the border or overseas? These are questions we need to answer before we can in good conscience plan a breeding. One should not assume that there is a safety net for these circumstances. Understanding what your limitations are with respect to your kennel should be a determining factor in any breeding programme. Our breed is fortunate to have a rescue network available for Canaan Dogs that are in need of assistance � a resource that I view as a privilege and not a right. |
| Help Support Rescue by ordering a 2008 Canaan Dog Calendar! For details click here |