What is Selection: The Responsibility of Choosing Breeding Animals
In dog breeding, "selection" is the process of comprehensively evaluating whether a dog is suitable as a breeding animal for the next generation. It goes beyond physical appearance alone and assesses the dog across four dimensions: health, genetics, temperament, and structure. Inadequate selection can lead to genetic disease proliferation and temperament deterioration, resulting in misery for both buyers and dogs.
Genetic Disease Screening: Essential Testing Before Breeding
To prevent heritable diseases from passing to the next generation, responsible breeders must conduct specialized testing before using a dog for breeding.
Hip Dysplasia (HD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED): These are heritable joint disorders particularly problematic in large and medium-sized breeds. Dogs must undergo radiographic evaluation through recognized organizations such as OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or PennHIP, and only individuals receiving scores at or above a certain standard (such as Excellent, Good, or Fair on the OFA scale) are used for breeding.
Eye Disease: CAER (Canine Eye Registration) certified exams screen for cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), Collie eye anomaly, and other conditions. Annual examinations by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists are recommended.
Heart Disease: Breeds such as Dobermans, Boxers, and Cavaliers carry elevated genetic risk for heart disease, requiring cardiac auscultation and echocardiography. Cavaliers must adhere to mitral valve disease (MVD) protocols.
DNA Genetic Testing: Breed-specific heritable conditions such as MDR1 (drug sensitivity), von Willebrand Disease (vWD), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), and hernia predisposition are confirmed through DNA testing. Avoiding crosses between carriers prevents affected offspring from appearing.
Temperament Evaluation: Behavioral and Character Assessment
While temperament is influenced by both genetics and environment, evaluation of genetic predisposition is critical.
Various Temperament Tests: The Volhard Puppy Test and situational assessments (sudden loud noises, interaction with strangers, navigating obstacles) are conducted to quantify fearfulness, aggression, sociability, and resilience. Dogs displaying extreme timidity or unnecessary aggression are excluded from breeding consideration.
Consistency with Breed Standard Temperament: Dogs that significantly deviate from breed standard personality traits (for example, Labradors should be friendly and obedient; German Shepherds should be courageous and alert) are disqualified from selection.
Breeding Capacity and Suitability as Dam or Sire: For dams, breeding history, litter sizes, and maternal behaviors (nursing and grooming) are documented and reviewed. For sires, semen quality (concentration and motility) also factors into evaluation.
Breeders evaluate conformation against breed standards established by breed clubs and recognized organizations.
Skeletal Structure and Movement: Proper skeletal angles (shoulder layback, rear angulation) directly correlate with athletic ability and long-term joint health. Dogs with compromised skeletal balance are prone to future problems in the hips, elbows, and shoulders.
Coat and Color: Verify that coat color and pattern align with breed standard and that coat texture and density meet requirements. However, prioritizing color while sacrificing genetic health is misguided.
Height, Weight, and Proportion: Confirm that measurements fall within the ranges specified in the breed standard. Dogs significantly deviating from breed standards (extremely small or overweight) may be considered to have reduced breeding value.
Culling Standards and Record Management
The decision to exclude a dog from breeding—so-called "culling"—is emotionally difficult but essential to sound breeding programs. Culling criteria include:
- Confirmation of serious genetic disease (affected or carrier status requires careful mate selection)
- Temperament test results showing below-standard fear responses or aggression
- Consistent appearance of problematic offspring (such as frequent congenital abnormalities)
- Exceeding recommended breeding age for the breed
The Importance of Record-Keeping: All test results, breeding records, and offspring records should be documented in a database or registry, allowing the breeder to monitor genetic trends across the entire program. Accumulated records enable calculation of inbreeding coefficients, helping avoid excessive inbreeding.
Leveraging External Resources
Breed Club Health Committees: Recognized breed clubs publish genetic disease survey data and lists of recommended pre-breeding tests. Regular consultation of current breed-specific information is essential.
OFA and JKC Databases: Registering test results in public databases allows prospective buyers to verify parent health records. Transparent breeders actively utilize such public resources.
Dog breeding, beyond being a hobby, is a responsible act that safeguards the health of the entire species. Scientific selection standards and diligent record-keeping produce healthy dogs and satisfied owners for generations to come.
