Genetic diversity in breeding programmes

[Dharkwolf]

Out of curiosity do any of you consider genetics (as opposed to pedigree) when you decide on how you are going to breed your dogs? In particular do any of you actively try to maintain diversity amongst your dogs or is this something no one tends to think about?

For those of you who are interested in that kind of thing, this site might prove interesting.

[fenris]

The Canine Diversity Project - is a very good link. I`ve read several of the sites and would recommend them too. I think one must re-consider what a breed is - what makes it - what conserves it - what developes it.
fenris

[slarman]

Hi,
I think that genetics should be first and foremost in any breeding program,not pedigree.Pedigrees can LIE genetics can't.Remember the canine(domestic or Wolf) is more genetically diverse than human and can stand quite long periods of tight genetic breeding-at about 5 generations you MUST add new blood.Consider the GSD and Australian Kelpie both breeds started with one dog and always keeping close to that one dog,but adding new blood judiciously has created 2 of the best working dogs in the world.It would not be impossible to do this with the CzW,given the advances in genetic knowledge,technology and ease of transport which neither of the 2 breeds mentioned had at the time of their creation.You would not even have to add new wolf blood to keep the aspects of wolf you wished to perpetuate.
On another note,domestic dogs brains are only 20-25% tame,the other 80-75% is still wolf.

[z Peronówki]

Originally Posted by Dharkwolf

In particular do any of you actively try to maintain diversity amongst your dogs or is this something no one tends to think about?

I think CzWs are very special breed in this case. I spoke with owners of dogs other breeds. Many of them use very high inbreed. Many of them use still the same male because "the puppies are so nice". They do not care for any "genetics"....

CzW are different. Or better said their breeders are different. Just look on the litters - most breeders do not repeat the same matings. Why? Because if the puppies from the first litter were nice it means they will be used for breeding in the future. And if the puppies are of low quality or have health problems it make no sence to repeat such mating.

It is also rare breed so the breeders know each other, they know problems (even if they don't speak about it openly ) and the "value" of individual dogs. So they can choose dogs much better than breeders of other breeds where it is much easier to hide any (health, exterier or character) problems.

Because there are still relative less CzW the breeders pay more attention to keep the genetic diversity because for all these years it was one of the most important things and the breeders still care for it.... Even if sometimes they do it unconscious...

[mau]

Originally Posted by Margo

I think CzWs are very special breed in this case. I spoke with owners of dogs other breeds. Many of them use very high inbreed. Many of them use still the same male because "the puppies are so nice". They do not care for any "genetics"....

CzW are different. Or better said their breeders are different. Just look on the litters - most breeders do not repeat the same matings. Why? Because if the puppies from the first litter were nice it means they will be used for breeding in the future. And if the puppies are of low quality or have health problems it make no sence to repeat such mating.

Well, here in Italy we have at last one breeder (but he is the biggest one, more then 100 puppies/year) that behave like in your first paragraph. . Have a look in the database. Heavy inbreed 'cause "they are nice". Cutt has been used for more then 100 puppies and now Miky is going the same way.

ciao

[Czunksolov]

What about heart-rate? I've read (Soul of the Wolf- I cant remember the Author's name) that pups with high resting heart-rate consistently are more easily trained, more alert, and have (in packs) higher social status.