66 replies to this topic

[geonni banner]

There were many pet dogs - some of them pint-sized long before there were conformation shows. There are abundant pet dogs in places where there are no dog shows. Pet dogs were acquired from owners of other pet dogs that were deemed sufficiently appealing to breed. And of course there were unsupervised, "accidental" matings. Now we have the means to prevent the latter - spay/neuter clinics - and since there will always be those who fail to, or do not wish to avail themselves of them, there will always be pet dogs having pups. For centuries there have been people who acquired their pets this way, and there are abundant, effusive and and heartfelt testimonials that attest to the admirable qualities of such dogs.

If every conformation dog on the planet suddenly vaporized, there would still be a huge reservoir of intact, loving, healthy and charming dogs who could make excellent pets and could give birth to more.

They might not closely resemble Bulldogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Pugs. But I think that could be a good thing, eh?

[Grizel]

I don't think dogs should be bred for companions at all, as radical as that might be...Not while shelters are euthanizing healthy, adoptable pets.

Just to clarify… my question was purely theoretical, since I don’t think that conformation breeding is going anywhere. That last thing I would want to do is encourage more breeding.

I think that is where a lot of the sport breeders could be of use for the other breeds. For example there are a few breeders who breed lines of obedience/agility papillons. I'm sure there are similar lines in many breeds.

Years ago, I encountered a line of shelties that were bred for obedience. They didn’t look much like the other shelties – they were a little larger, didn’t have the big coats and didn’t come in a lot of colors. But they were cute, sharp little dogs.

[terrecar]

If every conformation dog on the planet suddenly vaporized, there would still be a huge reservoir of intact, loving, healthy and charming dogs who could make excellent pets and could give birth to more.

They might not closely resemble Bulldogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Pugs. But I think that could be a good thing, eh?

At last we agree...

[Mark Billadeau]

Saying that the AKC ruins dogs is not quite accurate.

Yes it is.

In-breeding increases and concentrates genetic mutations in gene pools.
Out crossing offsets these effects.
The AKC promotes and requires in-breeding and abhors out-crossing.
The AKC requires genetic purity even in the face of unhealthy gene pools.
Breed formation and trait fixing (required to enter the AKC) lead to genetic bottlenecks and very small gene pools.

[terrecar]

Breed formation and trait fixing (required to enter the AKC) lead to genetic bottlenecks and very small gene pools.

'zactly...there's something to be said for hybrid vigor

[Mark Billadeau]

Hybrid vigor is only valid when the two gene pools being crossed do not carry the same genetic mutations

i.e. Crossing two muts that are carriers for ______ (fill in the blank) is no better than breeding two pure-breds that are carriers of _______ (fill in the blank)

[terrecar]

Hybrid vigor is only valid when the two gene pools being crossed do not carry the same genetic mutations

i.e. Crossing two muts that are carriers for ______ (fill in the blank) is no better than breeding two pure-breds that are carriers of _______ (fill in the blank)

Actually, you're right about this. Thank you



ETA: Leash pop!!