So, how DOES a breeder create a new breed?

Question

Since all dogs were mixed breeds of other dogs, I want to know how I can make up my own breed.

Can anyone help me? Please tell me what I can do!

OK, folks, knock off the reporting and having answers removed. This is very childish!!!

Answer 1

Despite the Doodlequest's explanation, I'm personally still a bit in the dark about the creation of a new breed.

I worry about things like:
Is there a plan for progress X generations down the line? and who sets the mark for whether progress has been made.? At what point do you add new blood and who decides which dogs can be added? Is there a stud book that clarifies each dog's "breed" status? Are the dogs screened for health issues? DNA'd to determine parenthood (something like the AKC's frequently used stud program.. or the Bernese Mtn Dogs clubs insistance that ONLY DNA'd stock be allowed to participate in the National Specialty)?

Is there a written standard that says "THIS is what the PERFECT Goldendoodle should look like and act like"? (This is the allowable size range, coat type, color, eyeshape, structure, substance, tail set etc etc etc..)

Are breeders working together and sharing both their successes and their failures? Have they formed a national breed club and do they have a written code of ethics?

My biggest concern is always... Is there a PLAN behind what is being done? Something beyond saleable pups.. and beyond.. "well we thought they'd make good Service Dogs".

I wonder with the Goldendoodles why someone didn't just go get a nice Portugeuse Water Dog? In the case of the little poo dogs, I just don't get it at all... Havanese seem to fit a bunch of the criteria sited... as well as numerous other small breeds.

Again.. I don't have issues with people breeding, I just want to know there is a PLAN for multiple generations down the road.. as well as responsibility taken by the breeder from a pup's first breath til death.

EDIT: Now kats... they have to report, they wouldn't want to actually answer the question. Frankly, kudos to Doodlequest for at least attempting to answer the question.. I'd love to hear more from her about where the Goldendoodle should be as a breed in 10 generations, selection of breeding stock and setting breed type. I find the movement to actually establish a new breed fascinating... I enjoyed reading about the Shiloh Shepherd, the goal of the original breeder as well as the control she's maintained over the dogs as she works on creating a breed.... after 40 plus years SHE insists they are not a breed.. yet. Thanks to Tony for reminding me about the Doberman's and the Bull Terriers. I've done a bit of reading about Dogo Argentino (my daughter wants one).

I wish more people who are creating mixes and talking about them being a new breed would answer this question.

Answer 2

It has rarely been done by ONE breeder - you see to actually be considered a "breed" there has to be some consistency in progeny over many generations.That generally means passing the "job" on to a new generation of people. Having goals of what you want, and a purpose for produceing it and a willinness to remove the dogs that don't have those qualitys (and sometimes their parents) from the breeding program will be needfull too. Also recall you need to have a large enough population to allow selection and keep inbreeding to a minimum and that usually is too many dogs for one person to manage. The few true developing breeds I know of have groups of people working with them.
There are folks that still consider the Jack Russell a "type" not a breed partly because its a only a century old!

Answer 3

You do not need to hold a Ph.D. in genetics to create a breed of dog. You do need, however, time, resources, and resources of time. It takes many, many, many generations to develop and set form, function, health and type ... and that's just for starters.

There are three researches you can do if you are genuinely interested in learning how a new breed is 'created' (your word, not mine ... the correct word is "manifested.")

Two breeds, set in type (although some would argue not yet refined in type), for which easily accessible information can be researched at the local library would be:

Loius Dobermann's "Doberman Pinscher," and James Hink's "Bull Terrier."

The third emerging breed (some will want to argue 're-emerging') would be the American Bulldog ... it is a breed [well] in progress. Type is not yet set. Fancier's have two types to choose from; the Johnson type, and the Scott's type ... which will actually 'set' we won't know for maybe another hundred years.

Tony Ancheta

Answer 4

The easy answer is.. You decide what you want to see in the dogs, how big, coat, colours etc..and breed towards your ultimate goal.. Either culling :( or placing the unusable puppies homes so you can keep an eye on them, see how they turn out etc.. Maintain records of breedings. Once you get consistency, then write a standard that you would be seeing in each and every single dog. Start a breed club, and approach the AKC to see if you can get the dogs accepted as a breed. I might be wrong you might approach the AKC then start your breed club if accepted.. You would have to check for sure on that.. But basically get it together, be able to produce quality dogs w/ consistency, get them accepted by the AKC, and start showing etc..

There is far more to it than that.. you would need to know about genetics, coat colors and what to expect, and everything else.. Start with a goal of what you want to end up with and work towards it. .I can't even guess how many generations or years it would take to produce a breed... I don't know how many left over puppies would be produced in the name of trying to produce consistency.. It is a HUGE job, and one to be taken seriously if you are serious about getting a new breed accepted.

Answer 5

What would happen if you bred two very ugly dogs together? Would the ugliness cancel each other out and produce a really beautiful dog? I've often wondered about this. I see some really ugly people with pretty kids. I know that's a horrible thing to think but, I really have wondered about that. Aren't genetics funny? Break out your chemistry sets and lets see what happens......LOL

Answer 6

Step 1: go to school - get your major in genetics. Minor in biochemistry - study animal husbandry as well.

Step 2: determine what it is that you want to create - take meticulous notes. Travel around the world discussing traits, good and bad about the dogs that you are considering mixing together. What's great about them - what traits are you shooting for, what is the GOAL of the new breed you are creating. What will be its purpose. Determine if this is something you can create by mixing two and only two breeds and if not, when and how many of other breeds will you bring in.

Step 3: get the best of the best stock - which means spending thousands of dollars. Be prepared to be shunned by all respectable and responsible breeders because mixed breeding is against the code of responsible breeding ethics.

Step 4: take notes!!!! - genetically screen all your stock for any and every possible genetic disaster they could come down with - make sure they are of appropriate temperment as well as of hte conformation you desire. Keep meticulous notes.

Step 5: create an adoption contract for potential adopters of your litters - you will be taking back any dog they can't or don't want anymore for any reason. Be ready to keep the stock that you want for future breeding. You better be independently wealthy for all of this

Step 6: start your breeding program - mixing and matching - meticulously taking notes. Better find some apprentices to keep thsi going - because it takes generations upon generations to get consistent traits in your stock.

Step 7: plan for failure. There is a chance that your mix will not turn out as you planned and you may never get a set of consistent traits, which means, no standard - and no standard means your mix will never be accepted as a breed - which means you created thousands of mutts.

Step 8: should you succeed and your apprentices create a new breed that is accepted by the AKC probably over a hundred years after your death, be ready to accept your award in the afterlife - wait - you are dead - and they say you can't take material things with you. Well, you can smile down from heaven.

Answer 7

I WANT TO WATCH TOO!

Interestingly enough, I saw a thing on National Geographic Explorer that VERY briefly went over the development of the Dogo Argentino, which was very interesting, but my boyfriend wanted to get out and DO something, so I had to turn the "doggie show" off. It was so cool though... so I suggest looking up a recently developed breed, like the Dogo, and looking that over if you really want to know. LOTS of work and knowledge go into it, I know that for sure.

*eats some popcorn* ON WITH THE SHOW!

Answer 8

I think you might want to go to the library and look at every book they have on dog breeds here and around the world. The number of breeds recognized by the AKC is just a small drop in the bucket compared to all the breeds there are world wide. It would be very difficult to come up with a dog that would be completely unique once you familiarize yourself with the dogs that are already out there.

Answer 9

You know from a question I just read, it seems you do not need to do anything except take two different pure bred dogs and breed them together and viola puppies. Give them a cute name and there you have it, a new breed, created by YOU!!
There is no need to to worry about standards because you are not actually trying to produce anything in particular, no need to worry about health because the people that breed designer, hybrids dogs say they are healthy and they wouldn't lie, who needs genetic tests, it is not like your are breeding the cross bred pups together with a goal in mind.

Answer 10

Pay no attention to that leash law, just open the door and let your female dog run free. Let her back in again about two hours later and wait to see what she gives birth to. I think that there can be more than one dad per litter if she gets it on with a few different breeds... Be for real; you can go to the pound and pick up an accident and play guess that breed.