In today's world, how important is breeding dogs that adhere to the Breed Standard??

Question

In a world where most dogs are pets and no longer do much beyond sit on the couch, why is it important to maintain coat quality (texture, weather resistance etc), temperament (guarded, aloof, friendly etc), structure, working aptitude and ability, color, dentition, size etc???

One of my concerns is temperament.

Why is it important for a breed to maintain the the temperament the breed was created to have?

(Why shouldn't GSDs, Dobes and Rotts have soft sweet temperaments?) (Why shouldn't Border, Norfolk and Norwich Terriers be sweet cuddle bunnies with soft fur?)

Answer 1

It is important for several reasons. First off, people can know what they are getting from a reputable breeder. People who research and choose their breed, choose it for the reasons you listed. To not place importance on these characteristics, would be producing dogs that cannot be expected to have the traits that breed is supposed to have.

Secondly, it is important because if it weren't, there would be a whole lot more badly bred dogs. And the cycle would continue until it would be virtually impossible to find well bred dogs that fit their breed standard.

Thirdly, it is important for working dogs. These dogs serve a purpose beyond being just a "pet", and when you start producing dogs to ONLY be pets, it will be harder for one to find a dog to preform a specific duty or job.

Answer 2

It is crucial!!! Those traits are what makes those breeds what they are! Responsible breeders don't concern themselves with what will fit in on someone's couch...they breed true to the standards...temperament, coat, ability and all.

If everyone started breeding to suit John Q Public, the purebreds, as we know and love them, would vanish. Just because the public wants a Border Collie, for example, doesn't give breeders the right to dummy down the breed to suit the pet buying public....i.e, isn't hyper, lays on the couch all day, doesn't chase, etc...Rather than changing the breeds to suit the pet buyers, breeders need to realize that not everyone needs a BC or a Rottweiler....

If breeders aren't breeding to the TRUE breed standard, then they shouldn't be breeding. Period. Temperament, function, coat, all make up a breeds' type (geno and pheno)...And without breed type, (what makes a purebred what they are), you have nothing.

Answer 3

Breeding an animal for conformation has never improved the animals' health or purpose.

For example - the fiasco of the purebred dairy cow. Beautiful animals, but crippled and with dramatically reduced milk production.

A recent study shows that conformation and temperament are genetically separate in dogs - so a dog with correct appearance can have incorrect temparament. This leaves us with nervous Shepherds, obsessive Cavaliers and snappy lap-dogs.

The entire animal's structure, temperament and purpose must be considered. This creates a divide in most breeds. the difference between show and working lines is striking and dramatic. And crosses between working and show lines are not showable or workable.

I choose working lines as I have no purpose for an attractive dog with poor structure and poor temperament. These dogs rarley adhere to breed standard - because like Barbie dolls, prettiness is often stucturally unsound.

Consider the Airdale Terrier. When bred for purpose only, over generations, they develop a taller hing end. Unacceptable in the show ring, but drives their gait.

Consider the APBT/Amstaff. Show breediing has doubled the dog's size and has introduced genetic defect in previously clean lines.

Show breeding has reduced the Doberman to a breed unsuitable for its original purpose. Gorgeous animals unable to serve the purpose they were created for - and with such a high incidence of cardio myopathy (sp?)!

Breed standards are a (relatively) recent creation and possibly not a wise one.

Breed stereotypes lead people to choose dogs completely unsuited for their family and lifestyle. It leaves more dogs abandoned in shelters every year.

Answer 4

I think it's very important for today's dogs to look like what the breed standards describe. It is also very important to maintain the body structure, coat type and temperament what that breed is bred for, no matter for conformation or working purposes. A lot of breeders study hard to study the breed standard because they love the breed and they want to improve the breed or their breeding stocks. However, they should think of the complete package of the dogs, not just the pretty face or nice temperament. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of breed standard.

Answer 5

I just went thru the local paper and was disgusted at the prices listed for mutts.Out of 53 ads only 6 were for pure-bred pups.And it's not just the little ankle biters anymore would anyone like a Labrynes ? {Lab x Great Pyrenes} It's a steal at $175.00.
This is getting way out of hand. Seems to me there is no breed standard anymore. Just a whole lot of greedy people jumping on the free money wagon. They're no better than the slave traders of the past. Flesh is flesh after all whether it be man or beast.
It makes no difference to me whether a dog works or shows or sits on the couch. I want to recognize what it is when I see it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

"How important is breeding dogs that adhere to the Breed Standard??"

VERY IMPORTANT
Because with all the BYB out there far too many dogs end up in the pound, put to sleep or let out on country roads to fend for themselves... yes it happens.

If only the best of the best were bred it would cut way back on the population of dogs. Germany is a good example. Only Schutzhund Titled German Shepherds with exrays and other criteria are breed. They have breeding wardens who look at pedigrees and Titles and say Yeah or Nay.

The U.S.A. is the only organization here in the United States that adheres to a breeding standard and has breeding wardens - but that is only for the German Shepherd Dog.

AKC lets "any" dog breed to the same breed without concern for health or temperament. But never the less, everyone wants the AKC paper work... (smiles- I did too when I got my puppy whose parents are both in the U.S.A. Registry).

Well, Don't know if this is what you were afer or just starting conversation But
There Ya Go.

H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's

Answer 7

Breeding a dog that adheres to the standard means a *responsible* breeder is breeding purebred dogs (designer dogs and other mixed breeds do not have a standard to which they can adhere).

Breeding a dog that adheres to the standard means a responsible breeder *knows* the breed standard and knows how to breed in a way that will best achieve it.

Breeding dogs that adhere to the breed standard means responsible breeding -- pet quality puppies are spayed and neutered, breeders take back their dogs at any time during the course of their lives, etc., etc., etc.

If nothing else, breeding dogs that adhere to the breed standard would ultimately mean fewer unwanted dogs, fewer dogs ending up in shelters, and fewer dogs being killed because of overpopulation.

Answer 8

Don't you want a good looking friendly dog? People who adhere to the breed standard truly care about dogs.

Yes, my dog is a rescue 1/2 Lab 1/2 Bloodhound but he is gorgeous. His coat is shiny and slick, he's a great weight, he has a good temperament, and I get SO many compliments on him. I'm proud of the way my dogs looks and acts.

Answer 9

As a purely practical consideration for pet owners, if the dog does not resemble the breed it's supposed to be, either physically or mentally, you might as well just get a mutt.

If you are wanting a particular breed, I would assume it's because you like the characteristics of that breed. For example, people who want a basset hound are usually attracted by the sad eyes, long ears, wrinkled skin, big feet and loving, friendly personality. Far too often I run into pet owners with their pet shop or BYB bassets which have tight eyes, shortish ears, "dry" skin, light bone and are temperamentally incorrect. They want to know why their dogs didn't turn out like mine.

If you're looking at it from the point of view of a breeder's responsibility, it's because we are the guardians of the breed, we have been handed a trust by the breeders that came before us, it is our responsibility to maintain the breed as best we can. Each breed is our own little window on history.

Again, if you don't maintain those features that make each breed unique, you might just as well breed mutts.

Besides, in many breeds (like mine) there are dogs that DO do their jobs (for as long as PeTA will let us). They need to be correct to do the job properly.

Answer 10

Yes it is for working dogs and I know of hunters that feel the breeders are ruining the hunting dogs because of too much emphasis on all the things that do not matter. Just what I have heard and I am from Oz and know not many hunters here will have a purebred dog because of that reason and they are creating their own mixes, pretty uncommon to see a hunter with a purebred.
Have hunting friends. They pay good money for a well bred mixed breed that has all the health testing and has good temperment and has a history of hunting in the parents