How many Champions in how many past?

Question

Generations would it take for you to consider a dogs Pedigree to be a good one?

Answer 1

I'm so sorry I wouldn't even know where to start. Internet would help!

Answer 2

That will change with every breed. If you have an idea of how many Labs it takes to make a major then it becomes obvious that there can be a lot of really nice dogs that will never title.
There are also breeds that are quite easy to title.
The real question is where are the champions located in the pedigree. If you look hard enough I suppose you can find peds with 16 champions in the 4th generation. That is more than 50% of the total dogs in the ped. But if those are the only titled dogs, then someone really missed the boat with their breeding program a few generations back.

While I do like to see titled dogs on both sides of a ped, I also subscribe to the theory that after conception the studs job is done. So performance should be primary. The mother will spend a total of 4 months from conception to when they go to their new homes with them. So disposition should be primary.

Answer 3

Since I am more interested in the working BC, a dog that can actually herd and do it well, conformation championships in a pedigree don't get very far with me I'm afraid. I've looked at plenty of BCs with conformation championships and the best thing they have in herding is a PT/HT in most cases. Honestly, I would LOVE to see a BC conformation champion with high herding titles and championships as well (and more than just the AKC herding too). But most breeders who do conformation are so concerned about that aspect, that the herding doesn't get addressed like I think it should be. I wish here in the states was more like other countries that require a championship on your dog in what it was originally bred to do BEFORE being allowed to go to conformation. I think it would be better for the BC all around.

So, in my breed, while a conformation championship is something I would like to see in the pedigree, it's highly unlikely to find a high champion in herding as well. I find that really sad for the breed actually. If I ever breed, I would like to be a breeder that helps change this.

Answer 4

That's a good question.

I know I would look for dogs who were doing what they were originally bred for or at least doing 2 dogs sports. We have Jack Russells and Border Coolies, so I want a dog who is bred to work. I don't care for the AKC titles as much just becasue AKC tends to breed the Barbie Collies as we call them and breed for looks rather than talent. One of our dogs that we have has parents with herding, agility and conformation titles and has working lines a long ways back.

I think that there should be at least 4 to 5 generations of good working, healthy dogs that have had all the appropriate health tests and keep track of the puppies they produce. The one that we know where she came from, the breeder asks for X-rays of all the offspring so she knows what pups she produces and if there are any health problems.

Answer 5

I think every male has to be titled. Females can be harder to title because heat excuses them from competition. But for males, there really is no excuse. They can produce so many puppies in their lifetime as a stud, so they really have to be proven examples of the breed in conformation as well as working ability if applicable.

And even for a female, many of them should be titled. Because, after all, if they are really such great dogs it will not take too many shows/competitions to gain a title. If it is very difficult for the b itch to get her title, maybe she isn't that great, right? I think that some breeders consider the b itches line to be less important than the stud, so they don't mind as much if the b itch is not titled. Like they think the female doesn't contribute half the DNA :-)

Answer 6

When I was breeding i not only looked for Ch. but OFA too and other health screening. CH is great but even a dog with really bad hips can be CH'd.

I went back at least as far as I could get records for. You just never know when you would get a throw back in a litter! I went back at least 8 to 10 generations on each side. I was a bit anal! :)

Sorry St.Lady type o!

Answer 7

I want a pedigree that is AT MINIMUM 75% titled dogs.... not necessarily champions... working dogs are fine.... and not nessessarily AKC titles- a Working Samoyed title or a drafting title for the Bernese also work for me.

I'm looking, at the moment, at a male Bernese who is being used for herding/driving cattle... long history of working dogs, good orthopedics... but the titles are a bit lacking for my taste... nice moving, strong working dog.

Answer 8

I think AT LEAST within the last 3 generations, but that's just me. I don't feel you can look back and sell/buy pups that had a 7th generation grandparent or something and say, "Yeah, my dog has champion bloodlines" It's too far back.

Answer 9

Like everyone else, I'd want 75%. Leeway would be given if the dog I'm looking at has working titles or training (SCH or similar) instead. And, OFA, CERF clearance is MANDATORY for the last 3=5 generations.

Answer 10

I know many people who breed excellent working dogs and have nothing to do with the show ring. My huskies have not placed worse than second in a race in two winters but none of them have been shown. Because of their working history I have show people asking me for stud dogs. Champion doesn't mean much to me.

Answer 11

You want ch in at least the grand parents,perfer the parents.Having them too far back is less desirable