The Art Of Dog Breeding

Written By admin on Thursday 30 June 2011 | 02:16

By Evangeline Chandler


Dog breeding is the process of mating animals to achieve desired characteristics in their offspring. Skilled breeders select mates based on traits, such as personality, size, skills and strength. Some are bred to produce loving, family-friendly pets, while others are mated to produce working animals who are able to perform alongside farmers, police officers, rescue workers and others. Some canines are bred to become service animals, and can be trained to assist blind or physically disabled individuals.

Beginning with prehistoric humans, canines have been important members of communities. For many centuries, the relationship between humans and canines has been evolving. Today, three separate groups of canines function as human companions. These include sighthounds, hunters and livestock guardians.

Those who protect livestock against threats from predators perform their tasks by instinct. They become acquainted with their herds as puppies, and develop a bond with them. They are effective at protecting their home herd, but will not perform their duties in other herds. As an example, a canine who has bonded with a herd of sheep will not protect herds of goats or cattle. Some effective livestock guardians include Sheepdogs, Armenian Gamprs, Mastiffs, Komondors and Great Pyrenees.

The hunters are gun canines, including Dachshunds, terriers and hounds. The hound group is sub-divided into three categories, lurchers, scent hounds and sighthounds. The sighthounds have high visual acuity and great speed. These include Greyhounds, Afghans and Whippets. The scent hounds have highly advanced olfactory senses and can effectively track game. This group includes Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Dachshunds, Basset Hounds and Beagles. The lurchers are a mixture of working dogs and sighthounds. A common combination is a blending of terriers and Greyhounds.

Terriers are great mammal hunters. They have the ability to locate animal dens, and travel underground to chase them out. This group includes Boston Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Kerry Blues, Pit Bulls, Airedales, Bull Terriers and Jack Russells.

Dachshunds are bred to track deep-burrowing animals, such as badgers, foxes, prairie dogs and rabbits. Their short legs and long bodies enable them to climb into burrows. They are speedy, and excellent at following scents. This is the only canine that is certified to track both above and below ground.

Gun canines can effectively assist people who use shotguns to hunt small game. These include spaniels, setters, pointers and retrievers. They can locate and retrieve prey from both water and land. They include German Shorthaired Pointers, English Setters, Cocker Spaniels, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.

Since prehistoric times, humans have practiced dog breeding to develop helpful partners. Their inherent dependability, loyalty, adaptability and agility make them ideal companions. In addition to the traditional fields which have used canines for many years, their use is expanding into new regions, such as medicine.




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