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by Sally Futh, Starberry Collies
Someone remarked that they go to the national looking for the perfect stud dog. Well, that individual has not been born yet . . .
If you too studied 18th century literature in school, you’ll remember those witty satires.
I just stole the title; this op ed piece will be neither satire, nor witty. But the subject of spectating at the national has come up on several occasions recently, including comments I have received on the mentoring process, so I thought a few comments would not be out of place.
Seeing what other breeders are producing and also where they are going for their own outcrosses can be very educational. Seeing what the trends are, both good and bad, and where the drag of the breed may be leading. This can help you avoid the pitfalls: stop before you go there.
Someone remarked that they go to the national looking for the perfect stud dog. Well, that individual has not been born yet – there have been a few leading sires whose credentials include some really outstanding dogs. Most of these, however, had help from great brood bitches.
What we do, instead, is to look at the dogs we really like and check their parents. When we see a pattern beginning to emerge, we talk to the breeders. If the sire is available, we go over him with the proverbial fine tooth comb. What of him do we see in the get? Do most of them have his virtues (and faults, of course)? Is there a pattern in the bitches that were bred to him or bred to him to produce the best of the get? If we have a bitch like any or, preferably, most of them, then we get down to the basics, would it work for her?
Pedigree plays a part, too. If he has an open pedigree, i.e. is not closely linebred, which side of his pedigree produced well? In thoroughbreds, we call it a nick. Mr. Prospector on the top and Northern Dancer on the bottom works better than the other way around. Why? The good old X gene in play? It is purely prejudice, I know, but when one learns with mother’s milk to linebreed, it comes hard to make a total break.
The great breeders of the past were not thinking about today and tomorrow – they were looking further down the pike into the future for generations to come. Dogs at the national are, or should be, part of "The Big Picture."
I remember when Trudy bought the basically Hertzville dog, CH Scotlyn’s Casanova from Alda McClure. It was a big surprise to those who were used to her dogs being a blend of Poplar/ToKalon and Sterling. We wondered why, even seeing what a beautiful individual he was. Trudy explained to her young kennel boy that he was a dog who fit in with his new kennelmates, Although he added coat and that special glamour factor, he was not that far from some of the best Brandwyne individuals. not at all out of place. Master breeder that she was, Trudy hit it just right; some of her best bitches were sired by "Blackie," and he produced for other breeders, notably the Glen Knolls line which continues today.
Too many people will look for that stud dog just to produce their next big winner, or maybe just to move up a notch from class winner to a dog that can finish. But if you already have in your kennel good bitches by your own or an otherwise available sire, you may need to find that outstanding stud dog to bring something into your line. Then you will want to breed his daughters back to their grandsire to solidify what you have already. The great breeders of the past were not thinking about today and tomorrow – they were looking further down the pike into the future for generations to come. Dogs at the national are, or should be, part of "The Big Picture."
It almost goes without saying that if your prospective bitch is at the show, you should ask to show her to the stud dog owner. That person knows best what bitches will work with his dog, and may also have another relative, the sire or uncle, who would be an even better fit. He should know his own line, if he is a breeder worth his salt.
Happy hunting! You’ll see us out there doing the same thing. Not just at ringside, back in the set ups where the treasure is to be found. |
