[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

What's your kennel name? I am always looking at pedigrees and studying.

I pretty much breed only to champions. I like nice strong lines so I have a better idea as to what I might get. Mary is right - genetics are hard. You can do a repeat breeding and get one look and then breed the same again hoping to get a repeat and may get a total different look. I like my pups to all be about the same look, very typey. And usually they are. I have done line breeding and sometimes go with an outcross if the dogs are exceptional. I look at both dogs to match - and want them to be an excellent match. You have to know their faults well and never double up on them and never to have a bad fault in either. Faults are very hard to breed out - like the large ears we mentioned before on another post.

When evaluating a pup - there is a lot that goes into it. Someone mentioned the quality of the pup. That is correct, but there is so much into grading or evaluating the quality. Yes, you are looking at the standard when evaluating, but there is so much to consider. And what you might think is a good quality pup at 12 weeks can totally fall apart by 5 or 6 months. And one you think will not make the cut, totally improve and turn out to win Best In Shows and has happened before. What was the name of that dog that was petted out and then the breeder took a look at him later and talked the owner into showing and ended up winning BIS? I can't remember his name now. So you just do not know sometimes. Reason it is so umportant to hold on to pups longer, especially if it is a new match. Or at least be very close to where the pups go so you can see them from time to time as they grow and develop. A good breeder needs to know how the match turned out.
I go with gut feeling a lot of time as I am watching a pup and hope for the best. Also I will have other help me decide and evalute as well (experts in our breed). Then my hubby decides too for me sometimes. LOL I can keep a girl, but no more boys for now. So even though I may end up with a great boy - I need to pet him out. I have two males now (one champion and one soon to be hopefully a champion this year) and that is all I am allowed to have, says hubby. All of our dogs are in our home and are our pets. So you can keep only so many. So hoping for a fantastic girl. Wishing, wishing....

Also you need to look at the pedigrees, the parents, and even grandparents, besides the pup's quality (pup's quality is formost). It is very complex. Breeding and picking quality is not to be taken likely. Again, with our breed it is one of the hardest thing to do. Now I am not taking about a pet breeding with no champions, sorry to say this is usually pretty easy to decide difference between this litter and a litter from show breeders - from my own experience - JMO.

Tina,

You and I know the first 3 generations are what contribute to a dog's genetic make-up. But, even at that it's how the genetics shake up in the breeding. I have a lot of Johnnie Handsome in my pedigrees and I keep hoping that one day I'll get another Johnnie.....one can only hope.