My breeding plan has always been to produce a new generation that meets the Breed Standard as closely as posible. Although my first litter of Australian Shepherds was only whelped on April 9, 2009, I have always bred to the standard for Poodles and Australian Cattle Dogs , in the past. I only concentrate on one breed when showing or contemplating a breeding. Now all my other dogs are retired, and the Australian Shepherd is my focus. Breeding to meet the standard set by AKC must be met in appearance, temperament and ability to do it's job. But breeding does not end there. Health is very important as well. When I started "in dogs" in the 60's xrays were seldom used for hips in standard poodles, and many toy poodles had slipped stifles. I learned, as did others, xrays were necessary. I bred to improve healthy bone structure. We illiminated slipped stifles in our toys, and usually had hips xrayed as Good or Excellent.
When we moved to our ranch near Merrill, Wi. in 1990, we changed to Australian Cattle Dogs, because managing show coat on poodles was a real issue with the arthritis in my hands. I started with dogs who decended from the foundation stock accepted by AKC in the 1980's. I only bred 3 litters in the years with that breed. All pups that I did not show myself, were placed on spay/neuter arrangements, even if they met the standard for being shown. My foundation male was sired by the Number 1 Cattle Dog in the USA for 2 1/2 years straight. His sire remained in the Top Ten even as a Veteran. When, at six years of age, it was found Levi was affected with PRA, my plans to show /or breed Australian Cattle Dogs ended. The four dogs I owned were retired and so did I. Today only one cattle dog, blind with PRA, is still with me. The others have gone "over the rainbow bridge".
Now I am alive again with my Australian Shepherds. I can say plural, because I am keeping pups to show. This time I not only breed to the standard for the breed, have hips and elbows certified, but also have the genetic tests done that are available for the breed. My foundation bitch is PRA clear/normal. HC clear, Hips Good, Elbows normal, Mdr1 M/N. I will only breed to a mate that is clear and will improve the next generation. I have had all the pups in the first litter genetic tested to see if we have improved our MDR1 status with the MDR1 gene to some N/Ns.
Even though there is no history of Epilepsy in the pedigree, when/if there is a test for that, I will test any dogs that I plan to breed. My contract for both show/breed pups and companion pups has provision for health issues.
