Page 56 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever

WITH RICHARD ANTON, LAURIE DOUMAUX, ROLAND HACH HACHTEL, ELLEN HARDIN, JACKIE MERTENS, BARBARA GOODKIND PEPPER, JUNE SMITH, GAYLE WATKINS AND BERNA HART WELCH
of breed-type elements that distinguish Goldens from other breeds are also of concern. I believe there needs
to be more emphasis in judging the breed for correct temperament (not high-strung, over-active, not a “statue” yet animated)—not so easy to do in the 21⁄2 minutes per dog evaluation time.
LD: The biggest concerns I have about Golden Retrievers includes health, temperamen and structure.
EH: Popularity and breeding to win in the conformation ring only. Selling “pet” puppies lacking proper structure to compete in agility, obedience and field work.
RH: Biggest concern about Golden Retrievers would be health issues with cancer in the forefront.
JM: Obviously, health is a big issue. Many breeders are not doing the clearances that should be done.
BP: In general, as a lover of the breed, cancer and the short- ened life span of today’s Golden Retriever. As a judge, the number of “incorrect” dogs showing, finishing
and reproducing.
JS: The biggest concern I have about Golden Retrievers is their health
GW: Health is my greatest concern in Golden Retrievers. cancer rates and eye diseases top the list yet I see breed- ing after breeding that appear to ignore longevity and eye health.
BW: My biggest concern in the Golden Retriever breed is the high incidence of cancer and the shorter life span our breed now has. We must continue to support research.
4. The biggest problem facing you as a breeder.
RA: Producing puppies with correct proportions, balanced fronts with rears, along with correct heads. We want it all in the same package!
LD: The biggest problem I face as a breeder is legislation. RH: The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is finding
stud dogs with health clearances and the qualities needed
to compliment my girls.
EH: Finding a correct stud dog.
JM: Recognizing our bitch’s limitations and shortcomings
and being able to focus on correcting them by breeding
to an appropriate stud dog
BP: I am no longer an active breeder, but if I was I would
be concerned about health issues and the difficulty of finding correct dogs to use in a breeding program. I applaud those who work hard at this, many going back to “frozen” stud dogs to regain some of what has
been lost.
JS: The biggest problem as a breeder is finding suitable stud
dogs to breed to.
GW: Finding causes and dates of death for breeding stock
and their broader pedigrees. We have an amazing asset in
Amy Raby’s k9data.com, yet many breeders and owners
do not make the effort to update their dogs’ information. BW: The biggest problem I face as a breeder is the unreal-
istic expectations many new owners have of their pups and the lack of good training facilities to steer
them towards.
5. Advice to a new breeder?
RA:Find a good mentor to help you study the standard and discuss the breed; go to shows to watch and ask to go over dogs; see and go over stud dogs in person, rather than breed from pictures. Work with your mentor to develop your “ideal dog and style” vision for your breeding program.
LD: Don’t breed until you know more than two-cents-worth. RH: Be honest about evaluating your dogs, then find the
dogs that will make the improvements you would like to
see. Breed to your standard.
EH: Study, study, study and find a good mentor who will
explain why the standard reads as it does and how it
applies to the new breeder’s dogs.
JM: There is no perfect dog. Don’t limit yourself by trying to
obtain a bitch to breed to your male. By paying the stud
fee, you can breed to any male in the country.
BP: I would advise a new breeder to read and understand
our standard, get mentoring beyond a small local circle, be ruthless in critiquing your bitches to understand their strengths and weaknesses, don’t assume the number one dog is right for your bitch.
JS: A new breeder should look for a good mentor—one that through the years has produced dogs with longevity in their background, not only good structure.
GW: Educate yourself broadly, beyond your dog activity of choice. Seek continuing education opportunities every year. Focus on preserving rather than improving
the breed.
“BE HONEST ABOUT EVALUATING YOUR DOGS, THEN FIND THE DOGS THAT WILL MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.”
300 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2017
golden retreiver Q&A