Last night I enjoyed a rare treat. My brother, my mother and I had dinner at a restaurant and got a chance to visit for a while. Don’t get me wrong. I love the big family gatherings and adventures, but sometimes it is nice to have a little more individualized, quieter time. Of course, present or not, the rest of the family doesn’t get left out of the conversation.
Some breeds rise to the top and remain securely ensconced there for decades. Then, without warning, they plummet into the abyss of anonymity. Equally often, fringe breeds rocket out of nowhere and suddenly dominate the game for no logical reason. This powerful undercurrent of purebred evolution says so much about the nature of this sport. The weird trajectory of Maltese success provides an unparalleled example.
In a person’s lifetime they see many things and go many places that effect them in unexpected ways; my recent journey to Romania was one that shook my core and beliefs in ways I never anticipated.
A great many misconceptions seem to exist in the minds of novice and highly experienced breeders alike regarding the impact of dominant and recessive genes on phenotype.
During its heyday, so much was written about M&E. It was immense, it was fancy, and all the biggest names in the sport were onsite. But every critic conceded that another, more elusive factor set it apart from every other show.
I want to preface this editorial by saying I love the sport of dogs. I have devoted well over half of my life to the sport as a professional handler, breeder and magazine publisher. There is not enough space on this page for me to list the positive experiences this sport has the potential to offer participants.
Inbreeding and linebreeding facilitate our ability to establish our own strain within our chosen breed. These breeding systems afford us the opportunity to more easily fix the characteristics we desire most within our strain. They are, however, not the only methods of breeding available to us.
A few standout breeds perpetually grab the limelight, then there are the outliers, renegades, and newcomers. But most fall into the category of reliable, steady contenders. Every once in awhile they launch a mainstream star, but overall they basically keep the faith without making waves.
