411 On The Ideal Brood Bitch

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194 – January/February, 2022

By William Given

It is every breeder’s dream: to take his or her cherished bitch, breed her to the stud dog on whom many hours of research was spent to produce a happy and healthy litter from which their future National Specialty winner will come. However, between this dream and the reality lie a multitude of determinants that can dramatically affect the results, not the least of which is a considerable investment of time, energy, and money. Technically, while the genetic contributions of both sire and dam are equal, many highly successful breeders believe the impact of the maternal strengths can easily and vastly outweigh even the most dominant sire, thus making the brood bitch critically important to the ultimate success of one’s breeding program.

Many things can influence whether or not a brood bitch will prove to be a success in the whelping box including temperament, conformation, movement, and pedigree. Sadly, even a bitch with the perfect combination of these essential elements may fail to meet or exceed the breeder’s lofty expectations.

Sweet disposition and dynamic showmanship

When it comes to evaluating brood bitch potential, temperament is crucial. No doubt about it, we want conformation and movement, but temperament is so very important in a brood bitch prospect. As breeders and exhibitors, we can often do more with a bitch of average conformation and movement if she has a sweet disposition and dynamic showmanship.

It is necessary that she have a good demeanor. She must like and enjoy her time in the ring. This does not mean she can’t be a little off at times, but she must trust her handler and accomplish what is being asked of her.

Correct construction

Click here to read the complete article
194 – January/February, 2022

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