Lyloak's Sugar Maple, TC, PT
"Let the sire of the sire become the grandsire on the dam's side."
Lloyd C. Brackett
As I have analyzed the writing of Lloyd Brackett by utilizing his booklet entitled Planned Breeding, I have gleaned ten (10) insights or principles based upon my careful reading and analysis. In this part, I will state and expound upon the first principles.
Learn What a Good German Shepherd Dog Specimen Is!
“To the many, however, who seem sincerely interested in breeding better specimens, to the many who want to know HOW to do it, I want to stress as strongly as I can: YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHAT IS A GOOD DOG OF YOUR BREED. In other words, know your breed before you try to breed it.”[i]
The genesis of any potential breeding program must be the breed standard. How can one possibly know what the desired outcome of potential breedings will be without first establishing what is the ideal—the standard of the breed? An oft repeated statement is made that the perfect German Shepherd Dog has not yet been born! Obviously, this is true! Nonetheless, this cannot prevent a conscientious breeder from striving to breed the prefect German Shepherd Dog.
Next, after studying the breed standard, one must place themselves into circumstances to see and evaluate as many dogs as possible. This might most easily accomplished today by undertaking the following:
o Attending dog shows in which your breed is shown and judged; both specialty and all-breed shows. Evaluate each class of dogs according to the breed standard and rank them within that class and eventually the winners.
o Finding a regional specialty club, join that club and attend as many functions as possible.
o Talking with knowledgeable people in one’s breed—judges, handlers, breeders, and owners who show.
o Joining the German Shepherd Dog Club of America
o Attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by the GSDCA.
o Reading the German Shepherd Dog Review and other GSD magazines (such as the German Shepherd Quarterly).
o Referencing the annual Redbook published by the GSDCA and the Bluebook (which has articles dealing with health and genetic issues relative to the GSD). You will find timely information and helpful interviews with breeders, up-to-date health issues and highlights, as well as shown results, etc…
Brackett adamantly expressed that the basic perquisite to starting a breeding program is to learn what a good German Shepherd Dog specimen is. He forcefully stated that it is better not to breed than to breed without knowledge. Brackett’s own words espouse this foundational principle:
“It is very evident to me now that I have presupposed a greater knowledge of what constitutes a good animal of any given breed than the majority of its fanciers possess. This being true, it seems to behoove me now again to warm some of today’s breeders NOT to attempt to do close-up breeding; in fact, not to do ANY breeding until they have a better knowledge of WHAT they want to get FROM their matings.”[ii]
Brackett would advocate that all responsible breeders should be able to recognize a good specimen first and foremost. Secondly, one must be able to note “any and all faults or shortcomings”[iii] of the GSD. Of course, it goes without saying that one cannot know the faults and shortcomings without knowing what the standard is!
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