With the news last week of the passing of Malcolm Willis, I thought I might highlight one of his books: The German Shepherd Dog: Its History, Development and Genetics. This book is without question one of the most informative book you will find and read about German Shepherds. I have simply listed below the documentation of the book, the publisher’s description or blurb, about the author, and a selected quote from the book.
Enjoy!
M.B. Willis. The German Shepherd Dog: Its History, Development and Genetics. New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc., 1977.Pubisher’s Description (blurb): “It is regrettable but none-the-less a fact that most dog breeders/exhibitors will not see in their lifetime a highly specialized book devoted to an exhaustive study of bloodlines and breeding principles of their chosen breed.
This book is a break with tradition in that it is not directed at the would be or novice owner and contains no general care chapters. Most established breeders are already well versed in these matters and their needs are for a more detailed work which gives them greater insight into the genetics of the breed. A clearer picture of this genetical aspect is fundamental to any breeding programme for it highlights both virtues and faults within the breed so that with careful utilization and incorporation of the knowledge gleaned from hindsight it is possible to plan with more assurance the future improvement of one’s stock.
The great problem within most breeds however is that such knowledge needs a trained geneticist to gather and interpret the data available. Further, such a person would also need to be deeply involved with the breed if such a worthwhile study was to be made. The simple fact is that there are very few geneticists who are deeply interested in dogs and even less who are totally dedicated to a single breed.
To complicate matters still more having found such a geneticist and assuming he has researched for many years on the breed there remains the one final question—is he or she capable of writing a book! If one considers the number of breeds that can be seen then German Shepherd breeders are indeed fortunate and the cliché ‘once in a lifetime book’ takes on a very true meaning.
This work is a tribute not only to the breed which above all others commands from its owners total dedication but also to the patience of the author for the diligent way in which he has sought and succeeded in compiling a book of monumental importance to German Shepherd breeders for decades to come.”
About the Author: “Malcolm Willis was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire in 1935. He attended the Johnston Grammar School and then took an Honours BSc in Agricuture at Kings College, Durham University in 1956. Subsequently he obtained his PhD in Animal Genetics at the Institute of Animal Genetics at Edinburgh University where his superior was Prof. Alan Robertson FRS. After post-doctoral year at Cambridge studying biometrics Dr. Willis was geneticist with the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales (1961-65).
From 1965-72 he was Head of Animal Science Division at the Instituto de Ciencia Animal at the University of Havana. Since 1972 he has been at Newcastle University where he lectures in animal breeding and genetics and is engaged in research in a variety of species. Dr. Willis has published over 60 scientific papers, mainly in the fields of cattle production and breeding on which subjects he has an international reputation and he is the co-author of two books on beef cattle, one of which is held to be a classic text on the subject, and he has presented papers at international congresses in many areas.
In the canine field Dr. Willis has had Shepherds since 1953. He joined the Alsatian League in 1954 and, although the nature of his work has prevented breeding activities on other than a small and irregular scale, Dr. Wills has been able to devote his genetical training to a very detailed study of the breed. He has built up a unique collection of records on the breed and has been a frequent contributor to Dog World and to various specialist magazines on the breed. He has contributed chapters to the breed books by Nem Elliott and Dr. L. C. Smith. Since 1959 Dr. Willis has undertaken a number of judging appointments of the breed and in 1972 he was elected to membership of the Kennel Club.
A Favorite Quote from the Book: Miscellaneous Aspects of Breeding—“A mating not only produces stock of a certain quality but it also brings with it information about the parents. Because males are used on several females information about males is not difficult to obtain, especially if breeders pool data. Females, however, have few litters and since it is the female which the breeder controls it is essential that he get as much information about her as possible. Continuously mating her to the same male may produce a series of good animals and certainly more information will result from two litters than one, even to the same dog, but it cannot be as informative as a series of matings to different dogs (page 384).”