Preservation Breeding: Dedication, Passion, Respect
A number of years ago when we began thinking about adding a second breed to our family and our breeding program, it was overwhelming because we love so many breeds so the first thing we did was determine the criteria we would use to decide on a breed. At the top of our list was making a contribution to securing the future of a rare or relatively rare breed. After several years of research and discussion, we narrowed our search to the Welsh Springer Spaniel (WSS). While all dog breeds require careful management to maintain their future integrity, there are a number of breeds that are more at risk than others and the WSS is one of them. As breeders, we have always considered ourselves custodians of our beloved German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP), but our research on WSS and other at risk breeds brought the concept and importance of preservation breeding to the forefront for us.
I love the comparison that Showsight Magazine draws between Historical Preservation Organizations and Preservation Breeding, it makes so much sense. Dogs are a deep part of our cultural heritage, our history and our societal development, particularly purebred dog breeds that were purposefully created. To be clear, dogs are not buildings or forests or other protected heritage structures, they are living beings, but the point is, their cultural significance is comparable. In the case of heritage structures and spaces, government and non-governmental organizations are responsible for developing programs that maintain their integrity so that future generations may understand their historical significance and enjoy them. In the case of livestock and dog breeds, this tremendous responsibility falls primarily on breeders.
“There is no animal on earth with greater diversity in morphology, behavior, and the roles it plays in our lives. Certainly there is none that has played a more significant role in the development of human civilization. The value of the dog to us as an “animal genetic resource” is inestimable.”
In A Call for Preservation Breeding, Carol Beuchat highlights the lack of programs for, and oversight of, the preservation of dog breeds like programs that preserve heritage structures and spaces. She states that the “…investment of resources in programs to prevent extinction must be motivated by criteria of value and loss”. She puts forth a compelling value proposition for dogs in several contexts, including for dogs that are working members of a team with their human counterparts, doing work that is invaluable to their communities and societies. She also points to the undiscovered value of dogs’ abilities in the areas of medicine, science and other important venues (e.g. disease detection). I add to this the idea that dogs have become entrenched as important members of our communities and dog owners’ lives. They bring such joy, happiness and comfort as well as health. Studies over the past decade and more have pointed toward the health benefits that dog owners can experience including decreases in coronary episodes, lowered anxiety and stress and improved physical fitness, to name just a few. Regardless of the angle used to examine the value that dogs bring to individual lives and society, there is no question they are an incredible part of our past, present and future and worth preserving.
“...Generations of breeders have given us the breeds that we enjoy and use today. The future hope of breeds and their conservation lies with breeders as stewards. With a few tools...they are very much equal to accomplishing this important task and accomplishing it successfully.”
To fill the void of formalized infrastructure when it comes to supporting and prioritizing purebred dog breed preservation at an organizational level, breed registries could play such an impactful role and perhaps in the future, they may. There are pockets of this type of infrastructure to support breeders and the general dog-buying public such as the Finnish Kennel Club’s Breeder Database. At a local level this is an incredible resource and may be unprecedented, but at a global level, is a fragment of what could be. It is important that breeders work to preserve their breeds through breeding decisions at both local and population levels. Despite the lack of a formalized infrastructure, dedicated and accountable purebred dog breeders take responsibility for their role in breed preservation, as they should.
The two articles linked to above are so eloquently written and sourced, I won’t go on to simply repeat the same messaging here. My goal with this blog is to highlight this important topic and inspire our visitors to dig a little deeper on what preservation breeding means and to hopefully appreciate the knowledge, experience, dedication and passion that responsible dog breeders bring to their work. The breeders I know and respect are truly stewards of their breeds, working tirelessly to secure their breeds’ futures.
References
Beuchat, C., Ph. D. (2016, February 4). A Call For Preservation Breeding. Institute of Canine Biology. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/a-call-for-preservation-breeding
Showsight Magazine. (2018, May 4). What Does it Mean to be a Preservation Breeder? Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://showsightmagazine.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-preservation-breeder/
Sponenberg, P. D. (2007). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations (First Edition). American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.