Companion Dog Project Breeding Strategy

 

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• ​The goal of pairings is to produce puppies with highly social, resilient, low aggression temperament suitable for life as a family pet; lack of any disease significant impacting quality of life; and sound structure that allows ease of movement and normal exercise tolerance

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• Breeding goals which include an aesthetic component are acceptable if temperament and health are consistently prioritized above appearance in breeding choices 

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• Breeding choices will be consistent with the Functional Dog Collaborative guiding statements 

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• Carrier status of recessive mutations should not be used to exclude dogs from breeding unless all other factors are equal. . Pairings will not be made between two dogs carrying the same deleterious recessive mutation without a strategy to reduce prevalence over time. 

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• Temperament should be the highest and most important consideration when choosing breeding candidates and matching pairs, followed by health, then structure and appearance

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• Sociability with humans and dogs is the most important aspect of temperament to be considered

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• Overall resilience should be emphasized when choosing candidates

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• Selection for individual desired traits, and the frequent introduction of new stock, will be emphasized

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• Predicted genetic COI of puppies will be < or = to 10 % 

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• The use of the oldest possible appropriate healthy stud is encouraged

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• Natural mating is encouraged for at least the first breeding of each dog, to establish its ability to do so. Inability to mate naturally should be considered a negative trait and breeding away from this concern is expected 

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• Successful unassisted natural whelping and mothering of puppies is a breeding goal. Inability to do so should be considered when making breeding decisions, and breeding away from this concern is expected 

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• Fertility should be considered and unexplained small litter sizes should be bred away from 

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