Читать книгу The Complete Book of Dog Breeding - Dan Rice - Страница 34

Books written about specific breeds guide the prospective buyer through breed standards and explain how to select the best possible representative of each breed. They dwell on conformation, preferred coat type, colors, size, and personality of the subject breed. This is a generic book not limited to individual breeds, but one that supplements those written about individual breeds.

One fact is found in every good dog-breeding book. Cheap breeding stock is very expensive. It costs just as much to propagate average quality as it does to produce the top of the line.

In your breed selection process, you no doubt attended many dog shows and other competitions. You talked with other breeders and committed breed standards to memory. You plan to show your bitch a number of times, receiving appropriate awards, points, and ribbons. You are convinced that she possesses the potential to produce puppies that will be excellent representatives of your chosen breed.

You have studied your breed’s history and are not aware of any genetic faults and hereditary health problems that may be present in your chosen breed. You are aware of the AKC’s Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) registry and are taking advantage of the knowledge being accumulated.

You are financially and physically able to care for a bitch in whelp and willing to accept the responsibilities associated with delivery and raising a litter of puppies. You have formulated a plan for placing the puppies in homes where they will be loved and cared for.

Now you need advice on the specifics of breeding animal selection, such as the temperamental, nutritional, and reproductive health characteristics of a good dam and sire.

At five weeks, this Great Dane puppy investigates everything in sight.