subject: Dog Breeders and Their Work [print this page] Dog Breeders and Their Work Dog Breeders and Their Work
Dog breeders intentionally mate different dogs to produce puppies in line with specific genetics. Their primary intent is to produce or maintain specific characteristics and qualities of dogs by a careful selection of dog genetics, lineages, health and normal use. Dog breeders are continually developing new dog breeds for various purposes. Throughout history, dogs have evolved into distinct groupings such as guardian dogs, companion dogs and hunting dogs that are further evolved into sight hounds and scent hounds. To enhance and maintain these characteristics, dog breeders have caused dogs with particular characteristics to mate in an effort to present a combination of such characteristics in the subsequent offspring. The process is usually repeated over and over until the specified characteristics are achieved.
Dogs are quite capable of reproducing on their own and certainly not without the need of any human help. When dogs find their own mates and produce offspring, even if they are not from the same lineage, natural selection takes precedence. Dogs reproducing on their own are quite sufficient to meet the world's demand for dogs. However, the need for specialized qualities as well as elimination of inheritable genetic defects has seen the number of dog breeders grow steadily over the years.
Dog breeders rely on the science and knowledge of the canine genetics, and with a clear goal as to the intended purpose for the dogs, they embark on the breeding process. It is a meticulous process of identification and selection of both natural traits as well as acquired traits as the breeders attempt to create the most suitable blend of genetics. The resulting dog breed is not scientifically defined under biological classifications, but instead classified under defined groupings made by breed clubs. Dog breeders achieve what can be defined as a dog breed from a sufficient number of bred dogs that can transfer stably and consistently, the specific characteristics in subsequent generations.
Through the activities of dog breeders, dog breeds have been developed by the hundreds. Purebred dogs which are dogs of a modern breed that closely resemble dogs from the same breed were considered a privilege of the wealthy but breeders today have made it possible for anyone to own such breeds. Some dog breeders have also found out that crossbred dogs turn out to be healthier than the purebreds which are at risk of inbreeding or line breeding related health issues and other genetically inherited disorders.
Just as with any field of science, dog breeders have received their fair share of criticism. Animal rights activists target breeders, whom they claim to be in the practice for a profit, saying it is unethical. Other critics cite some of the breeding practices as a major facilitator of inbreeding which deteriorates the genetic composition of dogs. Also those breeders who are into the hybrid dog breeding and the so called designer dogs haven't gone down well with these activists who find breeding for such purposes not in the interest of animal welfare.
