In your opinion, what are the "acceptable" reasons to breed?

Question

What is the difference between "preservation", and "bettering" the breed?

Answer 1

If the breed was going to go exctint.  Never breed just for money.  

Answer 2

I see a lot of answers saying champions/ champion bloodlines etc.

That is not a reason to breed imho some champions should never be bred. Did you see the dog that won crufts?

Breeding should be done to better the breed or preserve it, period.

Bettering the breed means you are bringing something to the table that helps the dog within the standard become a better representation of that standard. I think MANY dogs have gotten away from the original standard and we need to work to get back to what they were (american show gsd, dachshunds, basset hounds, etc)

Preservation of the breed is different, it means that a breed near extinction is well preserved, this means breeding what is left, outcrossing to different bloodlines, using any means possible to keep a breed going until it can reach stable numbers.

Answer 3

Breeding for preservation is done primarily for heritage or rare breeds to prevent that particular breed from disappearing.  There are some organizations, especially with heritage livestock, that are working to find breeders to help preserve the breeds that are disappearing.  I'm looking into breeding heritage turkeys next year.  Many of these heritage breeds have been crossbred and hybridized over the years and their original traits have become recessive or unrecognizable.  

Breeding to better a particular breed is what every GOOD breeder does.  This is accomplished by knowing what the standards of perfection are for the animal and breeding animals as close to that standard as possible.  It is understanding the genetics that account for certain traits and making those characteristics strong and consistent in your bloodlines.  It is knowing when to linebreed and when to add other DNA to your breeding program.

Preservation and improvement of a breed are the only acceptable reasons I know to breed purebred domestic cats and dogs.

Answer 4

There needs to be several things that take place.

-The two dogs ment to be bred must both completely exemplify the breed in every way. They should both be proven in conformation, other wise its really just your opinion.

-They should be free from all genetic illness, and have been tested to prove so.

-I also feel strongly that if the dogs are of a sporting, working, or herding breed, they should be proven to at least have the instincts to complete the tasks they where bred to do.

-The breeder should be sure that she can place all the pups in appropriate homes. And be prepared to spend more in time and money on the breeding process than she will make back.

-The dogs being bred have sound temperments appropriate for their  breed

It sounds a little strict but I do feel like if you are not going to better the breed (breed to get rid of issues that plague the breed intype, temperment soundness, and health) by breeding than you shouldnt do it at all. There is nothing wrong with wanting to preserve the breed (breeding to insure that the breed you love stays around) you love but if you cant do it the right way then there are already too many unwanted dogs in the world.

Answer 5

Acceptable reasons to breed include breeding to preserve and maintain the breed, done by reputable breeders who show their dogs and ensure every animal they breed meets the breed standard as has passed all health tests.

Preservation is maintaining the basic breed standard, and producing dogs that can still do what they were bred to do. While everyone interprets the standard in a different way, it's important to breed to meet it as closely as possible. Preserving the breed includes breeding to preserve what the dogs were originally intended to do - this ranges from hunting birds to retrieving ducks to herding to pulling carts. Bettering the breed could be breeding two incredible examples of the standard, thus producing more dogs that will also be incredible; this is both preserving and bettering the breed. Bettering could also be breeding to eliminate health issues, such as breeding two dogs without hip dysplasia. Two fantastic dogs could be bred to preserve the breed if they matched the standard and could, say, hunt birds, but they wouldn't be bettering the breed if they both had hip dysplasia. The two go hand in hand.

Added: Amy, I agree that some champions should not be bred. I've seen some dogs that I just can't understand how they got the title. Still, dog shows and obtaining the championship title should be a guiding tool for breeders to use - they should never be a deciding factor, but they are very important.

Answer 6

Reputable breeders breeding programme should be based on the creation the of a Dobermann that is sound in mind and body, with ability and eagerness to please and that strongly believes in preserving and protecting the working heritage of the Dobermann

It is acceptable and in the interest of the Dobermann, to breed a litter if preserves the function of the breed. The Dobermann was bred specifically to protect humans and to be a versatile working breed which could excel in the show ring, obedience, flyball, schutzund, protection and tracking.

To better the breed only health tested Dobermans and preferably Dobermanns that have proven themselves in the show ring or by gaining a schutzund title should be used in a breeding programme. By testing for all known health defects, more Dobemanns could live long and healthier lives.

Answer 7

Preservation is breeding to keep the breed alive, i.e. to prevent extinction.  

Bettering the breed is the careful breeding of the most perfect examples of the breed in order to keep the breed true to standard, and as beautiful and healthy as possible within that standard.  This kind of breeding requires an extensive knowledge of canine genetics, the bloodlines of the sire and dam, and of the breed in particular.  Responsible breeders conduct genetic testing to keep known health problems out of their dogs.  They breed for temperament, health, beauty, and for love of the breed.  They care where their dogs go, and will take them back if the owner cannot keep them for any reason.

You can make very good money as a breeder, but money should never be your first reason to breed.  Breeding is an act of love.

Answer 8

To help improve the breed, or if they are going extinct.  

Answer 9

I may be one of the few people who doesn't believe breeding ALWAYS has to be about bettering the breed.  

However, I feel very strongly that no dog should be bred unless it has passed the "TPR" test.  

T - tested for all major genetic defects (and diseases) effecting the breed

P - proven in some kind of competition

R - responsible (for example not breeding on every heat cycle, etc)

I can see how the argument could be made that by doing these things one is "bettering the breed", but I don't believe that's always true and I also don't believe that most breeds need to be "bettered" - they just need to be NOT messed up in the first place!  

I do agree that some breeds are seriously messed up genetically and need "fixing", but I don't believe the answers to most of that fixing can be found within that single breed (which is why I agree with the attempt to fix some problems by introducing related breeds for a single generation, etc)

As for preservation, I must say that I am glad there are people out there who are working to preserve some of the "original" working stock of some breeds, as I believe they are important.  However, I do not believe that those dogs are the only "variety" of that breed that should exist.  I am perfectly ok with the fact that there are working and show separations within some breeds.  We cannot always try to live in the past with our dogs while we walk around with cell phones stuck to our heads and I-Pods in our pockets living in high-rise apartment buildings or even suburban areas rather than farms.  There are new lifestyles and new demands for dogs today, it is no surprise to me that dogs are changing to fulfill them.

As for designer crosses...I won't stamp them with my approval until the pet overpopulation problem is SOLVED....I don't think that will ever happen.  (at least not in my lifetime)

Answer 10

Because they're cute

Because my dog has a lovely temperament

Because my friend wants one

Because I want to name a new cross breed

Because I want to earn lots of money

Oops Sorry Amanda. I've just realised that schools have gone back and this question is ACTUALLY serious. That's what a couple of months of all this stupidity does to us!!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Some people breed for money....they don't care what happens to the pups, as long as they get their money... We breed for companionship.

Answer 12

To preserve and better the breed, producing high-quality, healthy animals for work or show.

In my opinion, preserving the breed is trying to keep it true to history as much as possible, especially in the category of working ability; and on a very basic note, to keep the breed from going extinct. And bettering the breed is breeding out undesirable traits and working to increase the overall health of the animals. Unfortunately, the show world and the working world have split into two different categories on some breeds. In my opinion, a show dog should also be able to work. I like the quote from WoodHaven labs "a balanced dog has a title on both ends".

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