PRESERVATION BREEDERS

A Preservation Breeder goes beyond the backyard or hobbyist breeder. Their goal is to to promote:

• Education
• Testing
• Mentorship
• Discuss breed issues
• Protect the breed, etc.

Where some may view such a claim as self-glorifying, the truth is in the hours of hard work and  dedication. Preservation Breeders delve deeply into a breed’s existence today where purebred dogs are a shrinking community. ​
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 05.14.2020

ELI, A 2 CUTE HAVANESE PUPPY

How?
Preservation Breeders consider the breed's future and it's Type. Patricia Craige (Trotter) defines ‘Type’ as being what “differentiates one breed from another. It is the collection of all the characteristics and traits that make a given breed different from others. It is the essence of the breed in looks and behavior, ability and function.” 

It is little wonder the serious breeder looks to differentiate him or herself as a Preservation Breeder in the face of increasing short-term breeders, increasing mixed or boutique breeds, and the decreasing historical purebred dogs.  It is a sobering attempt to protect fading standards or oversee necessary changes, to grapple with possible extinction from different fronts, and the guardianship of these dogs for the future.  We aspire to be Preservation Breeders.
 
Why it is important? 
There are no awards, standards or qualifications to be met at this time in order to be called a Preservation Breeder. It is a term regarding a plan of action according to a specific breed's present-day development with its future in mind. It takes a multitude of factors in mind like:

• Breeder education
• Current state of health
• Mentorship
• Purposeful and intentional breeding
• Knowledge breed-wide flaws, genetic issues, and susceptibilities to various diseases in relation to single and multi-generational health

NPS:
The National Park Service, or NPS, offers a model for the preservation, restoration, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of historic properties. This guideline could be applied to the dog breeders, AKC, and dog clubs to preserve present breed identities for future generations. One example is for the breed to retain near-original appearance and instincts. The same traits for which all serious breeders strive for.

Sharing the knowledge:
Breeding for each purebred needs should be looked at as an international community rather than a fractured one. In order to be a success it has to to be accessible for anyone willing to test their breeding stock.  Ideally, it'd organization with a basic foundation to encourage participation, accountability, and improvement at multiple levels rather than exclusivity.  Mentorship should be required not as the new member problem for sponsorship but as a mandatory rotating pool of accessible existing members available for mentoring new members.

The idea would be a worldwide consortium for each breed and their breeders to maintain continuity. It also requires having a solid plan for the future while while protecting:

• Genetic diversity
• Genetic testing
• Transparency
• Keeping an eye on the coefficient of inbreeding
• Protecting important genetic traits
• Minding genetic faults. 

 
Disease and inbreeding or lack of genetic diversity presents serious threats to any breed’s future.  As the study of “canine genetics advanced, more connections between phenotypic traits and the incidence of disease are being revealed.” -American Kennel Club

Obstacles:
Some breeding has been ‘market driven’ meaning that for perceived beauty with such things as shorter muzzles, extreme sloping toplines, or achieving smaller sizes just to name a few that increase health problems or disasters. The topline with German shepherds in some cases has moved so far from an older standard as to endanger the breed with hip and back issues just to achieve this different standard.
 
Some breed dangers lie in the profitability of winning in the ring and ultimately what the judges propagate as breed standard or the vision of perfection of a breed rather than how and why that breed was developed.

As protectors of the breed, addressing judge misguidance is a daunting and taboo subject that many veer away from, especially in some of the very institutions charged with caring for these dogs’ well-being but damaged by these unhealthy standards.  There is a lot of money involved.  A lot of time was invested in creating a name/distinction for these animals/kennels. 

Worst Case Scenario, Solutions, and Accountability: 
Breed extinction is a very real possibility and a reality for some breeds. Extinction must be addressed and an alternative, achievable universal breeding guideline should be instituted in the existing breeding practices with regards to a global standardized list that covers breed disorders, genetic diversity, health testing, and the coefficient of inbreeding (COI). It also should examine and address accountability by those who continue to breed known faults for profit, continuing generational disease, faults, and ill-health from delivery issues through the gamut of life-long canine maladies.  

Flaws in the system:
There is no transparency. Health certificates offer validity for that moment.  Pedigrees offer no health information to the breeders who may or may not withhold health information.  Every aspect of canine health is under the microscope for a preservationist breeder.  A bounty of blue ribbons does not excuse continuing a bloodline rife with Juvenile cataracts or worse.  Truly, it is the lifelong quality of our puppies' health and adherence to breed traits that determines whether one is a Preservation Breeder.
 
Consequences
​While Havanese are not facing extinction, there are several breeds that have problems just living without human intervention, like the use of surgery. I read an article pertaining to bull dogs having to have nose jobs just so they could breathe.

“Not surprisingly, a study published July 29, 2016, found that the English Bulldog no longer retains enough genetic diversity to correct life-threatening physical and genomic abnormalities. This means breeders cannot use the established population of purebred dogs to reverse the trend of extreme and painful exaggerations such as crippling dwarfism and respiratory deformities - traits that uninformed pet owners find appealing . . .  The demise of the breed may not be a good thing for Bulldog-lovers, but it will thankfully put an end to the malformed and painfully crippled modern Bulldog we recognize today.”   Article was written by Jane Brackman, Ph.D.

Want to know more? Check out these recommendations:
Institute of Canine Biology and their Facebook Group: The latest canine news, research and science of animal breeding.

"Born to Win, Breed Succeed" (2009) by Patricia Craige.  Patricia  Craige Trotter is an All-Breed AKC judge, author, and legendary breeder of Vin-Melca’s Norwegian Elkhounds.  Just one of her accolades is being the only person to win 10 breeder-owner-handled Top Ten All Breed status at Westminster. ​
  
References: 
​Beuchat Ph. D., Carol. “A Call for Preservation Breeding.” The Institute of Canine Biology, 2 Apr. 2016, https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/a-call-for-preservation-breeding.

Beuchat, Ph. D., Carol. “Coi FAQS: Understanding the Coefficient of Inbreeding.” The Institute of Canine Biology, 4 June 2015, https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/coi-faqs-understanding-the-coefficient-of-inbreeding.

Borenstein, Seth. “UN Report: Humans Accelerating Extinction of Other Species.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 6 May 2019, https://apnews.com/aaf1091c5aae40b0a110daaf04950672.

“Brachycephalic Syndrome – Owners of Flat-Faced Dogs Beware!” Preventive Vet, https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/brachycephalic-syndrome-flat-faced-dogs.

Nicholas, Dr. Jason. “Brachycephalic Syndrome – Owners of Flat-Faced Dogs Beware!” Preventive Vet, 9 Sept. 2016, https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/brachycephalic-syndrome-flat-faced-dogs.