Mastering the art of Multiple Generation Breeding

What is Multiple Generation Breeding:

Multiple generation breeding is the ingenuity to produce improved specimens to prototype standards in health, conformation, working ability, character, temperament, and mentality from the previous into the next reproduction for multiple generations.   

What makes it different from other types of breeding:

There are many different philosophies about breeding great dogs, in my 15 years of breeding, training, and education I’m convinced that if done correctly Multiple Generation Breeding will produce prototypical offspring on a consistent basis that supersedes other methods.  It has been a proven success in both Europe and the United States for decades.  With this type of breeding we are not producing “Diamonds in the rough”.  We are building a breeding pathway to a “Field of diamonds”.

A few bloodline examples of Multiple Generation Breeding:

-Elhew, English Pointer (USA)

-Maverick, American Brittany (USA)

-Pellegrinotti, Epagneul Breton (ITA)

-Saint Lubin, Epagneul Breton (FRA)

-Keranlouan, Epagneul Breton (FRA)

-Source Aux Perdrix, Epagneul Breton (FRA)

-Alessandro & Nicola, Epagneul Breton (SRB)

These breeders built a legacy in their lines, although not perfect they specialize in different avenues and have proven predictable genotypes that pass prototypical traits for multiple generations.  Identification of these traits lie in the eye of the beholder, both positive and negative genotype will accompany any bloodline.  It is the experience, interpretation, acceptance and honest evaluation that will lead to acknowledgment of prototypical standards.

As we look to European Epagneul Breton pedigrees there are lines of dogs who have predominated in different avenues of field and show competition venues for generations.  These lines bring unparalleled genotypes that burn desired qualities into the next generation.  It is a breeders ability to identify these genotypes, harness and integrate them into the next generation that will produce consistent improved litters.  This is goal oriented breeding to produce dogs that will advance the breed at a consistent level.

European Competition Venues

-Woodcock

-Spring

-Autumn

-Mountain

-Wild game

-Farm game

-Deep water retrieve

It starts with a solid foundation of genetically diverse reproducers from predictable prototypical desirable genotype sources.  What we are after are  prototype qualities that blatantly pass on from generation to generation.  These qualities may seem exaggerated at the foundation and will mutate to perfection in the first or even 2nd generation as it filters to correct.

These are some positive and negative traits grouped in separate categories.

Health

-Fertility

-Hips

-Luxating Patella

-Teeth

-Umbilical hernia

-Auto Immune disorder

-Seizures

-Heart

-Elbows

Mentality

-Intelligence

-Character

-Aggression

-Biddability

-Barking

Conformation

-Style

-Movement

-Backline

-Head

-Angulation

-Bone structure 

-Sprung ribs

-Wide chest

-Head carriage

-Feet

-Parallel front and rear

Working ability

-Retrieving

-Honoring

-Stamina

-Pointing

-Search

-Quartering

Proper mating selection will enhance or maintain the desired qualities while correcting the undesired from generation to generation.   A breeder must set goals for matings, identify goal related traits in dogs produced, test and filter dogs for predictable phenotypes in the next generation.  Once identified match the appropriate specimens for correction, test such dogs in venues specializing in the breeds working and conformation standards.  If done correctly breeders will experience increased litter consistency in the 2nd generation, in the 3rd will see obvious combined prototypical traits.  As the generations advance and breeders narrow down the correction it becomes evident as to which puppies to test at an early age.

Over the years the United States has seen many great Epagneul Bretons come and go with little improvements.  Their genome proved to fade in the 1st generation, showed a glimpse in the 2nd and was gone in the 3rd.  This is an example of poor breeding practices and the reason why breeders continue to breed 1st generation to 1st generation imports from better breeders than themselves.

It is in the best interest of the overseeing breed club to instill this reproduction focus to its breeder members and develop the platform for testing of such dogs.  This philosophy will bring predictable consistent positive genome lines of the Epagneul Breton breed in the United States as it has in France since its existence.