Planned Breeding by Lloyd C. Brackett - Page 1

In my quest to one day actually have a understanding about the topic I found a web version of a book named Planned Breeding written by Lloyd C. Brackett. I'm certain a lot of you already were aware to it and maybe you even can find fault with it but to a amateur like me it answered some questions but also made me have more.

Anyways - here is the link:

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-magazines/dogworld/planned-breeding/planned-breeding.aspx


A few statements I found interesting:

Selection by pedigrees alone, without consideration being given to the physical traits of the mating pair, is the chief danger in this system of breeding. The writer can state in the following few words the most important counsel to those who would attempt linebreeding: Physical compensation is the foundation rock upon which all enduring worth must be built. A linebred pedigree is valuable or dangerous in exact proportion as the individuals have been selected. Linebreeding does not replace selection but, on the contrary, demands the most discriminating choosing within the line. If the breeder selects by pedigree, and without consideration to physical compensation, undoubtedly dogs with notable faults will result, and thus linebreeding will ensure failure quicker and more certainly than will any other known system of breeding.

The word “confined” is used advisedly for, after linebreeding has been practiced for a few generations, the end result is the development of what is in effect a pure breed — a breed within a breed, so to speak. When that has occurred, any attempt to introduce “cold” blood (that of unrelated dogs of other strains) is likely to result in the penalties of hybridization. The departure from linebreeding is a kind of “crossing” in a small degree, for when the blood of line bred animals becomes intensified they assume all the attributes of a distinct strain, which in truth they are, and they will likely behave as such for a long time.

In saying that linebred dogs tend to become like pure breeds, or strains within their breeds, and that their progeny from a union with unrelated animals are like hybrids, I do not mean that such breedings should never be made, or that the results would be like breeding into an entirely different breed of dogs. While in some strains of animals linebreeding and inbreeding have been intensified to a point where a herd or flock would be practically a breed of their own, I do not personally know of such a family in any breed of dogs today. However, there have been strains developed in some breeds to a point where their blood has become so dominant that it will not yield for several generations to any noticeable blending when outcrossed, the characteristics of the inbred or linebred parent always showing up. This is, of course, to be expected.

Fortunately there are in almost all breeds of dogs a very few fanciers intent upon consistently producing dogs superior to the average of the breed. Many of these know that the quickest and most certain way to do this is by linebreeding.

Discuss?

Of course there is more.. But I'm assuming this will give enough to talk about for a while.
 

 

Yea he has something called the Brackett formula for breeding. I wonder what Lloyd would think of a Bitch that comes into heat every three months.

I thought GSD's were supposed to heat every six to eight months?

bcrawford, what are your questions?  

I agree with Brackett's article.

not sure why a 3 month cycling bitch is brought up, other than referencing the other thread about the advertisement of such.   Females who cycle so frequently are almost always unable to get pregnant because the uterine walls are not thick enough to hold the eggs and build the support system needed for the puppies to grow. 

Their is more to it look up Brackett's Formula by Carmen L Battaglia.

Breed the best to the best. Carmen preached (and was paid for doing so) his stick dogs for years. The only secret to breeding is to breed a good dog to a good female and sometimes you end up with a good offspring.

jmo,
Rik

Brackett's methods had a serious darkside to it.  Brackett's favorite saying was:  "I bury my mistakes" and there were plenty of them, far too many for the tolerance of most.  With his extensive close inbreeding, he had many, many mistakes.  He competed in the showring with many GSDs that all looked the same due to his intense inbreeding and closely linebred breeding program.  Because he considered GSD livestock only IMO, he culled ruthlessly and very, very frequently, many would view as running a puppy factory.  He had a few great dogs like Chimney Sweep, but in general his work did not endure and the valuable dogs of GSD breed today are based on West German and European bloodlines only (WL & SL) and not any American Shepherds.  Personally I view his practices as disgusting and prefer the best breeding practice to be one litter at a time with careful vetting for health in advance of both sire and dam.

Vetting the sire and dam or any puppy purchased is very expensive, thus few do it comprehensively and some that do basic vetting knowingly sell dogs or puppies with serious issues without telling the buyers. My recommendation of good vetting in sire, dam and puppies:  screening hip xrays in puppies and young dogs, diagnostic hip and elbow xrays in older GSDs (1+ year); barium swallow in puppies for mega-esophagus dx; thyroid test; TLI to screen for EPI (pancreatic exocrine insufficiency); basic blood chemistry test; stool sample analysis with flotation method; heart worm test with snap tests for anaplasmosis, lyme for adult GSDs; and complete vet exam.  This is the responsible thing to do and sets a baseline to drastically decrease the odds of heartbreaking issues in puppies. A reputable breeder will allow any buyer to have a puppy vetted if the buyer assumes the cost with the right of first refusal.  

Those who know the about the most successful breeding practices are the old German and European SV breed wardens who have access to what lines click and which selections are best. It is no coincidence they typically use 5-4, 4-5 or 5-5 breedings.  There is a reason as this pulls out the very best male traits at that location in the pedigree without breeding too close. Anything closer decreases health and vitality in most cases. If you want a male with  strong type, use the sire and dam with an ideal male at the 4 or 5 level, one per each side of the pedigree.  Since the bitch is probably responsible for at least 65% of the quality, acquire the best bitch you can, a known producing bitch or one from a known producing line of bitches.

It's all good information to practice.

Excellent post Preston

"My recommendation of good vetting in sire, dam and puppies: screening hip xrays in puppies and young dogs, diagnostic hip and elbow xrays in older GSDs (1+ year); barium swallow in puppies for mega-esophagus dx; thyroid test; TLI to screen for EPI (pancreatic exocrine insufficiency); basic blood chemistry test; stool sample analysis with flotation method; heart worm test with snap tests for anaplasmosis, lyme for adult GSDs; and complete vet exam"
 

Dnerative Myelopathy, LAD3, Mucopolysaccharidosis VII, Hyperuricosuria, Multi Drug Resistance (MDR1), Pituitary Dwarfism, Von Willebrands Type II are all DNA tests now.

Eye and Cardiac which can also be included in the vetting.

Every year more and more tests are available...