Importance of Bitches? - Page 1

Which is more important in a breeding, the male or female? Is it equal? Does one bring more to the genetic table then the other?

I ask because I tend to focus on the males by default just because they're usually the ones most talked about. When looking for a litter I follow dogs I like and see who they're bred to. Now I'm wondering if maybe I should be doing the opposite?

The female is extremely important, IMO.  I view it is as 55 / 45 when you add nurture and nature.  I always look at the female as strongly as the male if not more strongly.   

I agree, and a weak female will teach pups poor temperament while with her as well IMO

a weak female will teach pups poor temperament while with her as well IMO

Goes back to the "nurture" statement made by slamdunc above. I agree with the 55/45 statement too, with 55 being the contribution (genetics and nurture) from the mother.  

Thanks!

If you look at the pedigrees of dogs from established & respected kennels you’ll see the importance they give to the female. The bitch line, i.e. the mother, the mother’s mother etc, will invariably be all from their own kennel.

This allows them to be in ‘control’ of 50% of the genes, (remember this will be both phenotype & genotype and include the already mentioned nurture factor) which can be complemented and enhanced by the introduction of a male blood line. A bitch(s) from a breeding will be kept and retain these new, hopefully improved, genes that move things closer to the kennels breeding aims.

Kirschental is the classic here and you could take almost any of their dogs listed on here and you’ll always see this strong one kennel bitch line. Here are a couple of entirely random examples:
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/dog.html?id=47413
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/dog.html?id=458330

It does of course require deep knowledge of bloodlines and commitment from the breeder. Serious ‘stockmen’ who know their trade….

Andy B

I agree with all that has been said. Also would like to add in the older breed and breeding books it is reccomended to start with the best bitch you can buy and go from there. Personally IMO one doesn't need to keep a male just for breeding. There are plenty of nice titled (in some venue) males availiable "for rent" and it is a lot easier then trying to keep one up. Give me a good strong female any day..............

The strength of any kennel is in the females.   With good breeding families behind these females which should be as near as possible to the breed standard and with a good health history.  Many VA and top V males over the years have left nothing but with a strong female base breeders can consistently produce very good quality animals.  Today, the trend seems to take the female to any top dog instead of one that will most compliment the female.  The corruption in the breed comes mainly from the manipulation of the males to elevate them to a top place to be sold at, sometimes, unrealistic prices and this has led to bottlenecks in the gene pool.   Consequently there is a huge turnover in the males when compared to the females. 

Andy B has quoted the Kirschental Kennel and I have a female from them.   The majority of the female line are working sheepdogs but close to the breed standard and this kennel has bred for dogs who can work sheep.   From this base they have also been able to produce top show dogs although the VA female Xitta v Kirschental was also HGH and worked sheep.  There is a video of her working sheep, I think from memory, at 11 years of age.

Mackenzie

Statistically - in genetics books - males provide half the genetic material;
females provide the other half.  
Nurture may affect what is already on the double-helix, it does not PUT it
there.

Every animal has a father and a mother therefore the gene contribution will be fifty per cent from each side.  However, as we have seen on so many occassions one side is more dominant in it's contribution, hence the expression "father typical" but we never see the expression "mother typical".   Dominance can be seen in the traits of the progeny as to which side it reflects most i.e. physical appearance, character etc.

Mackenzie