The Brittany Forum

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

I am not going to comment on the tricolur thread but one thing springs to mind that we all need to remember.

To be a good custodian for a breed you need to have integrity and honesty.

You need to be honest enough to assess your 'stock' and decide if the good points are worth passing on ........... and the bad points are mild enough to risk, with thoughtful breeding to a complimentary dog.

I am not a breeder, I currently however have a dog who has had numerous offers at stud and I can breed him without restriction. Some of his offers are to nice enough bitches of his breed, some are to long dog breeders who like his size and general 'brightness' (and for working lurcher/long dog enthusiasts I would not automatically discount allowing my pedigree dog to be used at stud to create essentially a mongrel).

However my lad has poor feet and front pasterns which in dogs of his size and athleticism are not ideal ........... and he is bloat prone! So good dog or not I will not be letting him sire pups. The same would be true if I had a dog that did not comply with breed standard for coat colour - not good enough = not used BUT loved and fulfilled as a pet/working companion or whatever.

Breed Standards or not, Code of Conducts or not, Rules or not, the bottom line is we only really have honesty and integrity to rely on.

As a well known rescue has the slogan ............. Dogs are for Life.... and Breeds are for the future and need protecting as much as each and every puppy born needs to have a good a life as possible.
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Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

johnhod · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:34 am Post subject:

Patricia · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

"The same would be true if I had a dog that did not comply with breed standard for coat colour "

I very much appreciate Sue's approach to her dogs and her integrity and wish to do things well.(even though Chase is endorsed) She is always wanting what is best for not just her dogs but the breed she chose.
No one says anything about stopping or hindering any dog working/being a pet or whatever people choose to do with their canines.
We are appealing to breeders to consider reproducing a colour which is simply not in the standard, was never accepted( no more than White Boxers, Black and Tan Labs etc...)& may have occured from involutary crosses.
I have always been of the belief we chose a pure bred dog to resemble what we chose it in the first place, otherwise may be Bringer would be just as good. from what I hear there are several around...
I very much admire Sue for her integrity and honesty. Wink

johnhod · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

I just wonder where colour comes into it when people argue that form for function should be the driving force behind breeding programmes
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My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.

Dave A · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

Hi

Colour is just as much a part of breed standard as height etc and yes i agree it wouldn't matter one bit in the field or as a valued pet, but should that odd colour gene be carried by a dog who was well used within the small gene pool that we have, then it would wipe out the work that has been done by the club members ( responsible breeders ) over almost 30 yrs in the next 5 yrs.

This is of course just my opinion but i have seen it happen in other areas when a stud dog hides a fault and becomes prolific.

Dave A
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Dave A, Fern, Gill and Molly

Ghilliegumdrop · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

Added to which...if we do not abide by the French Club's rules etc we shall be out on our own. This would mean [if you follow it through] that in a few years the Brittany in the UK would not be a French Brittany but, like the American, a separate breed. The big question is.....do we want to be a separate breed and go our own way or do we want a French Brittany

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Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!

Lin Dyke · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject:

Just to throw a spanner in the works. Is a Brittany truly French Question

The Breton people consider themselves a seperate nation, so surely the dogs from their region are seperate and unique Question

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Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.

staandejachthond · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

well; the dutch are following the french rule's and standards.....and why would you be a "new"breed"???? the problem is the "genenaticpoole" and the limitation's if youre going for a "brit(t)isch standard"...
the bigger the genpoole, the less problems you will have to keep it "healthy".......in other topics there is writtten about just using price winning dog's... and now youre limiting yourselfs tot "just"englisch dog's????
Ill think its not smart to do that.....
but who am i....( as beeing a dutchman)
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ad fundum; bottums up

Patricia · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

You are right, Dutch or not Wink

We do have access to other Brittany blood through the passport. Some of us have made use of it and it does not have to be too expensive. I went with a member of the club to mate a Tricolour bitch to a top French champion. If someone needs help, just ask!
I have imported 9 dogs and bitches so far, but find going for a stud is more reliable. I spoke to a French breeder( who does well) and his comment was " buying a puppy" is like having " a hare in a bag" full of surprises. I am now collecting my own data of tailless too. And not forgetting quality and working.
It can be done.
As for genepool, shame the Dutch Friesians ( horses)don't have a larger pool as the inbreeding coefficient is around 5% or more... I have one of those stunning horses, but no approved stallion in the UK, only in Holland Confused

doganjo · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject: