Mustard & Pepper Fall 2022

BLINX

“ A beautiful dog never results from impulsive, short - term actions, it requires a carefully conceived plan. The final product is the evolution of a lengthy creative process of inspiration, vision, experimentation, revisions and finally, the production of a finished work. ” ~ Quoted by Many, Original Author Unknown “ It is a mistake to overestimate the influence of any particular distant ancestor in the pedigree. Even though its name appears in the pedigree, actually it may have contributed no genetic material to this dog. A 10 - generation pedigree can theoretically represent 1,024 different dogs and would be comparable to a human pedigree dating back to the 1600's. ” ~ John Armstrong

“ I think this is a good story to tell newer dog breeders. This bitch finished in exactly two weekends. She finished with two 5 - point majors and a BB over a special. When I clipped her down to study her type, structure and soundness I realized she had demerits in all three areas. She is quite a character, she ’ s beautifully bred and she cost me thousands of dollars. She also got spayed because she ’ s not good enough to breed. Over the years I ’ ve owned and/or bred over 130 champions in various breeds. What I can tell you is the only way to succeed in breeding is to develop your eye and not rely on show ring success or other ’ s opinions to set your path. A good mentor is a godsend. Never take anything personally - disengage your ego. Successful breeding is a labyrinth of decision making. The best breeders have the ability to evaluate their own dogs critically and objectively. The short cut through the labyrinth is by good decision making. ” ~ Jon Breckinridge - Mitchell “ In selecting a bitch, particular attention should be paid to her breeding; the pedigree should be scanned carefully, to make sure she is well bred not only on the sire's but also on the dam's side, and that their ancestors, again, are descended from blood of undoubted purity. Having satisfied yourself on this point, see that the bitch is well made throughout, and likely to prove a good brood bitch ; long in the body and great width across the loins. If there be any blemish, ascertain, if possible, if it be the result of accident or bad rearing, or hereditary. The new purchase having arrived home, study her carefully ; not with a view to discover her good points, which will probably be apparent enough, but in order to find in what respect she is deficient. It is, in my opinion, far better to breed from a well - made bitch with a pedigree on which you can rely, but which for some reason may be an animal not capable of winning prizes, than from a bitch, perfect in appearance and winner of several first prizes, but of whose pedigree you know nothing, or as to the correctness of which you are in doubt ; for it is like groping about in the dark to find out what blood will best suit her. The next step is to endeavour to find out the dog most likely to suit your bitch. Never mind whether he be a champion or not. Unless the bitch be very much in - bred, I would advocate selecting a dog that has a good deal of the same blood in him; and I like, if possible, to see some of his stock, taking care at the same time to ascertain what sort of bitches they are from, as this would be some assistance in forming a judgment as to whether he would be likely to suit your bitch. Endeavour to select a dog good in those points where the bitch is deficient; and if there be any special fault I wish to breed out, I should select a sire coming from a strain where this fault does not appear, or, if anything, from a strain slightly faulty in the opposite direction. What I mean is this: supposing I had a bitch deficient in head but with good body, &c., the simple fact of putting her to a perfect - headed dog would not necessarily have the desired effect of obtaining good - headed puppies, and especially so if the dog come from a

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Fall 2022