Page 109 - The Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgi Worldwide Magazine

pairings that would produce offspring affected tools to improve our work.
by the disease and making informed decisions 3. Education and Ethics:
about dog health management.
Education and ethics in breeding are crucial.
It's important to remember that genetic tests Breeders should be informed about specific
are not a replacement for a holistic approach genetic diseases in their breed and make
to breeding and caring for dogs. They must be informed decisions about breeding. They should
combined with other aspects of health control, also commit to breeding healthy dogs with
such as veterinary care, nutrition, and exercise, proper breed conformation. One without the
to ensure the health and well-being of purebred other is of no use.
dogs like Welsh Corgis.

HOWEVER, we must always remember that the 4. Dog Welfare:
main goal in dog breeding, including breeds like The welfare of dogs should always be the top
Welsh Corgis, should be to breed healthy animals priority. This involves providing them with a
that represent their breed standard. Health and suitable environment, regular veterinary care,
typical breed conformation are two fundamental balanced nutrition, and love. Today, it seems
aspects of responsible canine breeding. Genetic like if you don't do a combo-test for a thousand
testing and genetics should be used as tools to diseases, you're not doing your job right.
achieve this goal rather than shifting towards an Prioritize what's most important, always.
obsession with "extreme health" at the expense
of the breed's typical conformation.
5. Stay to Breed Standards:

Key points to consider: Breed standards establish the desirable
physical and temperamental characteristics for
a particular breed. They are there for a reason.
1. Health and Breed Conformation: Breeders should follow these standards to
preserve the breed's integrity. The goal cannot
Responsible breeders seek a balance between never be solely a healthy dog.
health and breed conformation. It's not about
prioritizing one over the other but finding In summary, purebred dog breeding should
a middle ground. A dog should meet the balance health with breed conformation, and
established breed standards and, at the same genetic testing is a valuable tool to achieve
time, maintain good health. this. However, it's essential not to lose sight
of the main goal, which is to breed healthy
dogs that represent their breed while avoiding
2. Genetic Diversity: extremes that may harm genetic diversity or
the essence of the breed. Responsible and
In some cases, selective breeding to eliminate ethical breeding is key to striking this balance.
genetic diseases can lead to a reduction in
genetic diversity, which could have long-term The fundamental idea we must convey
negative effects on the breed's health. Breeders outside the professional realm of canine
need to be aware of this and work primarily breeding is that thanks to genetic testing,
to preserve genetic variability. Sometimes the we have the means to ensure the breeding
easiest decisions are the ones to avoid. If only of healthier individuals within a breed that,
disease-free individuals are allowed to breed, on average, doesn't suffer from significant
the game would be very boring. Affected problems beyond the norm. Moreover, these
individuals and carriers are equally valuable. individuals still represent in a fine way their
We should always remember that they are just breed in terms of type.

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