Page 22 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

Perspectives

Kennel

Blindness

Claudia Waller Orlandi, Ph.D., USA

"The breeder, to be successful, must look at his dogs...not only in the face, but at the
body, front, and running gear. Even to themselves, many breeders will not acknowledge
their failure when they fall short of their objective...and in an effort to convince others of
the perfection of their dogs [they] convince...usually only themselves."
From 'The New Art of Breeding Better Dogs' by K. Onstott

A dog breeder's knowledgeable use of genetic Found in many purebred dog kennels, kennel
principles is of paramount importance to the blindness is a "disease" that results in breeders'
success of a breeding program. But an all- inability or refusal to admit to the failings in
too-common phenomenon known as kennel their own lines of dogs, whether they relate to
blindness can stop some breeding programs conformation traits described in the AKC breed
dead in their tracks. Most works on dog breeding standards, behavior, or genetic disease. Kennel-
devote relatively little space to the concept of blind breeders are given to justifying the dogs
kennel blindness, although the seriousness of they breed by developing warped and unrealistic
this "breeder defect" and the lasting harm it interpretations of their breed's standard, said Ann
can have on breeding success merit a closer Seranne in her book, The Joy of Breeding Your
look. Own Show Dog.

22 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023