Clean Run - March 2011 - 27

When you decide to breed a litter, do you primarily aim for conformation candidates, agility prospects, or something else? Plail: We always aim for an all-around dog, but one on the high end of the scale for working ability, drive, and determination. Once genetic testing is done, we select for structure, working ability (instinct/drive/intelligence), and size (within the breed standard of 13"-16"). Harding: Breeding is always primarily for temperament (“If you can’t live with it, it ain’t much good”); then I look for a great all-around dog, one that people can do anything with. The next thoughts are conformation. Will the puppies be well-balanced? Will they look like PWDs? Will they be able structurally to work? That includes hips, eyes, and genetic diseases. Then comes working drive for whatever they want to do. I have found that this is something you can breed for, but it had better be a dog that pet owners can live with too since 80% of any litter will go to pet homes. Also people, despite their best intentions, do not always follow through on working their dogs. Moureaux: I’m looking to breed dogs with a nice temperament and an ability and desire to work. My Border Collies have mostly herding bred dogs in their pedigrees and I strive to keep the herding instinct alive and well in the breed. I don’t like the crazy BCs that are moving so fast that they can’t function or think. I like dogs that have an off switch but are thrilled to do any kind of work.

MacVicar: The breeding needs to be for good conformation, structure, agility, and hunting. Whitney: First and foremost, I aim to breed a traditional (working) Border Collie. What I love and admire about the breed are the fundamental things that created the breed—practical farm work. They have physical and mental stamina. They can think for themselves and have the intelligence to do it and make good decisions. They are serious about their work and yet still work in partnership with their person. It’s a delicate balance. The qualities that go into making them assets as practical farm hands are the very same qualities that make them good working dogs in sports: focus, intensity, the ability to multitask in fast-paced environments, a cool head under pressure, easy and quick to train, reactive to small nuances especially visually, perseverance, patience, and incredible focus. When you are breeding dogs that you hope Will be good agility prospects, hoW do you choose the parents? Plail: We choose the parents based on their own jumping and striding style, their own level of working ability, their genetic testing results, and through an analysis of what they and their ancestors have produced in the past. It is imperative to see all parents work, run, and jump. Dogs without a clean, natural jumping style should not be considered for breeding.

March 11

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Clean Run - March 2011

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