Deep Smarts and Preservation Breeders
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Pedigree analysis is a necessary but not sufficient approach to breeding and preserving a breed. In today’s technology driven world, genetic analyzers also are available to interpret genetic compatibility. Both are decision aids that may or may not be useful to breeder. Sometimes, it what you might have learned without awareness that may be most useful. Drawing from the business world, the best saleswoman in a company may not know what she’s doing that separates her from the rest of the pack. It’s the same with a super-breeder. Deep smarts that are difficult to codify is often what makes the difference. You still must get your hands on the dog to truly see how he measures up relative to the standard and whether the dog produces what you need. I recall one dog that did a lot of winning in the U.S. The dog was particularly noted for its long head. From ringside, it looked like a long, well balanced head. Close up, I found that the top skull and muzzle were not proportional. Nor were the planes parallel. The top skull had been cleverly lengthened with hair built up behind the ears to create the illusion of parallel planes equal top skull to muzzle length.
In sum, you not only need to know what is right, you need to determine through action if what you see is what really is . This can only be accomplished through experience (e.g., by touching live dogs – particularly exemplars of the breed again and again until you develop a category prototype against which a specimen is assessed. The prototype enables final decisions to be made about the quality of a specimen relative to the exemplar. In contrast, a stereotype is something that is repeatedly attributed to one breed versus another (e.g., Chinese Shar-peis are willful, obstinate, and dominant, American Cockers are neurotic and aggressive). These things are usually negative or demeaning. They do not reflect an absolute or some inescapable reality for that group.
Wait and See Before Choosing a Sire
A breeder with deep smarts assesses the breed attributes of a sire before using him. If the dog is from outside of a breeding family, she may hold off judgment until she sees numerous offspring. By focusing on what is produced an experienced breeder is better able to determine how dominate the sire is and for what structural and temperament features. Being able to put your hands on the stud dog, and his offspring, is a valuable opportunity.
Nor does a breeder use a dog because of its color or lack of a color gene or because they like versus dislike the owner of the stud dog. Novices may use a dog that is convenient to home. She may also use a stud for which a breeder has taunted the merits of his dog and bashed the merits of others dogs. Breeders with deep smarts want the best stud dog possible – preferably the one who potentially can minimize two or three faults. Smart breeders make it work with the right dog. Sometimes you’ve got to move away from your line and try an outcross. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and the breeder can add that knowledge to the toolbox of knowledge.
Help Others – You Might Learn Something
Helping others to evaluate their puppies is also a useful learning tool. A hands-on evaluation of a litter got me one of my most important bitches, namely Westminster BIS winner Am. Can. Ch. McVan’s Gaelforce Postscript, aka Peggy Sue, who was bred by Camille Partridge. We were friends, but I had never acquired one of Camille’s dogs. She was more focused on performance than conformation. I was happy when she asked me to evaluate several show prospects out of a litter. We began the evaluation the same way. I always evaluate litters by measuring and weighing. We watched the puppies interact and play. I made loud noises, dropped a chair, introduced one of my puppies to mix it up a bit. We watched the puppies for more than an hour.
Despite a long coat, one bitch caught my eye. I went over her first and then I went over the others. I can’t completely articulate (tacit knowledge) why but I knew this bitch was very special. Even ungroomed, she had structure, attitude and potential. She did have one top tooth out of alignment but I had never been a tooth fairy. Camille ranked her third in the litter. She didn’t walk on a lead; she was as shaggy as President Roosevelt’s dog Fala. I didn’t have any money, but I really wanted this bitch. I had to ask.
” Is there any way I can get this bitch,” I asked. “I’ll show her and get a U.S. and Canadian title. I could pay over a period of time.” Camille thought for what seemed like forever, she then stated, “Well I know you will show her much more than I will. I could use a stud fee on one of your dogs. So, if you promise to show her and give me a free stud service, she is yours.” “Yes!” I said immediately. Camille’s belief in me, propelled me forward. I would do the absolute best. The rest is history. I showed Peggy Sue in Canada to two owner handled Best in Shows. With her handler Maripi Woolridge, Peggy Sue won six national specialties (a record that holds), a record of 22 specialty wins, and eventually Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club. For 20 years, Peggy Sue also held the specialty record. The record was broken in 2015 by Peggy Sue’s great-great-grand daughter, Can. Am. GCh. McVan’s Be Bop Baby HOF CHIC aka Betsy.
Acknowledge and Try to Minimize Health Challenges
The question to ponder as a breeder is which problems can you tolerate, and which are impossible for you to live with. I am not a believer that dogs that carry a specific health fault —even a significant one — should be neutered. If we do that, then our gene pool shrinks even more than it has. Recall that the number of purebred Scottish Terriers in the U.S. and U.K. are about half what they were 15 years ago. Genetic tests are growing in number. I am hopeful we will have significantly more markers in the near future.
I am greatly concerned about health transparency. Some breeders don’t do testing: then they don’t have to face up to the results. Others have the information but hold the information tight to their chest. They will talk about a health issue in their line only if you ask the right question. Otherwise, they are mum. Partial disclosure is still a lie. Breeders who do open up about a serious health issue are not generally rewarded; they are branded. The scarlet letter effect is so strong that it can be difficult to get a bitch bred. I’ve speculated about the reasons for this shunning. They may be protecting their line; they may not have solid knowledge of genetics; or they know it’s in their line or all lines and they cowardly won’t acknowledge it. Achieving transparency regarding health is one of the most important goals in the preservation of purebred dogs. Deep smarts require dealing with health challenges head on through open registries, education, and sound breeding practices.
Develop a breeding circle
One of the most helpful things I have found is to develop a breeding circle composed of individuals with deep smarts in areas where you are not as knowledgeable. The individuals in your inner circle also should have similar goals as you. It’s interesting to have a close group of breeders who have different levels of experience. A novice may ask different questions (e.g., Why should a Shepherd’s eyes be well set) and make you stop and think. A circle of friends provides you with a relatively safe place to raise and ask difficult questions. You can share the names of stud dogs you are considering and have a serious discussion about the dogs. If a health challenge pops up, you can discuss it, cry on a colleague’s shoulder, pick yourself up and jointly develop an action plan. Breeding cohorts are also the ones you call or text when you achieve something special or are dragged down by something bad.
Develop a Breeding Strategy
Finally, deep smarts require a breeding strategy. I limit my breeding to a maximum of three litters a year. Now that I am retired, I don’t know how I was able to plan a breeding, whelp, and care for puppies, show, judge and work in my professional job simultaneously. If I use business terminology, I am not a low-cost provider. Save that designation for large scale commercial breeders. Nor am I a high-priced elite provider of Scottish Terriers. I seldom if ever make money on a litter. Sometimes I give my dogs to people to help them overcome a crisis or because I feel the dog needs more attention than I can provide. My kennel could be called a boutique kennel, with the aim to produce healthy and conformationally correct dogs and match them with the best human we can find. I also provide a safety net of information and a lifetime return policy. What is your strategy with your line of dogs? Are your practices strategically-aligned?
One tactic I use that may differentiate me somewhat is that I always have at least two bitches of breeding age that are related but from different branches of a certain line. I was unaware that I was doing this until a handler friend pointed it out to me. The alpha bitch is typically the star, conformationally and in the breed ring. She is my priority when I think about stud dogs. However, she may or may not be the star in the whelping box. While my alpha bitch is being shown by my handler and breeding partner Rebecca Cross, my beta bitch is at home with me. I try something different with her initial breeding and perhaps the second breeding. But on her final breeding, I usually go with what has worked best with her or with my alpha bitch. Having two bitches that are similar but also from different bloodlines provides me with a safety net if things go awry. As the saying goes, it’s not good to have all your dogs in one basket.
Set Proximal and Distal Goals
Acquiring deep smarts entails goal setting. Goals on the immediate horizon are called proximal goals. Long term goals requiring a 5-10-year investment are called distal goals. And then there are bodacious, gutsy goals such as ensuring the preservation of a breed. Goals need to be difficult but attainable to motivate action. They also require performance feedback so you can revise a failing strategy and renew a winning strategy. Some initial proximal goals might be to finish a first show dog. A second goal could be to owner-handle a dog to its championship with a specialty win or to place first in a class at your national specialty. Goals may be specific to showing, whelping litters, increasing your knowledge, giving back via involvement in clubs or to the breed.
Because I am getting older and I have no genetic children interested in carrying on with my dogs, I’ve been concerned that my line will just end. All that work and poof- it is gone. I am taking steps to prevent the demise of McVan Scotties. I am strategically locating some of my dogs in different parts of the world. The goal is to diversify the gene pool. I hope the dogs I place will be used and the bitches will provide some amazing puppies. My instincts or deep smarts tell me this is the right thing for me to do. I’ve placed dogs in numerous countries (e.g. Finland, Singapore, Germany, Israel, Italy, Denmark, and The Netherlands). I’ve had great success in Brazil, Japan, and Australia. I am delighted to see more breeders following in my footsteps.
The objective, of course, is to strategize like a chess player and think at least three or more generations ahead. The problem is that “stuff” happens. Stud dogs become sterile; a health issue crops up; or a brood bitch needs to be spayed. COVID-19 makes it nearly impossible to import or export dogs which require digging deeper to ensure that purebred dogs endure.
A second superordinate goal relates to doing what can be done to preserve a breed for its original purpose and design for the future. When FDR had his Scottie FALA in the White House, the Scottish Terrier was one of the most popular dogs in the United States (e.g. No. 3 in 1935). From 2008 to 2018, the number of registered Scotties dropped 35% and from 65th to 90th in popularity.
Preserving a breed requires deep smarts in new areas such as counteracting the “fake news” about purebred dogs and propaganda about the value of designer dogs. It requires working together rather than against other breeders, and incorporating the power of many, rather than the few. We need more committed people and younger people. It requires educating companion dog breeders, so they comprehend and breed to the standard, health testing parents according to national club recommendations, and placing puppies in homes with purpose.
Summary
For the sport of purebred dogs to evolve and endure in these tough times we must develop and nurture dog women and men who have deep smarts and are willing to transfer that knowledge to others less advanced. Deep smarts is anchored on tacit (non-quantifiable, implicit) knowledge. Such knowledge is based on observation and first-hand experience. It is shaped by beliefs, social forces and emotional knowledge. It requires not only knowing how and knowing who but also on knowing how to bridge fault lines and taking action. Deep smarts are what allow breeders and preservationists to make good, and often excellent judgments well before others. Techniques range from passive observation and presentations, application of rules of thumb that mostly work, the telling and recalling of stories with a purpose and moral and learning by doing at the actionable end. To ensure the survival of our sport and the preservation of purebred dogs specifically, coaching and mentoring must be part of the equation. Only then, can the transfer of knowledge and evolution of deep smarts occur.
References
Adamson, Peggy. Feb.1969.WHAT IS A BREEDER? Speech delivered at the An Annual Symposium of the “National Dog Owners and Handlers Association” and published in their newsletter. Accessed on January 1, 2020 at http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeder.html.
Huber, Vandra L. and Burge, Danica. 2004. How Do We Measure Up: A Comparison of the Dimensionality of the Scottish Terrier: 1946 to 2003. Published by the Scottish Terrier Club of America. Accessed on January 4, 2017 at http://www.mcvanscotties.com/Articles/
Leonard, Dorothy, and Swap, Walter. September, 2004.. “Deep Smarts: How to cultivate and Transfer Enduring Business Wisdom.” Harvard Business Review 82, no. 9 .
LeRoy, Julie. December 2, 2015. Yes, there is a smart way to break up a dog fight. The Dodo. Accessed on January 4, 2017 at https://www.thedodo.com/yes-there-is-a-smart-way-to-break-up-a-dog-fight-1488888838.html
Pfeffer, Jeffrey and Sutton, Robert. 2000. The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action. Harvard Business School Press.
Umlauf, Taylor. Feb. 22, 2016. How popular is your dog? Wall Street Journal By Taylor Umlauf. Accessed November 27, 2020 at http://graphics.wsj.com/most-popular-dogs/.
