How Do We Measure A Stud Dog

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How Do We Measure A Stud Dogs Value To The Breed?
Click slides to continue
November 2012
National Breed Supervisor
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By His

• Show placings
• Bloodlines
• Progeny
• Being typical of his sire
• Dam
• Animation in Movement

• Schutzdienst
• Presence
• Clever marketing
• Acceptance by Breeders (Zuchteinsatz)

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And Do You Consider These Points When You Assess
A Stud Dog?

• Age of stud dog
• How often used (depends inter-alia on quality and
  show placings)
• Anatomy and TSB ( also of the parents)
• Number of litters and puppies
• Depends on how many puppies and young dogs remain
  active in dog sport

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Show PLACINGS

• It is an ideal marketing tool I F the dog is
  doing well on the first time out, however it can
  have disastrous future effects on the dog if he
  does not perform.
• Breeders and public are very unforgiving.
• It takes an unbelievable amount of time, effort
  and perseverance on behalf of the owner of the
  stud dog to rebuild his reputation.
• The damage has been done .
• Therefore, show placings are only valuable if top
  positions are achieved.
• They should definitely not be the deciding factor
  to use or not to use the dog and most certainly
  do not determine the value of the dog as a
  producer.

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Bloodlines

• Without bloodlines you would not have a breed,
  therefore bloodlines are extremely important but
  require an enormous amount of knowledge and
  breeders having that knowledge are not always
  prepared to pass it on.
• It is of utmost importance that Breed
  Supervisors hold educational bloodline seminars.
• Bloodlines, however, can also be fashionable and
  for the new breeder this can have devastating
  effects on his breeding program.
• Bloodlines will make or break a kennel, but since
  it takes a long time before the effect is seen,
  the breed supervisors should be consulted before
  matings take place especially for the
  inexperienced breeder.

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Progeny

• This is the most important visual tool with which
  to judge the value of a stud dog !!!
• A progeny group will portrait the sires
  attributes both positive and negative.
• All the brain washing and preconceived ideas will
  fall away when a progeny group is presented. Only
  the naked truth will be seen.
• It also is a very influential marketing tool and
  many stud dogs worldwide receive their
  recognition after they present progeny groups.
• ALWAYS REMEMBER
• A STUD DOGS VALUE LIES IN PRODUCING NOT IN
  SHOWING
• The prepotency of a stud dog will really only be
  seen in the future generations
• His first generation will put him on the map but
  his real producing value will follow in the
  second and third generation. THIS IS VERY OFTEN
  FORGOTTEN.
• WE ALL SEEM TO BE IN A HURRY AND DEMAND IMMEDIATE
  RESULTS!!!

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Being Typical Of His Sire

• One of the most important points which is often
  overlooked
• More often you hear he is the son of the
  Sieger or he is a son of the VA 2
• Seldom you hear He resembles his sire or he
  is typical of his sire
• When you select a stud dog ask yourself first
  is he typical of his sire
• This is t h e most important question to be
  asked in the selection process

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Dam Line

• This point forms an integral part of the value of
  the stud dog and is very often ignored.
• Dam lines are of paramount importance but only if
  their background is solid, e.g. siblings and
  their achievements, fertility (number of puppies
  in a litter), track record of quality of litters
  to a variety of stud dogs.
• But even when taking dam lines into consideration
  the newcomer is impressed if the dam was a VA or
  even the Siegerin and thinks or hopes the
  offspring will follow suit.
• EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS HARDLY EVER THE CASE.

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Animation In Movement(LAUFFREUDIGKEIT)

• We have to be very careful when analyzing
  Lauffreudigkeit as it is often misunderstood.
• Since this is a very desirable trait for a stud
  dog especially if he is prepotent to pass this on
  we need to distinguish between real
  Lauffreudigkeit and one that borders on the
  hectic. The easiest way to assess this is by
  watching the dog changing pace from walking to
  gaiting. A lauffreudiger Hund gradually
  increases his speed until he has reached an
  extended trot. The hectic dog will go straight
  into an extended trot and will have the tendency
  to fall slightly onto the forehand.
• We have often been told by the overseas judges
  that lazy stud dogs are normally the better
  producer. I think this belief still goes back to
  the times of Zamb von der Wienerau who was a lazy
  mover but top producer.
• I do not share this view at all.

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SCHUTZDIENST

• The importance of the Schutzdienst is
  self-explanatory.
• We have been advised by our overseas judges that
  they do grade the Schutzdienst at the national
  breed show. However, it is not made public only
  when it is exceptional as we heard in the case of
  Fero vom Messebau.
• We as responsible breeders should be careful in
  writing the dog off too quickly when something
  has gone wrong in the Schutzdienst. (It could be
  environmental)
• So many factors come into play and it can happen
  to anyone. So, please be very objective.
• However, the quality of the Schutzdienst is a
  very important indicator and forms part of the
  overall assessment of the stud dogs value.

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Presence

• This is a trait we cannot train, the dog either
  exudes presence or not
• You either see it or you dont
• It is immediately noticeable you will be
  automatically drawn to it
• The dog with presence displays an aura around him
  which demands your attention
• Presence can also be describes as showmanship
• It is an invaluable asset which helps immensely
  on the road to success

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Clever Marketing

• Marketing of a dog is very, very important from
  an early age but it does not mean that it
  carries any depth of value.
• Yes, it gives you a quick return on your money
  (number of studs) and if the stud dog owner is
  lucky he might even get the top bitches in the
  beginning.
• The damage to the breed when people use a stud
  dog only because of clever marketing is enormous
  and will throw us years back.
• The owner might have a return on his investment
  but the breed will suffer.
• Is a shallow way of measuring the value of a stud
  dog.

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Acceptance by Breeders (Zuchteinsatz)

• If a stud dog is not used by recognized breeders
  his value, no matter how well qualified, is
  negated.
• In Germany top breeders look beyond issues of
  ownership and focus more on value to the breed.
• South African breeders have to research more in
  order to select the right stud dog for their
  bitches. That might mean moving outside of the
  normal circles.
• Remember each unsuccessful litter will throw you
  back 3 ½ years which is the time span for one
  generation.

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Lets SUMMARISE The Order Of Importance

• Being typical of his sire
• Coming from a strong dam line
• Bloodlines
• Progeny
• Show placings
• Schutzdienst
• Presence
• Animation in Movement
• Acceptance by Breeders (Zuchteinsatz)
• Clever Marketing

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THEN WE HAVE EXCELLENT STUD DOGS WHO HAVE
PRODUCED AND ARE PRODUCING HIGHLY PLACED
INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS AND WHICH DO NOT ALWAYS GAIN
SUFFICENT ACCEPTANCE BY THE BREEDERSW H Y ?
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Is It Because Of

• Being local and not imported
• Not being properly marketed
• Not knowing the local dogs bloodlines
• Being political

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Should South Africa Ever Want To Produce Their
Own Bloodlines They Will Have To Look At Using
Locally Produced Dogs