KENNEL BLINDNESS |
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by Claudia Waller Orlandi, Ph.D. |
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As part of the critical process of choosing a sire and dam, as well as deciding which puppies to keep, below we address the topic of kennel blindness. |
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"The breeder, to be successful, must look his dogs ...not only in the face, but in 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." Onstott |
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DEFINITION | |
Found in many kennels of purebred dogs, kennel blindness is a "disease" which renders a breeder incapable of seeing faults in his own dogs. Kennel blind breeders tend to twist and distort the standard to justify the dogs they breed. |
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PROGNOSIS | |
Because serious faults can become set in a couple of generations, unless quickly diagnosed and treated, kennel blindness can be fatal to a successful breeding program. |
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SYMPTOMS | |
Kennel blind breeders tend to focus on negative features in dogs other than their own. Suggestion: Re-read your breed's standard keeping in mind that most standards delineate the essential aspects of a breed, allowing breeders the freedom to express their own concepts of the non-essentials. In this way a range of excellence may be produced in a breed without sacrificing each dog's ability to fit into the standard. The belief that you have bred the No "perfect" dog has ever or will ever be bred in any breed. Even your best can always be improved upon. Suggestion: Realize that your concept of what is ideal may change. Experience with a breed may gradually change the priority a breeder gives to certain features. A stickler for correct heads may gradually start emphasizing angulation and movement, realizing that the latter are also essential aspects of the breed. Blaming the fact that your dog is not winning on bad judging, politics or
anything except the possibility that there may be something wrong with your
dog. Suggestion: If your dog is not winning, ask several knowledgeable people to evaluate your dog. Tell them to be honest and listen with an open mind. |
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RISK FACTORS | |
Kennel blindness is more apt to be a problem for the following: | |
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Novice breeders who are strongly affected by a dog's temperament and personality. |
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CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT KENNEL BLIND | |
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TIPS FOR CURING KENNEL BLINDNESS | |
If caught in time, kennel blindness can be cured before it has a lasting, detrimental effect on your breeding program. Following are some tips. |
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As difficult as it is to admit failure, the realization that our dogs do not possess certain virtues can be the first step in devising a plan to obtain what we really want. |
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References |
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Byrne, G. 1989. Der Deutsch-Kurzhaar: The German Shorthaired Pointer. Western Australia, Austed Publishing. Harris, B.J. F. 1993. Breeding A Litter. New York, Howell. Onstott, K. 1980. The New Art of Breeding Better Dogs. New York, Howell. Seranne, A. 1980. The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog. New York, Howell. |
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