Breeding The Big Picture

In the canine world, inbreeding is defined as breeding closely related dogs to each other, i.e. parent to offspring (vertically) or brother to sister or half-brother to half-sister (horizontally). Let me stress right away that inbreeding in itself can be a valuable tool to ‘fix’ certain desired genes and should not be quickly…

By TSK Editor, ago

Hip Dysplasia

No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. There are multiple environmental factors such as caloric intake, level of exercise, and weather that can affect the severity of clinical signs and phenotypic expression (radiographic changes). There is no rhyme or reason to the severity of radiographic changes correlated…

By TSK Editor, ago

Preferred Breed Type

I make this statement at the expense of being tarred and feathered but increasingly, the best dog you’ll ever breed may be the hardest dog you will ever finish. It will be the “odd man out” and look different from the majority of dogs represented in the ring. Why? Some judges, insecure in a breed…

By TSK Editor, ago

Ask TSK – Q&A The Skull

… meantime we can use the drawings from Alan Mitchell’s book (with hispermission) to explain what we are looking for in photography. Dish-faced – A slight concaveness of foreface, the tip of the nose is higher that the stop, when viewed in profile. Down-faced – where the muzzle inclines downward from the skull to nose….

By TSK Editor, ago

Ask TSK – Q&A Bites

Your article on bite was very good; however, in spite of the AKC’s breed description as to bite and the acceptability of a “level” bite, you indicate that the “level” bite is undesirable. It may be undesirable in England but in the US, it is acceptable. This leaves judges and others who are not familiar…

By TSK Editor, ago

The Rule Of Fives

Breed Type. You should know it when you see it. Richard Beauchamp put it this way “Breed type is such an elusive thing… It is something that can’t be taught but it can be learned. Even when type is present to the fullest, one person may see it and the person next to him may…

By TSK Editor, ago

Understanding Judging Consistency

Imagine a class of fifteen dogs entering the ring. Twelve are similar. Three are “different”. Those who do not fit in are excused in the cut. The other twelve are again judged. Puzzled, observers question why outstanding individuals walked. Does being different translate as being incorrect to the standard? Why does a judge choose from…

By TSK Editor, ago