In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Jessica Heckman from Dog Zombie about Breeding Functional Dogs.
Science Highlight: Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science
What is functional breeding?
- The population is no more at risk of X disease than the dog population as a whole.
- Also prioritizing behavioral wellness over looks or closed stud books. No elevated risk of separation anxiety, etc.
What are common pitfalls breeding programs can run into?
- Not bringing in dogs from outside of the population
- You aren’t going to get to the goal and sit there - you have to keep working at it while you have it
- “It's not about the first generation, it’s about the population and the direction you are moving the population towards” - Dr. Jessica Heckman
What tests are mission critical?
- It depends on the breed/mix
- The very first step would go to the breed club and see what tests they recommends
- Then start talking to other breeders in the breed and learn about what issues the breed has
- For mixed breeds, you should test for everything each purebred parent should be tested for, but it’s hard to say
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Pet genomics medicine runs wild
Where Do Good Dogs Come From
Where to find Dr. Jessica Heckman: Website | Functional Dog Collaborative
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