Balancing Breed Identity and Genetic Health

The fascinating world of canine breeds is as diverse as it is complex. Each breed, distinct in its ancestry, purpose, and typology, carries a unique identity woven together by these three threads. However, the challenges of maintaining breed purity and breed-specific traits often push these breeds into a narrow genetic corner, leading to potential … Read more

Generation Time in English Shepherd Breeding Programs

The average generation time, also known as the mean interval between generations, can be calculated by breeders to understand and manage the genetic diversity of their breeding program. Here’s a general way to calculate it: Create a List of Breeding Dogs: First, list all the dogs that have been used for breeding in your program … Read more

Coat Color Transformations and Tameness: Unraveling the Genetic Link Through Selective Breeding in Silver Foxes

Dmitry Belyaev, a Russian geneticist, conducted a long-term experiment on the domestication of silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) that demonstrated how selecting for tameness could result in a number of correlated changes, including coat color changes. Starting in the late 1950s, Belyaev and his team selectively bred silver foxes, choosing only the tamest individuals to … Read more