Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

V The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control

by Jerold S. Bell, D.V.M.

(This is an updated version of an article that originally appeared in the American Kennel Club Gazette in September 1992 entitled, “Getting What You Want From Your Breeding Program.” It is reprinted with the permission of Dr. Bell.)

IT’S ALL IN THE GENES

As dog breeders, we engage in genetic “experiments” each time we plan a mating. The type of mating selected should coincide with your goals. To some breeders, determining which traits will appear in the offspring of a mating is like rolling the dice ­ a combination of luck and chance. For others, producing certain traits involves more skill than luck ­ the result of careful study and planning. As breeders, we must understand how we manipulate genes within our breeding stock to produce the kinds of dogs we want. We have to first understand dogs as a species, then dogs as genetic individuals. (Read on …)

I often receive calls from fellow breeders as well as clients who are interested in the strategies we might employ in our programs to move forward in reduction and elimination of Genetic defects and diseases as well as how we might utilize Pedigree data as a tool in breeding selection. Firstly, let me say that we make great use of a Breeder software program purchased from Australia and produced by Wild Systems Pty Ltd. The software is Pedigree Explorer 5.4 and can be purchased on line (support@breedmate.com).

We have every dog in the kennel together with all known ancestors entered into the data base.This enables a wide selection of menus to generate pedigrees, family trees, photo pedigrees, email pedigrees, as well as the recording and manipulation of data on every aspect of breeding, competing and showing. Wrights Inbreeding Coefficients can be obtained on any dog at the click of the mouse, health and inoculation records generated and many more areas covered. (Read on …)

If your Llewellin Setter pup is going to live in the house, and we most certainly encourage this, then you will be very interested in housebreaking him. There is a school of thought that a gun dog must be a tough macho beast who endures the weather no matter what mother nature throws at us and to get him accustomed to this he is better off living in an outside kennel. This is pure nonsense. Get pup bonded and close to you and sharing your world. He will handle better, understand you better, and respond better to commands. If he could also have an optional outside kennel to use at certain times especially to enjoy the good weather periods, then so much the better.
(Read on …)

One cannot become interested in the breeding of any species of animal very long before the question of “blood lines” comes up.

In pedigreed stock, the assumption is often made that those animals bearing the same ancestral names as part of the registered pedigree are in fact of the same blood lines.

What are meant by blood lines are presumably specimens sharing common ancestry and therefore having common genes. Popular ideas are that breeding animals sharing the same blood lines will be a positive thing and ensure that traits will be continued or strengthened. (Read on …)

Who was William Humphrey and what was his role in development of the Llewellin Setter?

It is quite possible that William Humphrey played a more significant role in the development and continuation of the Llewellin Setter than anyone else outside of Richard Llewellin himself. Certainly that is true relative to the Llewellins introduction and popularity in the United States.

In British Setter circles reference is made to the” Great Triumvate”, meaning, the three great men of setter breeding; that is to say, Edward Laverack, Richard Purcell Llewellin and William Humphrey. (Read on …)

I have not been able to research the background of Richard Llewellin in any great detail. I find that much of what has been written about him cannot be substantiated from the records. For example the statement that he was of “royal descent”. The Llewellin name appears prominently in all recorded Welsh history but cannot be connected to Richard especially since this was not in fact his inherited surname. What I do know is as follows: (Read on …)

A well bred Llewellin Setter will have very strong bird hunting instincts right from the get go. In fact we have often had visitors admire the “training” of dogs who in fact have never had any formal training. We can tell the story of a brood bitch that had two litters of pups before she was given the chance to experience game birds. She pointed the very first one staunchly and retrieved it to hand when shot. She went on to be one of our top gun dogs and never did have any real training. We tell this story to underscore the strong natural instincts typical of the breed which has been bred for over one hundred years only for bird hunting. However, having told the story, don’t count on getting your braggin’ bird dog this way. You are most likely going to have to work at it! (Read on …)

Certain inhabitants of the Countries of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, (collectively the United Kingdom today) can be associated with the development of a very high percentage of all of our modern sporting dogs. The English Pointer, English Setter, Irish Setter, Gordon Setter, Springer Spaniel, Beagle, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and numerous other breeds can be traced back to breeders and breeding programs in the British Isles. Why is this? Could it be that these people have so much more passion for dogs than the inhabitants of other countries?

Well, there is certainly no shortage of dogs and dog enthusiasts in the British Isles today. But then that’s about the same situation in the USA as well as the rest of Europe. The French, for example, would not want to be left out!

One needs to take a look at a number of factors involved to have a true understanding of what took place in the past and to some extent continues today with regards to dogs and the British. Some of the vital factors include, in no special order: (Read on …)