Breeding For Drive

[Quinn]

If you have a dominant prey drive dog and pair with dominant defence drive dog. What guarantee do you have of producing a litter with "LESS" prey drive pups? Than you would if you cross both prey/prey? I also wonder if the prey/defence crossing would produce a more balanced prey dog. Basing defence in self-reliance and not fear!! My ideal pair would be a hair triggered prey drived maniak. Crossed with a confident, stratigical defender. Primarily he would function as well disciplined companion & ranch commander.

[surfnplay12]

First off there is no guarenntee about anything when breeding the best thing you can do is see what the relatives are like and see if the genes you are seeing in your dog are consistent. Now when crossing two dogs like what you are saying I think your risking loosing some of the prey drive because one of the parents in lacking in that area. I would only breed dogs that were strong in the drives I wanted and both would have to be not just one. Its not as simple as crossing a prey dog with a defensive dog and getting balance. What will most likely happen is some pups will be defensive and some more prey. Breed dogs that are strong in the areas you are looking for and have a strong genetic likely hood(ie there from good genetics that are proven to pass on) to reproduce strong or stronger than themselves.

[Quinn]

I realize its almost 80,000 genes total that make up a dog and maybe one percent of those genes control whatever trait you are trying to express. My journey begins there and I would like to see dogs that possess a strong prey/fight drive (no surprise there). But also be very level headed. Like you said in your island trip thread "a dog that views pressure as a challenge and not a threat". This way the dog is triggered in defence unknowingly. Kind of like the best of both worlds. Equally important to any good breeder I believe would be avoiding diseases and health issues. You made great points in your thread. With handheld proof. Keep contact with me........ We share alot of the same ideas. Breeding is a discipline and like anything else it starts with the first step.