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Howell reference books
Control of Canine Genetic Diseases
If you breed dogs for any reason, you must own this book. Genetic diseases are among the most serious hazards on the landscape of modern dog breeding and one of the most vexing challenges facing today's dog breeders. Is it appropriate to open the gene pool to unwanted conditions in the pursuit of physical perfection, or must breeding to the Standard take a back seat to producing healthy animals?
In Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, renowned authority George A. Padgett, DVM, provides an expert road map to help dog breeders everywhere avoid the pitfalls they are almost destined to encounter. For anyone whose goal is to produce healthy, functional and beautiful dogs, this is the book they need. Dr. Padgett provides clear explanations of modes of inheritance, how to conduct and analyze test matings and how to lower the chances of producing affected animals. Numerous tables, diagrams and graphs further enhance the text to facilitate the breeder's understanding.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction
In Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, renowned authority George A. Padgett, DVM, provides an expert road map to help dog breeders everywhere avoid the pitfalls they are almost destined to encounter. For anyone whose goal is to produce healthy, functional and beautiful dogs, this is the book they need. Dr. Padgett provides clear explanations of modes of inheritance, how to conduct and analyze test matings and how to lower the chances of producing affected animals. Numerous tables, diagrams and graphs further enhance the text to facilitate the breeder's understanding.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 10, 2023
An excellent, invaluable guide for novice and experienced breeders alike. Mendellian inheritance even accounts for what we now understand to be polygenic factors; this will not soon be outdated and is a must on your shelf.
* Recommended just as much for people contemplating buying a puppy to better understand why mongrolization does not inherently equate with healthier puppies (i.e., the "poos" and designer mixes) and what a responsible breeder can (and should) and cannot control.
* Recommended just as much for people contemplating buying a puppy to better understand why mongrolization does not inherently equate with healthier puppies (i.e., the "poos" and designer mixes) and what a responsible breeder can (and should) and cannot control.
March 1, 2010
If every dog breeder in the world were to follow George Padgett's recommendations there would be no further incidences of canine genetic disease (apart from uncontrollable mutations) period.
He goes into depth on how to structure a pedigree, test mating and health tests. There are even tables to predict what litter sizes will produce likely carriers/affected pups. Some of the chapters have a quiz at the end so you can test your knowledge of what you've just read.
It's full of astounding and disturbing facts on how many diseases affect which breeds; that all dogs are carriers of something nasty and mongrels are no healthier than pedigrees.
Even though it is written for the layman it is sometimes a little complicated, especially the maths so I docked 1 star for this, but if you are serious about breeding don't let this put you off reading this book.
Unfortunately not every breeder will ever intend to follow Padgett's advice because it eventually boils down to money. It is cheaper to breed unhealthy dogs than it is to spend money and time on test mating, health tests, constructing pedigrees, doing follow up calls on owners, using healthy stock etc.
Padgett is an idealist but then someone has to be, in a world where dogs are subjected to agonising conditions and a lifetime of crippling illness all in the name of good looks and money.
He goes into depth on how to structure a pedigree, test mating and health tests. There are even tables to predict what litter sizes will produce likely carriers/affected pups. Some of the chapters have a quiz at the end so you can test your knowledge of what you've just read.
It's full of astounding and disturbing facts on how many diseases affect which breeds; that all dogs are carriers of something nasty and mongrels are no healthier than pedigrees.
Even though it is written for the layman it is sometimes a little complicated, especially the maths so I docked 1 star for this, but if you are serious about breeding don't let this put you off reading this book.
Unfortunately not every breeder will ever intend to follow Padgett's advice because it eventually boils down to money. It is cheaper to breed unhealthy dogs than it is to spend money and time on test mating, health tests, constructing pedigrees, doing follow up calls on owners, using healthy stock etc.
Padgett is an idealist but then someone has to be, in a world where dogs are subjected to agonising conditions and a lifetime of crippling illness all in the name of good looks and money.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews