inPreservationWetrust What Does It Mean to Be a Preservation Breeder? Anyone who breeds purebred dogs is a preservationist — if only by default. By taking a bitc of a particular breed to a dog of the sam breed in orde for her to concieve, carry, whelp and wean a litter of puppies with success, her owner is ensuring the preservation of her breed. This is Dog Breeding 101, of course, but the arrival of puppies begs the sincere question: Can the dam’s owner be considered a preservation breeder?
ArticleAndPhotosbydAnsAyers
The term “preservation breeder” is a somewhat recent desig- nation. It is used with increasing frequency among dedicated
fanciers to reinforce a commitment to pro- duce dogs of quality as described by the breed standards. This new designation is a direct response to an AR campaign determined to eliminate the con- trolled breeding and ownership of all com- panion animals. To a growing number of serious fanciers, the stakes have never been higher and the use of
“purebred” seems out of touch these days, if not entirely obsolete. “Preservation” may best describe the work required of today’s breeders who wish to live in a world where Schipperkes and Rottweilers coexist alongside “service dogs” and “rescues.” With preservation as the objective, every breed requires a plan of action tailored to its particular circumstance. Each breed’s development, historical function, current state of health, and susceptibility to disease must be understood in order to establish standard practices that will help to ensure its continuation. To define these practices, the dog fancy would benefit greatly by borrowing from the standards estab- lished by an agency of the U.S. federal government that has been in the preservation business for more than a century. The standards and guidelines developed by the National Park Service (NPS) for the preservation, rehabilitation, recon- struction and restoration of historic properties could well be adapted by breeders, dog clubs and the AKC. Although main- taining and preserving a cultural resource — purebred dogs included — presents unique challenges, it is our duty to ensure that future generations come to appreciate our recog- nized breeds just as we did.
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, completed in 1753. Both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed inside Independence Hall.
90 • S how S ight M agazine , J uly 2017
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