Breeding Basics
By Ralph Gillum, BraceBeagling Columnist
March 15, 2003

What basic breeding guidelines would you recommend following in order to develop a successful breeding program?


1. Picture in your mind what you would consider the perfect beagle. Then, make a list of the traits you want in your dogs and a second list of the traits you do not want in your dogs. Rank both of these lists in order of their importance to you. Finally, make a permanent copy that you can refer to occasionally over the course of your breeding program.

2. Use the above list as your breeding guide in every mating you make. Staying focused on the same breeding goals over a sustained period of time will greatly increase your chances of breeding success.

3. Start with the best bitch or best bred bitch pup you can acquire. The best means the one with the most of your desired traits and the fewest of your undesired traits. To increase chances of reproducing these traits, try for a bitch that is line bred. Your bitch should share similar running traits with at least one parent or two grandparents as well as share similar running traits with the dog on which she was line bred.

4. If you wish, breed on the first heat if the bitch will be old enough at the time of breeding for the pups to be registered. This will speed up your breeding program considerably.

5. Never breed all your bitches to one stud as limiting your breeding program to one cross can result in a bottleneck or a dead end.

6. Select breeding partners that are similar in running styles but compensate for their weaknesses by making sure each is strong in the traits in which their partner is weak.

7. Inbreed at first, then line breed to the best available males that are related to your bitches. You can begin to family breed as soon as you have developed a male enough good to breed to. Make half brother/ half sister matings or even brother/sister matings when they are of high quality and a good match.

8. When culling your pups and when breeding, keep in mind the running traits your dogs displayed before advanced training covered up or modified them.

9. Keep a permanent individual record for each of your dogs. This should include:
A. Birth date, dates each heat period started, breeding dates and mates.
B. Results of breedings; number of males and females, any defects and pups that died.
C. Any illnesses, any medications given and the results.
D. The running traits displayed when started, their derby year and as all age.

10. Avoid kennel blindness at all costs. To kid yourself regarding your dogs’ weaknesses is the surest prescription for breeding failure. To help avoid kennel blindness, first review your ranked list of desired and unwanted traits. Next, pretend that all your dogs belong to a competitor. Then, make a list of all the ways each would have to be improved in order to be your ideal dog. If you don’t have more than one thing listed for each dog, you may want to take another look at your dog-or yourself!