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The Ethics of Stud Work

First published in the Autumn Newsletter 2003

Asked by the Committee to write an article on the ‘ethics’ of stud work, Jenny Bird wrote the following.

We feel it is not desirable to draw up a form of contract to be signed by both dog and bitch owner, but do feel that there are certain guidelines that should be adhered to. I would, firstly ask one question "Why are you mating your bitch?"

If the answer is any one of the following, please think again:-·

It would be good for her· The children will enjoy it·

We want another Flatcoat·

We need a new stair carpet/cooker etc

Unless your bitch has done well in some sphere ie showing or working, you may find it difficult to sell the 8 or 9 puppies you are not keeping. There are more than enough puppies bred each year to supply the demand and if you are left with unsold 12 and 14-week old puppies, they become very expensive.

The use of a stud dog on a bitch is very much an agreement between the two owners but there are certain criteria that should be fulfilled.

No Flatcoat bitch should be mated before the age of 2. I would suggest that near 3 years is better.

Both dog and bitch should have been x-rayed and scored for hip dysplasia, both should have current eye certificates including gonioscopy. Failure in either department need not necessarily mean that the animals cannot be bred from. Take the dog as a whole, type, temperament, working/show success and seek advice.

Judges Questions & Answers

Six UK Championship show judges were asked these questions for inclusion into the New Zealand Kennel Clubs Flat Coated Retriever Breed Supplement, here are the questions and answers that have been kindly reproduced thanks to the New Zealand Kennel Club.

The chosen judges were Jenny Bird (JB) Becky Johnson (BJ) Brenda Phillips (BP) Valerie Foss (VF) Val Jones (VJ) and Maureen Scott (MS).

1. You have been involved with Flatcoats for over 20 years and are a Championship Show judge. How do you think the dogs have changed in that period?

JB 1. When I started showing my Flatcoat in 1980 the average entry at a Championship Show was about 90 dogs. Now it is usually nearer 200. I think overall the dogs have got bigger and we have lost type and soundness. We had more quality in depth in the 1980’s and early 90’s but I feel we have lost that today. It can be difficult to find five dogs in a class of 20 plus that fulfil my interpretation of the breed standard.

BJ 1. Although I have not awarded CCs for anywhere near that length of time I have been involved with the breed since birth and there is no doubt that the dogs have changed. Heads are generally a lot better – gone are some of the heavy two piece Labrador head with jowls that you used to see. However, fronts today are not good. There are a few exceptions but in the main a dog with the correct layback of shoulder and return of upper arm is rare. The dogs are almost settery in their appearance – narrow in body with fine silky coats. This is not what is required in the standard. They are also taller.

BP 1. I have been in the breed since 1967, judging since the mid seventies. The breed has developed in many different way depending where fashion has taken it. The breed changed rapidly especially when the number of Gamekeeper owner/ breeder/ judges declined especially in the eighties. At all times especially as a breeder I personally consider the breed to be a difficult breed on to keep to the “breed standard”. The breed on a whole does not have many “pre-potent stud dogs” in a way there are more “pre-potent bitches”. Post war I believe the decade from the mid seventies to the end of the eighties was the time of optimum quality relating to breed type.

VF 1. I first judged Flat Coats with tickets in 1974 I have judged them pretty consistently since then including Crufts and top shows all over Europe. The top class dogs have not changed much they conform very much to the standard, of course in my country we have had over use of certain sires (Popular Sire Syndrome).

VJ 1. During the last 20 years the dogs have changed in body proportions, i.e. instead of having the long, deep ribcage with a short loin the proportions have become reversed, you now see dogs with short ribcages and long in loin, I cannot remember seeing those 20 years ago.

MS 1. Having been involved in the breed since the early Seventies ,I have seen a vast change in the breed .Registrations have risen, as have show entries ,but sadly I feel today the quality has deteriorated slightly .The height of the Flatcoat has increased and those dogs of the preferred height are classed as small .We are losing the lovely one piece moulded head ,with the almond shaped eye and intelligent expression ,eye colour is also getting light .We are seeing more broad skulls, with round light eyes ,upright shoulders and straight upper arms, and sadly lacking is the well defined brisket.As one would expect from bad construction ,movement in general is poor . my personel opinion, I would say the eighties and early nineties saw some outstanding dogs and bitches ,one was spoilt for choice when looking for a Stud Dog compared to today .One of the most predominant Stud Dogs was Ch Ir Ch Shargleam Blackcap born in June 1977, the most successful Flatcoat of his era ,his pinnacle was winning Best in Show at Crufts 1980 .He was a very predominant sire ,as were several of his Sons and Grandsons ,a very important factor in a stud dog .