When planning a mating I like to do use Geno-type and Phenom-type mating. I look for the attributes I want, I keep puppies with this attributes through assessing puppies at 8 weeks following the puppy puzzle. Through time I will have created my own Geno-type and have them imprinted, it then wouldn’t matter if I breed out or to any other line as that attribute will stay. I look through pedigrees to find good common ancestors which should bring out the Geno-type attributes I want.

The attributes I really look for are hocks, temperament and eyes. Through sound hocks my dogs will have good foundations on their legs and reduce the likelihood of joint issues. If I always keep good temperament’s I should only produce good temperaments, I breed for myself and to show anything else would be a companion for others, therefore temperaments are very important. Lastly eyes are a important, Chows have a history of entropion I want to have entropion free chows with the correct eye shape.

Above all healthy chows need to be kept to move the breed forward. I may not always keep the best show prospect due to not being heavy enough for some judges, but to move the breed forwards for a healthier tomorrow they are what is needed and desired. Through being able to complete generations of the puppy puzzle I know what lines and dogs produce what attributes, I use this information to plan for the next generation and indeed have breeding plans for the next two generations to come.

Over the years I have bought in new blood lines, from the UK and overseas, I have done so with an eye to the future. I have approached a couple of breeders for a dog in the next three years, this ensures I can have the pedigree I want and the phenom characteristics I want. I feel as though every breeder should look two generations ahead, where as so many look to what is winning in the show ring, they may produce what you want or they could be a one off.

When planning a mating one can also think about colour and what they desire. For instance a Blue from a Red would produce, Black, Blue, Fawn and Red at a minimum pending on what it was put to, where as a Blue from two Blues, may only produce, Black and Blue regardless of what it was put to.

Geno-type mating

This is where you think about the genetics of a dog, a pedigree, what is normal from that pedigree and what has been genetically stamped on that dog. For instance a pedigree or kennel may be known for always having heavy heads, what ever that dog is mated to one would expect the puppies to all have heavy heads.

Another example of this would be to think of our colours from above. If you had a Black dog which was DD, KK, EE it would only ever have black puppies regardless of what colour it was put to. This is purely down to the genetics of what one dog, nothing will change that fact.

Phenom-type mating

Unlike genetic mating this would be putting like to like to get like, or thinking of a mating based purely on what a dog looks like. If I wanted a dog with a good front I should put a dog and a bitch with good fronts together to produce good fronts. Or I would take my bitch to the perfect fronted dog with the aim of getting good fronts.

One common mistake people make is putting opposite extremes together with a hope to get the middle. We would end up with a mixed bag some of each opposed to the desired effect.