dogs as we care about conformation, the very least we
It’s anathema to most breeders, but the fact is that
can do is listen … and think … and perhaps change the
modern geneticists in general agree that we ought to
way we plan our breeding programs.
widen the gene pool … not narrow it. Instead of breeding
three litters out of the best bitch, they say, we ought to
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bo Bengtson started going
breed one litter out of the best bitch and a couple more
to dog shows in the late 1950s and never stopped.
out of her sisters. Instead of the top sire producing 100
Although never having a “real kennel,” he has owned
litters—or 200 litters, in some breeds—it would be much
or bred more than 130 champions, including at least
better if there were hundreds of stud dogs that all sired
30 BIS/SBIS winners, primarily Whippets but also
one or two litters each.
Greyhounds, a few Afghan Hounds
Much of the scientifi c language
long ago and a single, co-owned
used by modern geneticists will re-
Papillon. In 1997 Bo and his part-
main incomprehensible to a majority
It’s anathema to most ner Paul Lepiane started Dogs in
of dog fanciers. What is recommend-
Review, now published by Lumina
ed, it seems to me, is a completely
breeders, but the
Media. Bo has written several dog
different approach to breeding than
fact is that modern
books, including the monumental
we have been considering in the
geneticists in general “Best in Show - the World of Show
past. Is it necessary? Will there be
Dogs and Dog Shows” (2008),
unforeseen consequences if we don’t
agree that we ought
which won several awards. Since
listen? There is no question that
to widen the gene
2014 Bo publishes Sighthound
things have changed a lot over the
pool ... not narrow it.
Review and therefore no
past few decades that many of us
longer judges AKC
have been involved in purebred dogs.
shows. However,
As Carol Beuchat, Ph.D. says, “This
he officiates
is not your grandpa’s gene pool”—
overseas on occasion and is
meaning, of course, that the genetic material we are
approved by FCI for more than
dealing with in today’s dogs—in most breeds, at least—is
40 breeds in seven Groups.
very different from what it was a few decades ago. If we
He has awarded Best in Show
care as much about health and happiness in our show
on several continents and
judged multiple times at the
FCI World Show, Crufts and
Westminster. Bo is a lifetime
member of the American Whip-
pet Club, a member of Santa
Barbara KC and Morris &
Essex KC.
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