Rules

The ISSA Outcrossing Plan – Rules, Methods, and Distribution of Offspring

The next section of our outcrossing plan is where we defined our preferred methods and guidelines for the outcrossing itself and the progeny of that outcross.

Below you’ll find another excerpt from the plan we constructed. As we’re in progress on our first outcross as we speak, this is our draft and we may find it necessary to revise it as we learn from this first effort.

Outcross Planning Checklist – PART TWO

International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance

April 2017

SECTION ONE: Setting Rules and Guidelines for Outcrossing in the ISSA

It is understood that, at any time, if positive results are not forthcoming from any cross, or the negatives outweigh the positives, that the cross will simply not progress any farther. If it is possible to salvage a single breeding dog that has the diversity and positive traits ISSA is seeking, and not the negative ones, that dog may be retained in the program; but, in general, there is no obligation for the ISSA to continue to utilize the progeny of an outcross which just isn’t working well for the Shiloh breed.

Subsection 1: Breeding Regulation

  • ❖ specify rules to reduce inbreeding and relationship moving forward, including:
  • ➢ stud restriction (how many times can a stud be used)
  • ➢ repeat combinations (are there rules limiting repeat breedings)
  • ➢ maximum number of litters (is there a maximum for females)
  • ➢ maximum relationship between the breeding stock, or maximum inbreeding of the offspring

Subsection Two: Outcrossing Procedure

  • ❖ Define procedure for determining the outcross breed. Describe the responsible people and their duties.
  • ❖ Decide whether only male progeny of the outcross will be used or if females will also.
  • ❖ Selection of the actual outcross dogs; determine health screenings, dates of breeding, who shall own the outcross and/or the F1 generation pups.
  • ❖ Clearly define how much the direction of the outcrossing will be overseen by the Board or Wardens, and at what times during the Outcross progeny development reports will be sent (photos, updates, health testing, temperament testing, etc.).
  • ❖ how close to Shiloh breed type and size the dog is;
  • ❖ conformation, specifically whether the dog corrects the faults we chose this outcross for (proportions, no cow hocks, good top line, good lower jaw);
  • ❖ temperament, which ideally should be confident, stable, eager to please, and at least somewhat sociable;
  • ❖ genetic diversity – pups with a diversity of DLA haplotypes and a higher Outlier Index should be prioritized; and
  • ❖ health – all else being equal, pups with the best health testing scores are slightly preferable, though a dog with (for example) hips that are not quite as good as its siblings should not be removed from consideration if all else is very good.
  • ❖ If a committee is handling the outcross work: The Committee must prepare a statement regarding which outcross progeny they feel are allowable to move forward, that will be sent to breed administrative body (Board).
  • ❖ Optional for European clubs: draw up the plan in consultation / collaboration with the FCI scientific and breeding commission.
  • ❖ Duration of the outcrossing plan: how long will it take to integrate stock and what is the plan for ongoing generations?

Section Three: Evaluation of Results

  • ❖ Define when feedback on the outcross stock must be given.
  • ❖ Define how feedback is submitted.
  • ❖ Define who must submit feedback as the program continues.
  • ❖ Use the above data to determine the overall success of the outcross.

We spent several months gathering all of the information on our gene pool and analyzing our population, as well as assessing several potential breeds for outcrossing to. Then, in August of 2017, our UC-Davis study concluded and our results were officially published on the UC-Davis web site.