Dr. Jessica Hekman has three dogs, one of whom she describes as behaviorally challenged.
She believes that if Fitz had had the benefit of solid genetics and socialization, then he would be a very different dog. As it is, he requires something like five hours of running a day.
Dr. Hekman is a veterinarian and behavioral geneticist who founded the Functional Dog Collaborative in 2020 to support the ethical breeding of healthy, behaviorally sound dogs. She said, “If more dogs have good beginnings of excellent genetics and socialization, fewer will pass through shelters, and those that do will be easier to place.”
She spoke about the situation during her presentation “Where Will the Good Dogs Come From?” on July 31 at AVMA Convention 2022 in Philadelphia.
It’s beneficial for everyone when a dog is easy in the house, Dr. Hekman said. People want a dog that can chill out on the couch sometimes when there is no opportunity for exercise or the owner is away, for example. Good dogs, or functional dogs, are dogs that are thoughtfully bred, managed, and placed, which is beneficial for both the dogs and the people who live with the dogs.
According to the 2020 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, 23% of people who acquired a new dog went to a breeder. Dr. Hekman said people who want to go to a dog breeder traditionally have been pushed toward a hobby breeder—someone who shows dogs or competes with dogs in canine sports—but many dog breeds suffer from an increased risk of genetically mediated health issues.
Many people choose an intentionally bred mix such as a goldendoodle for a pet, but there is a lot of stigma among breeders against intentional mixed breeding. For either mixed-breed or purebred dogs, it’s hard for the average owner to find a breeder doing health testing and socialization and breeding dogs with the primary goal of producing good pets.
The AVMA policy “Inherited Disorders in Responsible Breeding of Companion Animals” states the following: “To maximize the health and welfare of companion animals, the AVMA supports research in genetic and inherited disorders to better educate the profession and breeders on identifying and minimizing inherited disorders in companion animal breeding programs. To assist with this, the AVMA encourages veterinarians to pursue continuing education in the emerging area of genetic disease in companion animals. The AVMA also encourages veterinarians to educate breeders, companion animal owners, and the public on the responsibilities involved with breeding and selecting companion animals.”
Dr. Hekman said people producing some puppies as a side business might be a population that could benefit from more support.
One of the goals of the Functional Dog Collaborative is to provide a place to deposit and search health records to help with making wise breeding decisions for intentional crosses and purebreds.
The collaborative also supports the Copilot Breeding Cooperative, which breeds dogs for personality and health. The FDC is working to set up new breeding cooperatives to provide support to breeders who are operating outside of a breed club.
Some of the other offerings of the FDC include the “Functional Breeding Podcast”; a Facebook group for dog breeders, trainers, and owners; and Cross Breeding Junction, a small chat group on Facebook intended as a safe space for cross-breeders.
Dr. Hekman currently is working with a university on a breeding certification program consisting of four online classes for breeders and veterinarians.
After the presentation, she said: “I think for the veterinary community to support breeders and help them do a better job is an important part of our contribution to animal welfare. People value their veterinarian’s opinion.”