Windmill Farms Golden Retrievers

06/24/2024

Windmill Farms Golden Retrievers

06/22/2024

Thank you Jerry, looks like we are going to have some fun.

06/22/2024

History of working dogs

"Compared to modern dog breeds, ancient working dog populations were outbred and genetically diverse."

Working dogs, in various forms and with various functions, have been part of human societies for thousands of years. Sled dogs were used in Eastern Siberia over 9,000 years ago and ancient Romans had both livestock guarding dogs and hunting dogs During this time, humans likely exerted postzygotic selection by favoring the highest performing dogs, increasing the prevalence of desirable traits among their offspring. Compared to modern dog breeds, ancient working dog populations were outbred and genetically diverse. Modern dog breeding started in the mid 1800s, and historical records and genomic studies suggest modern dog breeders predominantly favored form and pedigree over function. The genomic loci most differentiated between breeds have been implicated in physical traits like body size, coat characteristics, and ear shape. While all dogs in a modern dog breed may look similar to one another, behavior and personality is highly variable.

Source

12. Boyko AR, Quignon P, Li L, Schoenebeck JJ, Degenhardt JD, Lohmueller KE, et al.. A simple genetic architecture underlies morphological variation in dogs. PLoS Biol. (2010) 8:e1000451. 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000451 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

13. Worboys M, Strange J-M, Pemberton N. The Invention of the Modern Dog: Breed and Blood in Victorian Britain. Baltimore: JHU Press; (2018). [Google Scholar]

06/21/2024

I had a call this morning asking me why I'm bagging on ENS.

I'm not.

My point is that ENS is not the solves all its "At Times" made out to be by some breeders. Everything I've posted regarding ENS is still subjective in most research articles. EE on the other hand have multiple data reports and testing. I like the science. I just don't want puppies buyers believing that somehow ENS will solve all the early issues.

I've seen it first hand with pups I've purchased over the last years.

While the use of both may be the perfect remedy, I put far more emphasis on EE after 5 weeks in their development. The more they are exposed to, the better. Winter pups are different than spring or summer pups.

Maybe I'm just not sure ENS is truly being conducted properly.

From Purdue University

Limitations of ENS For those choosing to use ENS in hopes of improving puppy welfare, caution is needed to avoid inadvertently creating problems. For example, it can be easy to accidentally overstress puppies when providing ENS. As previously mentioned, little research has been done on ENS in dogs, which makes it unclear as to how much stimulation is needed to achieve any benefits.

This is problematic because there is no threshold for under- or over-stimulation (Battaglia, 2009). Separating young animals from their mothers is commonly a part of ENS, but a review of many studies has found that separation for a prolonged period produces long-term negative effects on brain chemistry and stress responses in puppies (Anand and Scalzo, 2000).

The duration of separation needed to achieve benefits rather than negative effects is unclear. Further, following Schaefer’s (1963) suggestion that a temperature change may be the only factor needed for effective ENS, a slight, brief temperature change might be useful to incorporate into puppy ENS programs.

Applications and effects of ENS on puppy development As is the case for rodents, it is believed that ENS may provide stimulation to the developing puppy’s endocrine system and cause him/her to develop more ability to deal with stressful events later in life. This may lead to better learning and an improved ability to cope with adversity. Though some of this belief stems from the benefits of ENS shown in other species, it has also been advanced by unpublished work conducted as part of a US Military Working Dog (MWD) training program called “Bio Sensor,” later discussed by Battaglia (2009). Specific claims on the effects of “Bio Sensor” listed in Battaglia’s discussion include “improved” heart rate, “stronger” heartbeats and adrenal glands, and increased stress tolerance and disease resistance (Battaglia, 2009), although how these effects were measured was not specified. The “Bio Sensor” program exercises included the following: 1. Tactile Stimulation: the puppy is “tickled” between the foot pads on any one foot with a Q-Tip (3-5 seconds) 2. Head Erect: the puppy is held perpendicular to the ground with both hands, orienting its head above its tail (3-5 seconds) 3. Head Down: the puppy is held perpendicular to the ground with both hands, orienting its tail above its head (3-5 seconds) 4. Supine: the puppy rests with its back in the palms of both hands, with its nose oriented toward the ceiling (3-5 seconds) 5. Thermal Stimulation: a damp towel is placed in fridge for at least 5 minutes; place puppy on towel on all fours and do not restrain movement (3-5 seconds)

06/21/2024

This article is by far one of the best I've read about breeding working dogs.

In this section they discuss the science behind raising pups. Some time ago, I learned afterword that the pup I purchased had been in the home the entire time. Bringing him to the farm was affirmation that I will never buy another pup where the owner doesn't get them out and let them live, explore see and hear. Far too many FB posters are more interested in putting a bow around their neck, placing them on a chair with a blanket and a title of your new forever friend. I have researched and preached EE over ENS for some time now. No one thing is a 100% effective. Implementing practices that work together on the predictability of an outcome. I really want to get better and better at this.

This article was a great read.

Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 662429.
Published online 2021 Sep 6. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.662429

Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science

For complex traits like behavior, which reflect the interaction of genes with the environment, predictions based on genomic data alone will never be perfect. Environment, especially early in life, has a profound effect on the development of the brain. If a mother is not able to perform intrinsic nesting behaviors, or escape from her pups for a while, this stress can lead to aberrant working behaviors in her pups (70). While still in the breeding kennels, working dog puppies develop vision, fear, social behavior, and cognitive abilities, and how these characteristics develop reflects environmental cues. A breeding program that does not provide positive early exposure to a variety of sounds, scents, textures, and visual stimuli will leave their dogs more fearful of the world around them, and less able to perform their job. On the other hand, breeding programs that do provide puppies with a wide range of novel, and positive, experiences in a developmentally appropriate way will maximize the return on an investment in improved breeding practices.

06/20/2024

The purlins are up, everything's welded and now it's time to put the sheet metal on.

06/20/2024

The heat is on and we found a way to stay cool this summer.

06/18/2024

We're out on the sand bar playing with a tennis ball this afternoon. I do a little hide and seek with them.

I'm not sure who's more wet them or me?

06/18/2024

Quincy is pregnant with our 6th generation WM Farms Puppy.

We are excited about that but more important are the other two, 3/4 sisters to this future pup. Pepper and Cora.

With 3 -3/4 + sisters from less than 1% pedigree calculated COIs, all genetically clear, it will give us a genetic subset of observable field traits. As closely as Pepper and Cora are related, they are very different. One grabbed the US lines in their behavior and the other is more of a UK x US combination. Its fascinating to see them interact and develop. Its hard to believe they are so different and so genetically similar at the same time. All three will be raised in the same environment. Once I add Quincy's daughter to the group, it will really help us solidify the character and field trait ranges we are producing through our program.

I read about and share the science and when we actually put it into practice, its really exciting.

I plan to repeat this same experiment with two more fully Scottish born UK 3/4 + related sisters. Ailsa and Tay. This will give us the genetic perspective using Scottish imports in the same environment. I love working with our goldens and sharing our lives with them. I hope eventually we are able to produce statistically healthier performance goldens.

06/18/2024

This is a really good article. I've shared many elements of this to date but to find all 6 steps in a science based article was especially interesting.

I've talked about
Start with the end in mind
Environmental Enrichment is more important than EE
Observable traits in the field
Genetic diversity and COIs

We are in phase 2 of this process.

Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 662429.
Published online 2021 Sep 6. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.662429
PMCID: PMC8450581
PMID: 34552971

Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science

Step 1. Define the Goal(s) of Selection
Before applying any selection in a breeding program, it is critical to establish clear goals, such as improving success rates. With the goals defined, the program can then identify measurable phenotypic traits relevant to achieving those goals.

Step 2. Collect Phenotype Data
A protocol must be developed to uniquely identify each dog and to uniformly and accurately measure each trait of interest on all breeding dogs and on all or most of their progeny over successive generations. For behavioral traits, this might be the Behavior CheckList (35), while for a trait like hip dysplasia, the PennHIP (36, 37) or extended view radiograph (OFA, BVA, FCI) scores could be used (38). All data should be stored in a secure, uniformly coded, electronic database like IWDR.

Step 3. Identify Heritable Traits
Using the phenotype data and pedigrees stored in the database, the heritability of each phenotypic trait measured in step 2 must be calculated. The more heritable a trait is, the bigger the response will be to one generation of selection (39). Traits with a heritability of at least 15% are considered good candidates for genetic selection. With accumulating knowledge derived from genomic information, genetic improvement in traits with even lower heritability may eventually be feasible.

Step 4. Calculate EBVs
For the traits selected in Step 3, EBVs can be calculated using specialized software that combines phenotype data with the pedigree structure (25, 40, 41). Models fitted with this software can accurately account for overlap in the genetic background influencing different traits and for external, non-genetic factors that produce variation in phenotypes, such as the season of year or age of the dog when the phenotype was measured. Access to EBVs calculated using this software is available through IWDR.

Step 5. Select Breeder Candidates
Young dogs with high genetic merit from the EBV analysis in Step 4 should be evaluated in detail to assess their suitability as breeders, with a focus on the whole dog. Metrics considered will typically include suitable conformation, reproductive capacity, health screening typical for the breed and a performance assessment.

Step 6. Match Breeders and Produce the Next Generation
From among the candidate dogs identified in Step 5, mating pairs are chosen, such that weaknesses in one dog are complemented by strengths in the mate. In addition, it is important to choose pairs that maximize the genetic diversity of the breeder pool, minimize inbreeding in litters, and limit the number of progeny any single individual produces in their lifetime (31). A practical guideline is to attempt to limit the average increase in the coefficient of inbreeding to no more than 2% per generation.

06/18/2024

I shared 3 science based articles some time ago about Environmental Enrichment vs. ENS. The articles stated that there is no scientific bases of ENS and the puppies ultimate development.

Here is the first article I've found that really backs what I'm trying to do with genetic diversity and EE trait observation.

Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 662429.
Published online 2021 Sep 6. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.662429

Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science

Breeding Working Dogs
Managers of working dog breeding programs face the daunting challenge of producing large numbers of puppies, often over 100 per year, while maintaining, or even increasing, the percentage of successful dogs. There is almost always at least one plausible reason not to breed a young female, or to avoid a particular mate, especially when the goal is to avoid producing any disease-affected puppies, but this has to be balanced against the need to produce puppies that easily develop into behaviorally appropriate adult dogs. To balance these competing forces, a production plan needs to be followed that includes an objective method for choosing young dogs to become parents of the next generation. By following this plan, selection will change allele frequencies in the population, and the puppies produced in each successive generation will be healthier and endowed with more desirable behaviors than those of their parents. This objective, science-driven approach, proven to work by large guide dog breeding programs (7), has clear advantages over today's most common approaches to dog breeding.

At conception, each future puppy inherits its genetic foundation (genotype) from its parents. The local environment in which each genotype develops into a working adult has the potential to mold and shape that genotype in a myriad of ways. The ultimate challenge of dog breeding is to wisely use observed phenotypes to accurately predict the non-observable underlying genotypes.

06/18/2024

Quincy x Reggie litter has been pre placed. If there are extra pups when they arrive I will contact you via your puppy application.

Should be another really nice working litter

06/15/2024

I grabbed the ultrasound this morning and found 4 pups on the left side. I have several deposits and will contact you via email. They are due around July 15th and ready for homes the week of Labor Day.

Quincy x Reggie- 6th generation WM Farms Litter US x UK
(Some of our very best stuff!)

I used Reggie on Quincy's mom and grandmother. We produced Cora and Pepper. Both doing great and giving us a lot to work with. Pepper went 4-4 in her JH this spring. Cora will run this fall or next year. Both have passed hip & elbow prelims, eyes and echos.

Puppies will have a lot of usage options.

Both very dark retrievers that are easy to train and live with. Expecting beautiful heads and very athletic bodies. Quincy is very fast, shorter coupled and very nimble. Reggie muscular, longer coupled, carries a very gregarious personality with complimentary field skills. Hunt & prey drive. Very loyal.

Litter calculated COI .61%
Both genetically tested CLEAR
https://retriever.pedigreedatabaseonline.com/en/trialmating/father=30239/mother=60200

Watch Reggie's father at the 2019 IGL championship held at Glenalmond Estate Scotland
https://youtu.be/rCRebMBcOOY

06/15/2024

Sage, A Toffee x Copper daughter. We are out at the river this evening. Besides her endearing temperament, her teeth look like they've had braces on them. Just a beautiful set to go with a very attractive field golden.

06/14/2024

Lace ran a perfect performance in Butte MT Thursday. She marks really really well. She passed! I've been working her off the bank of the river. She had an awesome leap into the water!

06/14/2024

Melinda shared this video of her daughter working with a WM Farms pup. She will compete on July 5th and then again in 2 weeks..

Good luck ladies!

06/14/2024

Quincy x Reggie Update

I will preg test and ultrasound her this weekend. She's looking a little more round to me. First litter. She was bred on May 14th.
This will be a WM Farms 6th generation litter. Started with Sheila x RockErin Red River Ruckus. I have kept females from every litter since 2010.

https://retriever.pedigreedatabaseonline.com/en/trialmating/father=30239/mother=60200

US x UK field bred litter
Calculated COI .61% (First common ancestor is 9 generations back, Blackcraig Bracken of Drumtochty)
100% Genetically CLEAR litter of testable genetic markers
Strong field pedigrees
Well sized, nice stop, square heads, athletic and muscular.
Dark field coats with prey drive and balanced temperaments.

We have now used Reggie with:

Rusty > Brook > Quincy - 3 generations

We used Reggie with Rusty (AFC The Sunday Swimmer OS FDHF Daughter) Producing Pepper who easily earned her JH this spring. Fantastic field golden.

Next with Rusty's daughter Brook, (Semper Cooper's Mulligan MH QA2 *** CCA OS) Producing Cora who will run her JH next spring. Beautiful and balanced field golden.

Now with Brook's daughter Quincy (Champers Vi Of WM Farms MH - Master National 3rd series)

All three litters are related and tested genetically CLEAR. This has been a better than expected combination of well bred UK & US field lines.

06/12/2024

Ephraim is a critical piece of our program. Not just because he hunts so well but inbreeding can be used to create opposite types of homozygosity, (Quartermoon gun dog program) and this will enable hybrids to be more heterozygous (Combined with UK) and hopefully will exhibit more hybrid vigor. Additionally, the development of in**ed lines (Eph) can be used to fix one or two qualitative traits in each line, so all F1 hybrids will have two or more desired qualitative traits. What traits? Prey drive and hunt drive. The original golden retriever was intended to be the optimal hunting companion.

What 3 things can affect phenotype in nature?
Additive, dominance, and epistatic effects can all contribute to the phenotype of a quantitative trait, but generally additive interactions are the most important. All of the above factors are genetic in nature, but the environment also affects quantitative traits.

An additive interaction is defined as the differential reduction in absolute risk associated with one factor between different levels of the other factor. Like golden health issues.

06/12/2024

Another article about using inbreeding - Inbreeding to create more heterozygous offspring. Between the US, UK and CAN I have the genetics that's helping us follow science based techology and work toward my goals. THE optimal field golden.

This article discusses many elements that I set up 5 years ago. I'm just starting to see the function of heterozygosity in our program. Even better the 50:50 and 25:75 goldens are exhibiting the key traits we want in a field golden.

This stuff is so fascinating and attainable if one is will to set aside about 15 years and have willing contributors that see the issues and want to help fix them.

FAO.ORG
CHAPTER 6.
USING INBREEDING TO IMPROVE GROWTH AND OTHER PHENOTYPES

Creation of in**ed lines for crossbreeding programmes

Once a breed is established, perhaps the most important use of inbreeding is to develop in**ed lines that will be used in crossbreeding programmes to produce outstanding hybrids for grow-out. Crossbreeding and inbreeding are mating extremes along a continuum: inbreeding is the mating of animals that are more closely related than the average in a population, and crossbreeding is the mating of animals that are less related than the average in a population.

The genetics that controls phenotypic expression for both inbreeding and crossbreeding programmes is a function of heterozygosity, which means it is a function of VD. Inbreeding can be used to develop in**ed lines that produce better hybrids-fish that exhibit more hybrid vigour. The creation of in**ed lines improves the results of hybridization by “stretching” the genetic distance between lines; i.e., inbreeding can be used to create opposite types of homozygosity, and this will enable hybrids to be more heterozygous and hopefully to exhibit more hybrid vigour. Additionally, the development of in**ed lines can be used to fix one or two qualitative traits in each line, so all F1 hybrids will have two or more desired qualitative traits.

There are three ways this type of breeding programme can be conducted: The first two types hybridize in**ed lines. In one, in**ed lines are created in two strains that were previously shown to produce outstanding F1 hybrids. The other option is to create in**ed lines in a number of strains and then hybridize them in an attempt to discover a combination that works. The more efficient way is to create in**ed lines in two strains that were previously shown to produce outstanding F1 hybrids.

This approach makes sense, because producing superior F1 hybrids is a hit-or-miss proposition. You cannot predict which mating combinations will nick and produce great hybrids and which mating combinations will produce duds. If you create in**ed lines in two strains that have already been shown to produce outstanding F1 hybrids, it is likely that some of the in**ed line combinations will also produce better F1 hybrids. This type of breeding programme is illustrated in Figure 21.

Windmill Farms Golden Retrievers

06/12/2024

A great read!

Some time ago I started adding probiotics to our program. We spend a lot of time outdoors. The more I read on this subject the more I'm amazed at what the research is finding.

++++++++++++++++++

Inflammation underlies many of the diseases including T2DM, cardiovascular disease, IBD and cancer which significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. A vast pool of studies in animals and humans have indicated a critical interplay between the gut microbiota and inflammation that could inform therapeutic intervention for the treatment of these disorders.

The understanding of the symbiotic relationship between the human gut bacteria and the overall functioning of the body has significantly deepened and broadened, with acceleration in research output concerning this area. While initial research generally examined the microbiota composition and its relation to disease presentation, there has recently been a more prominent shift towards the understanding of the mechanisms by which variation of the microbiota can lead to disease manifestation

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

06/06/2024

Starting August 1 the CDC regulations for canine importation into the USA will change dramatically. Prohibiting the importation of 10 week old pups into the USA.

Starting on August 1, 2024, all dogs entering the United States must:

Appear healthy upon arrival IE vet check.
Be at least six months of age.
Be microchipped.
Be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt.

If you are interested in a pup or have always wanted a UK born working pedigreed golden. Please contact me before the end of the month. The price is likely to at least double after August 1. Besides the fact that they must be over 6 months old.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0508-Dog-Importation-Regulation.html #:~:text=Starting%20on%20August%201%2C%202024,Be%20microchipped%3B%20and

Serious inquiries only please.
Collection from the UK
Veterinary certifications
Vaccinations'
Inland transportation to Heathrow
Fly certifications
Export pedigrees
Flight
Broker fees
Travel crate
Airport handling fees
NES RM certificate
USA Customs Clearance
USA processing and handling fee
Pick up in Denver CO or Utah.

Gratefully to some very key individuals, this is our last chance after August 1 no dogs under 6 months will be allowed into the USA. I have very limited availability before August 1. In summary, this is our last UK born puppy option until something changes with the CDC, which is highly unlikely.

06/04/2024

100 ft x 30 ft extension for our obedience training arena.

06/04/2024

Water Day

06/03/2024

Completed OFA advanced cardiac for Pepper and Lace.

06/03/2024

YNP Trip

Henry David Thoreau
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees."

06/03/2024

Windmill Farms Golden Retrievers

Old Scottish Proverb

"All is not gold that glitters."

05/25/2024

I'm very excited about the Oakley x Gael litter. But wait, there's more! We have one more fall litter change that I'm equally excited about.

Its been almost 2 years since Toffee (Imported from Wales) had her first litter. We had a successful TCI with Copper. Love Sage! Since then we have had a failed TCI and would like to do a live cover.

I wanted a really strong field pedigree with diversity while avoiding the popular sires and pedigrees of the day. Oh, by the way, could I get that in a reasonable driving distance? I found it and I'm thrilled. His size and skill set will pair nicely with Toffee's. Another UK x US breeding, genetically CLEAR and low very COI.

Andy's talent, JAM 2023 GRCA National Specialty Qual will complement the pedigree success at the IGL level in the UK. Then add excellent temperaments and we should have a really fun fall.
https://k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=1345784

05/24/2024

Starting August 1st import regulations for dogs into the US will change significantly.

In summary it will take months longer, cost at least 3 times as much and require more paperwork. I don't know of any breeders that will keep a pup for 6 months before shipping without significant costs.

I spoke to a couple of vets about this. They're not surprised.

Press releases, advisories, telebriefings, transcripts and archives.

05/24/2024

I'm making a change in our fall breeding plans with Oakley. I will individually contact all the depositors. The litter was pre sold out. Updates to the website soon.

I was able to procure a breeding unit from Gael.(Scotland) It arrived in SLC last month. I just completed the AKC DNA requirements for breeder/litter registration. Oakley has had 2 successful TCI's and makes a very good candidate with Gael. Based on his size and usage I believe they are very complimentary with a low COI and all the other stuff I discuss regarding genetic diversity.

Gael, Scottish born and raised, spends his time as a "picking up" retriever each fall. He has over 25 litters in the UK. With good progeny health history, progeny used for pick up, trial, SAR and active family. He has one line breeding on Volvo and Wolf Whistler of Clockburn. No complaints there. If I have my facts straight, and we have some success, this will be his first US born litter. Our Ailsa is a daughter. (Imported)

Oakley earned her JH title and along with Ephraim is our primary hunting dog in the fall. Steady, marking, easy to handle, deliver to hand and great to hunt with. Her pedigree includes a lot of MACH and AKC hunt tests as well. She is the great granddaughter of our foundation female.

Along with shipping semen from the UK, TCI is an expensive procedure with a lower success rate. Dr. Pew and his reproduction team give us the best chance for success.
https://retriever.pedigreedatabaseonline.com/en/trialmating/father=2817/mother=56397

We are expecting beautiful, dark, healthy, well tempered working goldens.

Goldens bred to retrieve.
Start with the end in mind.

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Athollridge Scotland x WM Farms USA

05/23/2024

Some have asked about the status of Ephraim and Reggie OFA CAER eye test for 2024.

Those are completed and updated on the OFA website.
Results = Normal

We also completed
Oakley
Sage
Dru

Result = Normal

In additional we tested Ephraim and Reggie for brucellosis.
Result = Undetected.