Understanding Brackett—Part I
Dr. Robin R. Lyle
"Let the sire of the sire become the grandsire on the dam's side."
Lloyd C. Brackett
As I have analyzed the writing of Lloyd Brackett by utilizing his booklet entitled Planned Breeding, I have gleaned ten (10) insights or
principles based upon my careful reading and analysis. In this part, I will state and expound upon principles 1 - 5.
#1 Learn What a Good GSD specimen is!
“To the many, however, who seem sincerely interested in breeding better specimens, to the many who want to know HOW to do it, I
want to stress as strongly as I can: YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHAT IS A GOOD DOG OF YOUR BREED. In other words, know your
breed before you try to breed it.”
The genesis of any potential breeding program must be the breed standard. How can one possibly know what the desired outcome of
potential breedings will be without first establishing what is the ideal—the standard of the breed? An oft repeated statement is made
that the perfect German Shepherd Dog has not yet been born! Obviously, this is true! Nonetheless, this cannot prevent a
conscientious breeder from striving to breed the prefect German Shepherd Dog.
Next, after studying the breed standard, one must place themselves into circumstances to see and evaluate as many dogs as
possible. This might most easily accomplished today by undertaking the following:
o Attending dog shows in which your breed is shown and judged; both specialty and all-breed shows. Evaluate each class of dogs
according to the breed standard and rank them within that class and eventually the winners.
o Finding a regional specialty club, join that club and attend as many functions as possible.
o Talking with knowledgeable people in one’s breed—judges, handlers, breeders, and owners who show.
o Joining the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA).
o Attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by the GSDCA.
o Reading the German Shepherd Dog Review and other GSD magazines (such as the German Shepherd Quarterly).
o Referencing the annual Redbook published by the GSDCA and the Bluebook (which has articles dealing with health and genetic
issues relative to the GSD). You will find timely information and helpful interviews with breeders, up-to-date health issues and
highlights, as well as shown results, etc…
Brackett adamantly expressed that the basic perquisite to starting a breeding program is to learn what a good German Shepherd Dog
specimen is. He forcefully stated that it is better not to breed than to breed without knowledge. Brackett’s own words espouse this
foundational principle:
“It is very evident to me now that I have presupposed a greater knowledge of what constitutes a good animal of any given breed
than the majority of its fanciers possess. This being true, it seems to behoove me now again to warm some of today’s breeders
NOT to attempt to do close-up breeding; in face, not to do ANY breeding until they have a better knowledge of WHAT they want to
get FROM their matings.”
Brackett would advocate that all responsible breeders should be able to recognize a good specimen first and foremost. Secondly, one
must be able to note “any and all faults or shortcomings” of the GSD. Of course, it goes without saying that one cannot know the faults
and shortcomings without knowing what the standard is!
#2 Build a Strain!
Brackett readily admits to learning by his own mistakes. He, too, had previously practiced what he estimated that 98% of the average
dog fanciers had done—mated the best bitches to the best available males, regardless of bloodlines. He further indicated that he
employed compensatory matings by “using studs strong in characteristics in which bitches needed improvement.”
The strategy in which Brackett would implement to improve his breeding program would center upon building a distinct strain. This
would be accomplished within the breed by using three (3) great males. Brackett elaborated that this plan produced more that the
average number of good specimens. However, this still did not give him the multiple champion litters, nor establish a definite TYPE
which he desired. His reassessment at that point moved his plan to the necessity of utilizing the power of inbreeding and line-
breeding.
Building a strain was achieved through the repeated use of three (3) foundation males:
1. US CH. Pfeffer v. Bern
2. US CH. Odin v. Busecker-Schloss
3. US CH. Arras a.d. Stadt-Berbert
Of interest is the factor that all three of these dogs were “stemmed closely and strongly” from German Sieger Utz von Haus-Schutting.
Pfeffer v. Bern and Odin v. Busecker-Schloss were half-brother by the same sire; while Arras’ dam (Stella) was the offspring of a half-
brother-sister mating in which Utz was the sire of the sire and the dam.
Brackett would, in fact, build his strain within the breed by using three males as his foundation stones! These three males were all
closely related!
#3 Build Your Kennel on the Selection of Bitches!
Brackett next moved forward to find the right bitches on which to move his plan to the point of strategy implementation. The acquisition
of worthy bitches is a difficult proposition for any generation. Breeders are reluctant to part with quality potential bitches!
“Mr. German Shepherd,” as he was affectionately known, stated that “it is a much used aphorism that no stable is better than its mares,
and no kennel better than its bitches. That, of course, is true. The most valuable acquisition a would-be dog breeder can make is that
of a good bitch or bitches. Without one or more of these, the tasks of breeding superior specimens in any breed is a long, if not indeed,
a hopeless one.”
As difficult as this seems, Brackett added an additional precondition into the formula: the bitches must be daughters of certain studs.
It took him two additional years to purchase bitches who were in fact daughters to the three outstanding foundation studs (Pfeffer v.
Bern, Odin v. Busecket-Schloss and Arras a.d. Stadt-Verbert).
In addition to the stipulation that these three bitches must be related closely to the three outstanding studs, each bitch had to possess
the attribution of a show specimen with the proper genetic background!
#4 Linebreed/Inbreed Wisely!
“The subject of inbreeding and linebreeding might be summed up this way: Probably no great epoch or step forward in any breed has
ever been achieved without the constant and unhesitating use of consanguinity; at the same time we must realize that its use is full of
dangers and pitfalls for those novice breeders who fail to recognize the imperative need for using only stock which is sound in
constitution, organs and structure—and which also possesses points of merit, with NO SINGLE FAULT COMMON TO THE TWO
ORIGINAL PARENTS.”
As a preface to even the consideration to linebreed or inbreed, there are a number of foundational principles that must be firmly in
place:
1. Be able to recognize shortcomings and merits of dogs to be bred.
2. Study the pedigrees of the breeding pair and learn the shortcomings and merits of the breeding pair’s ancestors.
3. Make certain to select near faultless foundation stock.
4. Cull relentlessly.
5. Never mate together two dogs with similar faults.
6. AND remember that “Physical compensation is the foundation rock upon which all enduring worth must be built.”
Brackett used the terminology of “family breeding” to denote the mating of closely related animals which would incorporate both
linebreeding and inbreeding. He described linebreeding as “mating animals who are closely related to the same ancestor.” It should
be noted, however, that the animals are “bred in line” to a common ancestor normally involving the second, third or even more distant
generations. Inbreeding denotes an even closer association between the mating pair involving son to mother, father to daughter,
brother to sister, half-brother to half-sister.
A valid question to ask is: why would any responsible breeder linebreed or inbreed? Brackett emphatically stated that its purpose is to
improve the breed, get the best results possible, and to upgrade one’s stock. The advantage of linebreeding is simply to get
predictable results—if the selection has been good, the “pulls” are all in the same direction. One ought to be able to move from hoping
for a good result to having the power of the hereditary influence pull these factors into a favorable direction.
The greatest danger or disadvantage associated with linebreeding according to Brackett is that the breeder who employs selection by
pedigree alone without consideration given to physical traits of the pair is the chief danger. Linebreeding does not replace proper
selection. Under no circumstance should a breeder “abandon individual selection” to undertake linebreeding. Therefore, it becomes
an absolute that the responsible breeder develops a system of linebreeding which combines animals similar in characteristics but
narrows the pedigree to a few closely related line of descent.
In a similar manner, the advantages of inbreeding are that the highest percentage of blood of an exceptional dog can be kept.
Furthermore, inbreeding holds and makes the greatest use of excellence by doubling up and intensifying good characteristics of the
truly exceptional dog. The tool is likewise double-edged because the bad characteristics are doubled up and intensified.
Brackett offered several keys to correct undertake inbreeding. The first prerequisite is to start with superior animals. Never use
mediocre breeding stock. When poor or mediocre specimens are used, expect poor and mediocre results. When superior specimens
are used, expect superior results. Learn what inherited traits you are working with. Bracket himself recognized that “any characteristic
can be bred up or down, strengthened or weakened, by this method of breeding.” His writings indicate his belief that when superior
animals are used VIGOR and FERTILITY as well as other attributes will result.
“To those for whom it is written, however, a summation of the total effects of inbreeding, and to a modified degree that of linebreeding,
follows: All characteristics both good and bad exist in various degrees in different dogs. . . Results are entirely dependent upon
SELECTION, remembering that “Physical compensation is the foundation rock upon which all enduring worth must be built.”
#5 Outcross—But Only for Definite Purposes!
“I will state unequivocally that ‘nobody but nobody’ amongst them is going to do constructive animal breeding or produce a satisfactory
percentage of top specimens, and must certainly they WILL NOT build a strain within the breed. This having been proved to be true
innumerable times by geneticists and all successful animal breeders, regardless of variety, what follows can be of value or interest to
those now doing such outcross breeding only for one reason: to demonstrate why they are not getting the desired results.”
Brackett emphatically stated that one must outcross only for a definite purpose! In doing so, one may find that the first generation of
outcross generally will prove successful. However, the offspring of succeeding generations of outcross breeding will be a
“heterogenous lot” which displays any lack of uniformity. Breeders face the danger of losing any breed type they desire to retain. This
has the potential of being very notable in differing type in both size and proportion.
Furthermore, Brackett advocated outcrossing only for specific purpose. This could be employed “to correct a fault or faults which may
have shown up in his inbred strain.” The more distant breeding undertaken, one can expect less uniformity. Brackett rests this
premise on the authority of Onstott who stated that “any virtues which may be added to a strain through outcrossing. . . . .cannot be
looked upon as inherit in that strain until they have been purified and fixed within that strain through inbreeding.”
In the next part, I will continue to elaborate upon Bracket’s foundation principles. Part II will detail the above outlined principles 6 – 10.
You may recall principles 6 – 10 are as follows:
• Know What to Expect Through Inheritance!
• Know Faults for Correction through Physical Compensation!
• Use Outstanding Studs!
• Always Select the Best Bitch Puppies!
• Breed Back to Your Toppers!
1 Brackett, Lloyd C. Planned Breeding, page 20.
2 Ibid., page 19.
3 Ibid., page 19.
4 Ibid., page 10.
5 Ibid., page 11.
6 Ibid., page 20.
7 Ibid., page 3.
8 Ibid., page 5.
9 Ibid., page 6.
10 Ibid., pages 14-15.
11 Ibid., page 15.