It's All in the Genetics
Breeding is an art. The goal of a good breeder is to produce dogs that exemplify the best qualities of the breed - temperament, character, structure, intelligence and health. Once you find that winning combination, your next goal is to be able to see those traits carried down to subsequent generations.
The proof of this efforts is demonstrated through exhibiting the dog either through performance events such as obedience trials, agility trials, herding trials or by participating in conformation events. It is further demonstrated when the dog is utilized for therapy work, search and rescue work or just by being your family's best friend.
Health Testing
Currently, we have the ability to screen for hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG), By selectively breeding we can hope to limit and even eliminate these traits from our bloodlines.
We have a genetic marker tests for PRA and CHG, since those genes can be isolated. Hip dysplasia we cannot screen for via a genetic marker, so we rely on hip x-rays to ensure only dogs with sound hips are used for breeding.
All other health screenings are simply a snap shot in time, as they are not predicitive of future health issues. A dog can test negeative for a disorder year after year and still develope the disorder later in life. However, should a disorder be identified while the dog is still young, the affected dog is removed from the breeding program.
Breed Registries
The purpose of breed registries is to establish an official list of animals within a breed whose parents are known. They also ensure that the integrity and health of a breed is protected. They ensure and enforce the standard by which a breed is to be judged and they determine, based on that standard, how best to classify a breed.
With that in mind, the recognized breed registries in the US are the AKC, the UKC and the FCPR, which is the FCI member registry in the US. The UKC will not accept an application for single registration unless there is a clear trail to at least one FCI registered ancestor. The AKC FSS registration alone will not suffice.
With regard to the FCI and the AKC. The AKC has a Letter of Understanding with the FCI whereby they have agreed on certain terms. Part of this letter is regarding recognizing the pedigree for any FCI member registry that meets the AKC standard and vice versa.
Additionally, they mutually have agreed that dogs born in the United States will not be recognized by the FCI unless they are registered by an FCI member registry in the United States, which is why we will continue to use the FCPR as our primary breed registry.