Kennel blindness is destructive to the future of any breed. Kennel blindness can strike at any time. It can strike an owner of only one dog or the breeder with a large kennel. No one is immune. The definition of kennel blindness is the failure of a breeder to recognize advancement of the breeder and also of the breed.
The perfect dog does not exist. Unfortunately they all have faults. However, a breeder without kennel blindness can look at a dog and not who they belong to and enter their own judgements as to the dogs virtues and faults. The successful breeders look at the whole dog and not just one part. They learn to recognize faults and virtues. The goal is to strive for those hard to get qualities such as type, elegance, expression, attitude and outline. Qualities that set the breed apart from other breeds. It is better to have some faults along with outstanding virtues rather than a few faults and a mediocore dog with no major faults but no great virtues. This dog may be able to win and even finish a championship but he or she has less to offer the breed than an outstanding dog with one fault. A breeder without kennel blindness has ability to see the good in a dog and weigh it against its faults. Successful breeders do not breed away from faults. They use dogs wisely to breed toward their image of the standard.
To avoid this dreaded disease, you need to first of all have a positive open mind. You need to be willing to observe, watch and learn. You also need to be able to objectively look at your own dogs against the others competition. The best way to learn is to watch the judging every minute you can. Try to figure out what the judge was looking for in the dogs that won. Also critique your own dog against the winner. Every judging assignment is a matter of compromise. Each judge has his or her own preferences and perspectives. Learning these likes and dislikes will help you in the future to know which type of dog to show to that particular judge.
Attending the National Specialities is the best way to learn the finer points of your breed. The National Specialties have dogs from all over the country and the very best usually attend. It is your loss to never see what dogs are outside of your area. It is best to go just to watch. It is best not to worry about who wins but go to look at all the dogs and judge the dogs yourself. Atleast at the Sheltie National there are so many good dogs that many of the good dogs don't even place or make the cut. Look at all the dogs and compare your own dogs to them and see how they measure up. If your dogs could not place at the national, then as a breeder you should be looking at the dogs there to improve your dogs. The breed standard should BE READ AND REREAD. You should form an image of the ideal sheltie and your goal should be to attempt to breed that ideal sheltie. Each breeding should be better than the one before as you come closer to that breed ideal.
