Unlike in other large domestic animal species, in dogs there have not yet been any major breakthroughs in the methods and techniques of genetic selection. This is largely due to the fact that the dog's social and economic status is fundamentally different from that of so-called "production" animals in our developed societies. This difference has determined the main genetic direction of the canine species, characterized by desired morphological diversity and based mainly on esthetic criteria. At the same time, genetic selection in dogs has also been based on certain physical or behavioral aptitudes, leading to the well-known "beauty/work" dichotomy and producing the various working breeds, from which the sporting breeds are descended.
Today as in the past, canine sires and dams bred for sport are chosen based on their performance. The goal of the geneticist is to strike the best possible balance between hereditary genetic potential (additive genetic value) and exhibited performance (phenotype). This type of approach is possible only within the framework of sporting trials that are strictly regulated. Nevertheless, without underestimating the value and experience of some breeders, it is not yet possible to develop a group of dogs within a breed based on their genetic value. Consequently, selecting the best canine athletes for breeding is still approximate and often too empirical.
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