by sixgun | Aug 14, 2026 | Uncategorized
Last evening, I participated in a presentation on current Addison’s disease research in Standard Poodles, presented by Steven G. Friedenberg, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Friedenberg is both... by sixgun | Jul 29, 2026 | breeding
If two dogs have a 0% COI, does that make them a good breeding pair? The answer is no—and that’s where the art and science of responsible breeding come together. No single number, test, title, or opinion should determine whether two dogs are bred. Responsible... by sixgun | Jan 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
Understanding Canine Temperament & Cognition: What the Tools Really Tell Us Choosing the right puppy—or developing the right training plan for a young or adult dog—is not about finding a single “perfect test.” Instead, it requires understanding what different... by sixgun | Nov 22, 2025 | breeding, Poodles
Showcasing Your Dog Online: Proper Etiquette for Tagging Breeders and Co-Owners In today’s world of social media, sharing photos and updates about our dogs has become second nature. Whether it’s a candid moment at home or a big win at a show, these posts help us... by sixgun | Nov 19, 2025 | breeding, Health, Uncategorized
Cleared by Parentage: What It Really Means for Breeders and Puppy Buyers In the world of canine health testing, the term “cleared by parentage” (CBP) is often misunderstood. It sounds simple enough—the puppy is clear because both parents are genetically clear—but... by sixgun | Nov 18, 2025 | breeding, Health
DNA testing for animals has evolved from the early days of blood typing and parentage verification to today’s precision genomic sequencing capable of identifying thousands of markers in a single test. In the 1950s and 1960s, laboratories like the Veterinary Genetics... by sixgun | Nov 17, 2025 | Uncategorized
Understanding DNA Testing in Dogs: Direct, Causative, and Marker-Based Results DNA testing has become an essential part of responsible dog breeding, but the terminology can be confusing—even for experienced breeders. Words like “carrier,” “at-risk,” “variant,”... by sixgun | Nov 16, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, breeding, Health, Poodles
Canine Molecular Genetic Diseases — Explained Simply 1. Why This Matters Scientists and veterinarians are now using DNA technology to find, test for, and manage genetic diseases in dogs. Before this technology, breeders could only guess which dogs carried certain... by sixgun | Nov 14, 2025 | Health, breeding, Poodles
PennHIP VS. OFA: How Each Tells a Different Story About Hip Health Let’s delve deeper into the comparison between hip health evaluations and how they can be used together for optimal outcomes. When breeders or owners discuss hip testing, two programs tend to dominate... 
by sixgun | Nov 13, 2025 | Health, breeding
The Real Science Behind Longevity in Breeding In my previous post, we explored what telomeres are and why they matter in canine health and longevity. As a quick recap, telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. They shorten naturally with age and...
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