Breeding Strategy

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• Selection of breeding stock should prioritize temperament, followed by health and structure. Furnished coats with homozygous furnishings alleles are a goal but should not take precedence when choosing stock. Gradual development of coat type is required to maintain ideal temperament. Coat color should not be a primary consideration in breeding choices.​​

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•  Foundation breeds include Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever.

• Breeding stock should be selected from foundation breeds or mixes of such. 

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•  Only puppies produced by a member breeder and including at least one are eligible for registration as Bearded Retrievers.

• Puppies with up to 5% outside breed content who meet the breed standard can be considered for registration. 

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• Carrier status of recessive mutations should not be used to exclude dogs from breeding unless all other factors are equal.  Breeding of dogs carrying two recessive or any dominant deleterious  mutations should not occur  without a strategy to reduce prevalence over time. ​

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• Sociability with humans and dogs is the most important aspect of temperament to be considered. Human directed aggression of any kind including food guarding is a disqualifying fault. 

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• Overall resilience should be emphasized when choosing candidates​

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• Predicted genetic COI of puppies will be < or = to 10 % 

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• The use of the oldest possible appropriate healthy stud is encouraged

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• Natural mating is encouraged for at least the first breeding of each dog, to establish its ability to do so. Inability to mate naturally should be considered a negative trait and breeding away from this concern is expected 

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• Successful unassisted natural whelping and mothering of puppies is a breeding goal. Inability to do so should be considered when making breeding decisions, and breeding away from this concern is expected 

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• Fertility should be considered and unexplained small litter sizes should be bred away from