Breeding With Purpose

A puppy’s future begins long before they are born.

At WildFree, I’m proud of the thought that goes into choosing my breeding dogs: their health, personalities, temperament, structure, and suitability for the lives their puppies will lead.

Why DNA health testing matters

A dog can look healthy and still carry a genetic variant associated with inherited disease. Without testing, a breeder may unknowingly pair two carriers of the same recessive condition. For a simple autosomal recessive disease, that pairing can give each puppy a 25% chance of being affected. A carrier is not automatically an unhealthy dog; understanding how the parents’ results work together is essential.

DNA health testing helps uncover inherited risks that cannot be seen simply by looking at a healthy dog. Understanding both parents’ results allows breeders to make thoughtful pairings that reduce the risk of passing specific genetic conditions on to their puppies, giving the next generation a stronger foundation for a healthy life.

Why OFA certification matters, too

DNA health testing and OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) screening complement each other. DNA tests identify specific genetic variants. Other screenings evaluate the dog’s actual health and structure, including hips, elbows, eyes, heart, or patellas, depending on the breed’s recommendations. Many conditions cannot be assessed through a DNA panel alone.

Personality deserves just as much intention

DNA health testing does not certify a dog’s temperament. That requires knowing the dogs, observing their responses, understanding their family history, and carefully selecting breeding partners. Temperament has an inherited component, while early experiences, socialization, training, and environment also shape the individual dog.

That is why I’m so proud of Paris and Remington. They are confident, social Chihuahuas who happily accompany us into stores, welcome attention from strangers of all ages, and do not bark or growl at people approaching them. Paris is mellow, calm, and easygoing. Remington is confident, gentle, playful, and patient.

I’m proud to select for those qualities rather than accept fearfulness or aggression as something families should simply expect from a Chihuahua. The anxious, reactive Chihuahua stereotype does not define every dog in the breed, and the confident, affectionate personalities of my own dogs are something I deeply value.

I’m equally proud of the low-drive, mellow Border Collies in my program. Wolf’s calm, gentle, loving nature and Arore’s sweet, easygoing temperament are qualities I deliberately value. Puppies I’ve produced have gone on to become service dogs, and that is something I am incredibly proud of. It does not mean every puppy will be suitable for service work; each dog must be assessed individually.

Working ability and companion suitability require thoughtful matching

A high-drive working dog can be exceptional in the right home. The same intensity can be difficult for a family seeking a relaxed companion. Working lines, companion-focused breeding goals, the parents’ individual traits, and the puppy’s developing personality all deserve consideration. A mellow puppy still needs exercise, training, and enrichment, and a line’s label alone cannot promise a particular temperament.

Colour deserves informed decisions, too. A beautiful coat should be considered alongside health, structure, and temperament. Certain colour genetics can carry specific risks: for example, some merle-to-merle pairings can produce puppies with serious hearing or vision problems. Understanding the genetics matters more than simply choosing two attractive dogs.

What a reputable breeder gives you

The difference is in the breeder’s practices: documented health results, knowledge of their dogs and pedigrees, thoughtful pairings, appropriate puppy socialization, honest guidance, and ongoing responsibility for the puppies they produce.

When health and temperament histories are undocumented, families have less information to assess inherited risks or likely suitability. That does not mean every puppy from an untested pairing will be unhealthy or difficult. It means important questions have been left unanswered.

I’m proud to breed with purpose: to value the dog’s mind as much as their appearance, to use health screening to guide my decisions, and to help families find a puppy whose needs and personality suit their lives. ❤️

Jax, WildFree Canine Inc.

Meet our dogs

Current Border Collie puppies · Our Border Collies · Our Chihuahuas · Apply for a puppy

Sources

UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Exercise-Induced Collapse
Penn Vet PennGen: About DNA Tests
OFA: FAQs
OFA: Diseases in Dogs
AKC: Guide to Responsible Dog Breeding
AKC: Temperament in Dogs
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Merle