Ok, here is a start. I'm going to address test breeding first, as it appears several people feel there should be a test breeding requirement in the petition process. I once thought the same 23 years ago when the Avongara were introduced when I was relativity new to dog breeding.
Test breedings are not required by the current petition process, though the process does require any offspring produce by the subject dog be documented and a photo submitted. I agree with the current requirements. With the limited time frame which the stud book is open, requiring test breedings creates huge problems. Logistics tends to promote the importing of puppies. It a take a minimum three years to produce one test breeding of the import dog, if imported as a puppy, and to produce offspring old enough to make an evaluation, and even this is poor determination of the subject dog, as it will only produce five or so offspring to draw conclusions. Under these conditions, the petitioner would simply choose a breeding which is apt to produce the most favorable results. It would be unreasonable to dictate in the petition process regarding what constitute a test breeding, as for what constitute a test breeding differ with each dog and how the petitioner wants to proceed with proving out whether the dog breeds true to the standard. Given the current five year opening of the stud book, it is not reasonable to require test breedings, and even if the program was extended another five years.
Only a perpetual open stud book would accommodate a test breeding requirement. The Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis is a good example how this is done. Desert bred salukis are accepted into the Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis much as the current basenji petition process, after three generations, they may apply for AKC registration. The Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis is one of few domestic, if not the only domestic registry AKC recognizes. Quality and health is maintained by popular acceptance. This a very involved program, and too challenging to implement for the basenji breed, given the few dogs imported. I do have to admire the ability to travel to Africa, purchase a working Salukis from the Bedouins and have an assured path to AKC registration.
Conformation breeding follows basic ideologies. We study pedigrees, evaluate parents, grandparents, and great grand parents, looking at the pedigrees both vertically and horizontally. Experience has taught us what traits are recessive and those dominate and we can plan a litter with some expectations of what the results will be. There many good books on the art of breeding for conformation.
When dealing with a dog that has no pedigree, no parents or grand parents to evaluate, predictability is more difficult. A test breeding program is more suitable to prove out these dogs. For test breedings, I follow more of a scientific methodology than conformation breeding ideologies to draw an accurate conclusion. Basically, forming a question, a theory, making a prediction, then setting up a test breeding, evaluate the results of the test breeding and draw a conclusion.
Tamra Green, discussing Dwarfism in Great Pyrenees phrase what a test breeding is quite well, "Test breeding by definition is the use of a known genetic carrier bred to a mate of unknown genetic status for the purpose of visually evaluating the progeny of the union. Test breeding has traditionally been the method breeders have used to control undesirable traits in their breeding stock. Using careful breeding techniques, it is possible to lessen the appearance of a trait through removal of carriers. This technique is especially true for an autosomal recessive trait. Since both parents need to be carriers of this single gene defect for the trait to appear, it is relatively straightforward to determine who is a carrier, with a degree of statistical certainty."
It was suggested that we should breed two of the Ntomba dogs together as a test breeding, Mosika and Lokolanga for example. I know absolutely nothing regarding parents or grand parents of these dogs. I suspect Mosika and Lokoso are littermates, and Lokolanga and Mbengi are littermate, however I have no proof. Making a prediction is possible. I can draw from conformation breeding experiences regarding phenotype and what traits maybe recessive and dominate. The breeding of Mosika and Lokolanga would likely produce a wide variation in the puppies. One prospective parent is large, the other is small. One has full tail curl, the other a sickle tail. Mosika's red coat would be diminished by Lokolanga light coat. Than there are the traits in common, short muzzle, moderate wrinkle, almond eye, upright ears. The litter would produce only a small sampling, 5 puppies or so. If the breeding produced a trait truly uncommon for the basenji breed such a wide set downed ear, or repetitive barking, you could not determine which parent the offending trait came from or if its a combination. This makes for a very poor test, based on a vague question, basic predictions, and no means to draw a concise conclusion.
I suspect what some people are referring to as a test breeding is the desire of a demonstration breeding between native imports from a region to demonstrate variation. With only using two dogs, such a breeding is unlikely to demonstrate the variation within that region, including traits truly uncommon for the basenji breed, the sampling, 5 or so puppies in not sufficient to draw conclusions. Phonotypically, using basic conformation breeding ideology, one can predict some of the puppies' traits. As a basenji breeder, I know the red color derived from the Agouti series is difficult to maintain, and easily lost. Lokolanga light coat will diminish Mosika's red coat. I can go through a whole list of traits, which I can give basic predictions. The breeding will not specifically prove the merits of either dog. Conducting any test breeding with Lokolanga is very changeling, as she will only be able to produce a small sampling of direct descendants. Sue Ann Bowling said it best, "For obvious reasons bitches were rarely test bred, especially in breeds with small litters - too much of her reproductive life would be lost in demonstrating that she was not a carrier." Each litter Lokolanga produces must provide sound conclusions; this can not be done breeding her to an unknown.
My test breeding utilizing the Ntomba dogs will be highly structured and involve domestic breed basenjis with predicable ability to produce basenji traits, testing will be over several generations to increase the additive relationship coefficient of Ntomba dogs. I want my endeavor to be solid; the goal to introduce foundation stock is not easy. Popular acceptance is very difficult. And there is possibility these dog may not breed true.
