For anyone who has attended a Pat Hastings seminar on evaluating the structural integrity of puppies, you know that any puppy Pat considers structurally incapable of doing the job for which the breed was intended is deemed "pet quality."   For puppies deemed structurally sound in all aspects important for utility, Pat ranks them as "show/breeding quality" in accordance with a point system she has developed.   Typically, a litter that Pat assesses has a split of 50:50 pet quality to show/breeding quality -- this is the NORM.  You can imagine my reaction when Pat announced to me that this litter contained NO PET QUALITY puppies!!!  I actually asked her to repeat what she said because I wanted to be sure I had heard her correctly.  What this means, is that every puppy in this litter is structurally sound to do the job for which it was intended.  The Frisco/Ruby pairing produced 5 of 5 durable dogs!  The overall score range for the entire litter, males and females, was narrow 15.5 to 18, which according to Pat's scoring system, places the entire litter at "above show/breeding quality average."

Kennel Flora initiated Pat Hastings evaluations in 2010. A few years prior to that I evaluated my own pups according to Pat's "Puppy Puzzle."  A few years prior to that, I sent photos to breeders I knew in Denmark for their opinions.  I have learned that to get an unbiased structural evaluation it is important that a breeder NOT evaluate their own puppies.

My 2010 litter from Target/Dottie evaluated by Pat also had NO PET QUALITY puppies.  This makes two litters of structurally sound pups from two different breeding pairs.  I am highly encouraged that I am on the right track regarding structural aspects in my breeding program. 

The males are ranked below in order.  (1) Wasatch; (2) Echo; (3) Tahoe
Wasatch and Echo have beautifully laid back shoulders which are important to keep in the breeding program.    Tahoe has slightly straighter shoulders.  Straight shoulders appear to be common in this breed in the USA.  This may be because it is more difficult to look at shoulders and front assembly and some breeders may not recognize it. 

Wasatch has the correct proportions according to the breed standard.  He is more rectangular than either Echo or Tahoe, who are slightly more square.  It  is important not to get too square by shortening the loin.  The loin determines the flexibility of the dog to turn around in tight areas.   

Wasatch has the best rear angulations, followed by Echo and Tahoe, who are slightly straighter.

Wasatch and Echo have more pro-sternum than Tahoe.  Wasatch has the best topline whereas both Echo and Tahoe have  very slightly sloping croup. There are no umbilical hernias, no herring guts, no slipped hocks.  All 3 males have two testicles already descended.

All three males have good drive, but no one is "over the top crazy" driven. Wasatch has a more "non-responsive" temperament and will need a dog savvy home or he will be the one doing the training of the humans.  Wasatch definitely needs a job with an "alpha human" to train him (This is Pat's favorite type of temperament -- the challenging one).  Tahoe and Echo have temperaments which lend themselves to easier training and both may be good for both dog sports and therapy dogs.

From my perspective as a breeder, the boys have breed typical heads with good ear sets, Satch being the most triangular in proportion.  All three boys have good scissors bites and the correct number of teeth. Molars are meshing properly. 

The girls were rated equally by Pat -- Winne = Minne.  Both girls are slightly straight front and rear, and proportions are slightly square.  Winne has more pro-sternum than Minne.  Winne has a slight ewe neck.  Winne has a "busy" temperament (always looking for the next thing to do), while Minne is slightly more cautious.  Both females were responsive and should be easily trained.  There are no umbilical hernias, no herring guts, no slipped hocks. Both girls have good scissors bites and the correct number of teeth. Molars are meshing properly. 

From my perspective as a breeder, the girls have breed typical heads, both girls equally triangular with good ear sets.  Winne has slightly smaller ears than Minne.

All in all, I could not be happier with an evaluation.  Those of you who know Pat, or who have attended a seminar of hers, will understand the elation I feel over this litter.  Pat does not mince words and calls it like she sees it.  Pat has evaluated over 30,000 puppies in her career, and validated a large number of her puppy assessments through data collection on puppies and the adults they grew up to be.

Allison had the opportunity to re-evaluate this litter tonight.  She did a great job identifying much of what Pat saw.  Both Allison and I are working hard to learn and implement Pat's techniques in litter evaluations to help each other with our respective breeding programs, and to ensure that US-born Farmdogs are healthy, structurally sound and able to continue to do the jobs for which the breed was intended.