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Drentsche Partridge Dog Association

Drentsche Partridge Dog Association

Date: September 28, 2018

“We strive for healthy dogs”

An all-round hunting dog, self-willed, intelligent, affectionate and tough, the Dutch Partridge Dog, also called a ‘Drent’ is a versatile pointer dog, according to Madelien Atema of the Vereniging De Drentsche Patrijshond (Drentsche Partridge Dog Association). On behalf of the association she manages all information about the breed with ZooEasy. “We strive for dogs that are as healthy as possible.”

Monitoring dogs
Madelien Atema is secretary of the breeding policy committee and register administrator. The association registers the dogs for 25 years via ZooEasy. “We monitor the status of the breed. The Drent is a small, indigenous breed. That is why we must pay close attention to inbreeding and kinship. Breeders and owners of dogs also give us information about their own animals. For example, their behavior, health, work diplomas and exhibition results. We also send an annual health survey to owners of dogs that are three and six years old. We process all information in our register. That is an important source for the breeding policy of the association.”

Handy for breeders
The breeders then decide which dogs they will breed with, based on the breeding policy, which can be found in the Association’s Breeding Regulations, and information from the database. Madelien, who also occasionally breeds a litter, says: “The breeders make test nests in ZooEasy. Relationship and health are important, but breeders also look at exhibition results and job results. With that knowledge, they decide with which combination they can improve the breed.”

Volunteers, with outside help
The association works with volunteers. “We can inform ourselves thoroughly, but now heritability is so important, you have to have a good knowledge of genetics before you can set up a breeding policy”, says Madelien. That is why De Vereniging De Drentsche Patrijshond calls for help from experts, such as the Dutch Stichting Zeldzame Huisdieren (Rare Pets Foundation), if necessary. “We then provide all the information they need for a good analysis. With their insights and advice we make better choices for our breeding policy.”

Tips for starting associations
Madelien Atema is well versed in the registration possibilities for dogs. She has some tips for starting associations: “Think carefully how and what you want to register. Make sure you can easily find it again. Make good agreements with your team so that you enter the data in the same way. And try everything out, because you cannot easily do something wrong. Now that I think about it, I think we can’t continue our valuable work without the database!”