[Rona]

Originally Posted by Hanka

No Rona, size is not only one criterium for breeding. Do you know standart? Read what size MUST be wolfdog. If it is most beautiful wolfdog on the World, under standart size, it must not be in breeding. Standart is only one, for all wolfdogs.
I was on bonitation in Prag where was judge Simackova. I was sitting by table and I wrote codes to pedigree. But I don´t remember, only mrs. Matusincova told me codes....... it was work of all bonitation comission. And if was problem we spoke about it together. Hmmmm, maybe I was on some second action..................

Hanka, you're writing about ideas, and I - about the practice . Read what Lisbeth wrote: the dog was smaller - but then it grew... I agree that malnutrition may lead to smaller size of the dog - but than should such a dog really be excluded from breeding, even if it is healthy and beuatiful and has excellent character? We both know that sometimes smaller dogs, if correctly matched, may have pups that grow to average or even big sizes and pass very positive genes.

The real (and for me really irritating) problem is that if OUR (or our friend's dog) is small - it was underfed and/or sick in puppyhood. If a dog of our antagonist is small - it is UGLY and does not meet the standard. Do you see the point I'm trying to make?
In my opinion this is a very childish and self-destructive attitude which in the long run will lead to the devaluation of bonitation. In fact, it already has. Not to mention, that honest breeders will fear to write openly about their dogs' imperfections - and no dog is perfect, even the best Czech one.

And something to animal measure. It's difficult measure animals and give always the same number. It depends f.e. on condition, character, coat, if you measure on grass or on concrete......

This is exactly my opinion. One centimeter this or another way shouldn't matter as long as the dogs fulfils other criteria, beacuse it may have very valuable features and it would be a waste to exclude him/her from breeding. The standard does not say what should the dog be standing on during bonitation and wheather it should be in his summer or winter coat or be before or after the bath.

But too small dogs you can recognize at first sight.

I don't agree here: thinner dogs look smaller, those with more robust body - bigger. People see a slim dog and judge: "it's too small" even if it matches the standard or even exceeds it and it is stated in the bonitation code. A more heavily built dog, with biggr coat will give an impressioin of being taller (even if 1-2 centimeters have to be added at bonitation to his height to meet the standard)