What is an "Evolving Breed"?

An explanation from the SSSD Breed Steward

Quite simply, an evolving breed is just a breed that is still in course of development. The distinction between "evolving breed" and "distinct breed" made by the Animal Pedigree Act may be quite significant in the case of new breeds being developed by cross-breeding from genetically different sources. However, in the case of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog, that is hardly the case. The characteristics of the Leonhard Seppala sleddog strain have been stabilised through around fifteen generations of inbreeding and working-dog selection, and there was never any significant effort to change the characteristics of Seppalas from those of the original Siberian sleddog. The new Siberia imports have characteristics very similar to the original, as well. Thus the evolving breed distinction has little practical significance for our breed. Our F1's are not significantly different from our F3's.

Quite a few variations of colour, markings and coat length occur; but that has always been the case with Seppalas historically. There are, officially speaking, no preferences for any particular cosmetic appearance; these are not showdogs but working dogs. Therefore the diversity of phenotypic appearance has persisted throughout many generations and will doubtless continue to do so. This genetic diversity is valued as a positive factor. There are no plans to impose standards or preferences for colour and markings, coat length, eye colour or points of conformation; no plans for "disqualifications," whether by size or otherwise.

Evolving breed status allows us to continue to include new stock from Siberia, should such stock become available, without making purebred/non-purebred distinctions. We are content with evolving breed status for the SSSD while the purebred dog world "catches up" with population biology and population genetics, and realises at last that closed studbooks, intense inbreeding, and sustained high levels of artificial selection are a formula that equates to genetic disease. Eventually, we hope, the entire idea of dog breeds will be re-examined and more broadly defined. For now, the term "purebred" is becoming more of a stigma than anything else. Seppala Siberian Sleddogs are as purebred as they need to be; maybe more so. All dog breeds can and should evolve -- the alternative is genetic stagnation and impoverishment.

For the record, it should be stated that the Animal Pedigree Act and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada require a minimum of three generations of developmental breeding; only in the Fourth Filial (F4) Generation may individual "founders" finally be chosen for distinct-breed status, and AAFC guidelines stipulate a population of at least 200 F3's. Since the SSSD has not yet reached such a population level, we would in any case not be in a good position to ask for distinct-breed status.