Tephra Curly Coated Retrievers is planning a select breeding this year with a stated goal of producing Curly Coated Retrievers with significantly increased genetic diversity relative to what is typically available in the breed. The programme is unusual in publishing its selection arithmetic. Its stated policy is no inbreeding and no intentional line breeding; the Unique Ancestor Coefficient and Coefficient of Inbreeding are tracked for every dog owned, and a mating goes ahead only if the ten-generation Unique Ancestor Coefficient is close to or above 500 — a deliberately demanding bar in a numerically small breed, and, in the breeder’s own words, the most important thing she can do to provide puppy owners with healthy dogs. New blood is brought in deliberately: dogs from the United States and New Zealand, and a German foundation bitch, Ch. 4eyesonly Askari JH. In her own assessment, animals from this breeding may be of particular use to breeders in England seeking to reduce inbreeding depression in the breed — which is precisely the kind of cross-border genetic decision GenoVaq exists to document. The sire and dam for this mating have not yet been announced; this listing will name them, with their individual clearances, once confirmed.

Sire and dam to be announced. Programme policy, published on the breeder’s own site: no inbreeding or intentional line breeding; ten-generation Unique Ancestor Coefficient close to or above 500 required before any mating proceeds; COI and UAC tracked for every dog owned.

The programme breeds for health and temperament first, then working ability, structure and coat. Tephra-bred dogs have competed in conformation and companion events under the Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America; the kennel’s breeding includes a Best in Show winner (GCHB CH Tephra’s Edge of Winter, bred and owned by Karleen Swarztrauber). Working and show records for the chosen sire and dam will be stated here once the mating is confirmed.

Published programme policy: AKC parent-club health clearances for breeding stock — OFA hips, elbows, eyes and heart — with PennHip used on occasion in place of OFA hips. DNA screening via the MyDogDNA panel. The programme notes it does not use the Labrador Retriever EIC test, which it states is not accurate in Curly Coated Retrievers. We have not yet seen certificates for the specific sire and dam of this planned breeding, because the mating has not yet been announced; this section will carry the actual results, seen by us, once it is. Until then no claim is made about any individual animal.

Located at Tephra Farms, Columbia River Gorge, Washington, USA. The breeder has previously exported and imported breeding stock internationally (US, New Zealand, Germany). Availability to UK and European buyers, and any shipping or export arrangements, to be confirmed directly with the breeder — enquiries via GenoVaq.