Styles make fights!

Interesting. I do know a scant few who breed dogs with certain attributes in mind. I know OF some who breed for succinct certain things. I don't know a scad of each, however. As a breeder, I know of the million sentiments there are about breeding dogs. We are all at least a little different in our approaches.
There are certain traits which are nice to see, and if one's dogs show those traits, they may not breed on, specifically FOR these traits, yet, they surely aren't purposely going to breed AWAY from them, either.
I know head dog lovers, face dog lovers, rear end dog lovers, leg dog lovers, chest dog lovers, dogs that have finishing qualities, straight up mouth dogs, and who knows what else that someone may like to see come on some sort of consistent basis from their dogs.
I have always preferred dogs that are opportunists, and smart along with that......if you might consider that to be trait or style. I consider it an aspect, so, worth considering, I hope. I have always demanded one thing I considered a must, and that is gameness. Without it, all other attributes and traits fade in meaning. As to breeding, I consider them worthless without gameness.

 

People that breed within the same family for long periods of time are pretty much breeding for a style but maybe in an indirect fashion. When they start locking in on certain traits such as gameness, ability and talent, durability, etc..etc..along the way the same types of dogs pops up until they are the norm within that breeding program. So if that particular family is bred for the things mentioned it is a play on words. He is breeding that style of dog regardless of whether he is breeding FOR that style of dog. If that makes sense.
I doubt there are any breeders who breed for face dogs or back end dogs. But when the face dogs pop up from breeding for the more important traits I believe they will continue to present themselves as long as the program is one of consistency. So when a family is built usually the styles are similar, so when one breeds within a family consistently he will get consistent styles. S

 

There are no correlations between styles and bloodlines. Styles can be exhibited by any bloodline and any bloodline can exhibit any style. S

 

That's NOT what all old timers did. There have always been ABOUT the same ratios of breeders who breed one way or another as there are now. The most marked difference between then and what prevails now, is the adherence and demand for gameness when it comes to breeding dogs. It was prioritized a little heavier per capita back then.
Some seem to think that if you breed FOR something, that it's what you're going to get. Again, not true. You increase your chances of said thing you breed for, but it's not set on automatic as some might think.
Consistencies of traits are not unanimously passed on, generation to generation. Those traits may be seen MORE often, breeding specifically for them, than if you don't. And that is the only notable differential.
Now, Bounty, to answer your question in a direct sense..................Yes, I know a few who breed with certain traits in mind. But their will to attain these traits on a decent percent basis, DOES NOT usurp the main qualities they know they must have, and have moreover, and more often than any others, even their favorite "styles". Therein is the difference between their success rate, and those who breed avidly for just that certain style. Style is given by recent ancestors that give it to the new generation. In some groups of dogs and on some yards, more so than with others. But without the other main qualities of the dogs, those styles fall meaninglessly to the gutter. If you can maintain a flow of style in decent percentage, and still maintain your "must" qualities, that's ideal, but it's still a matter of prioritizing. And proper priorities are what breed successful dogs over a lengthy period of time.