Dogs Inc is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the Southeastern United States that trains and places assistance dogs. Our Genetics & Reproduction (G&R) team works to produce dogs with the right mix of temperament, health, and ability to succeed in their future roles as assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Purpose-breeding plays an important part in reaching this goal. By carefully choosing which dogs become parents and thoughtfully pairing them, Dogs Inc increases the chances of producing puppies who are calm, confident, and ready to learn ─ qualities that make great assistance dog candidates.

Using Data to Guide Breeding Decisions

To help make these choices, we use a data-driven approach supported by the International Working Dog Registry (IWDR). This system tracks something called Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), which are a way to estimate how likely a dog is to pass down certain traits, like behavior or health, to their puppies.

In simpler terms, EBVs are like genetic “report cards” that combine information from a dog’s family and their own assessments. This helps us predict which dogs are most likely to produce healthy, well-balanced puppies.

Right now, our EBVs mainly focus on behavior, but we’re working to add more medical information, too. The more consistent and complete our data, the better our decisions become, so we make sure to collect accurate information from every dog.

How We Collect Information

We gather both behavior and medical data throughout a dog’s life to understand their overall potential. Here’s how:

• Puppy Assessments (8 weeks): A behavioral test called the Puppy GDBart assessment looks at how young puppies respond to new experiences.
• Walk & Talks (4–6 months and 10–12 months): Check-ins during the puppy raising program to see how each puppy is developing.
• Adult GDBart Assessments: Done when dogs enter formal training to evaluate their behavior and temperament.
• Breeder Walks: Used to evaluate adult dogs being considered for breeding.

Each breeding candidate also completes several health checks to help prevent inherited medical conditions. These assessments include:

• PennHIP Hip Screenings: Measures hip joint health as a predictor to the onset of osteoarthritis; we select dogs whose results are better than average for their breed.
•  Hip and Elbow Screenings: Hips must be rated “Good” or “Better,” and elbows rated “Normal” by a board-certified veterinary radiologist
• Cardiac (Heart) Exams: Echocardiograms performed by our veterinary cardiology partner.
• Ophthalmology (Eye) Exams: Eye exams completed by a board-certified ophthalmologist.
• DNA Testing (Embark): Screens for conditions like Stargardt’s disease, Copper Toxicosis (variant B), and Exercise Induced Collapse that may negatively impact a dog’s ability to be an assistance dog.

Using this behavioral and health information, Dogs Inc makes thoughtful, ethical, and purpose-driven breeding decisions to keep improving the breeding program.

Monitoring Progress

Our G&R team regularly reviews all data to make sure our group of breeding dogs continues to improve. Each week, we review new health results and update EBVs in the IWDR system. Every month, we look at the average (mean) and middle value (median) of the colony’s behavioral EBVs, which show how our dogs are performing overall in key areas like temperament and behavior. These numbers help us set goals and decide which dogs are ready to join the breeding program.

We also track the number of genetic carriers in our breeding dogs. When two dogs are equally strong candidates, we often choose the one with clear genetics (no known disease variants). This lowers the risk of passing on health issues and gives us more flexibility in planning future breeding pairs.

Looking Ahead

By continuing to combine behavioral and medical data, Dogs Inc is building an even stronger foundation for its breeding program. Through science, compassion, and careful breeding, we’re helping raise a new generation of healthy, confident assistance dogs and changing more lives for the better.

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Katherine Arp is the Manager of Genetics & Reproduction (G&R) at Dogs Inc. She earned her bachelor's degrees in Animal Science and Biological Sciences from the University of Georgia, where she first connected with Dogs Inc as an intern. After graduation, Katherine joined the G&R department as a Breeding Technician, supporting colony care and reproduction efforts.

She later transitioned into the Puppy Raising department, where she served as an Advisor, working closely with puppies and their volunteer raisers to set them up for success in training. Following her time in Puppy Raising, Katherine returned to G&R, where she now oversees the day-to-day needs of the breeding colony. In addition to managing colony operations, she plays a key role in tracking genetic and behavioral data to guide breeding decisions and support the selection of future breeders.

Zuhey Medina-Gonzalez is the Director of Genetics & Reproduction (G&R) at Dogs Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from New Mexico State University and is currently pursuing two certificates at the University of Florida: one in Animal Genetics and another in Public Health.

In her role, Zuhey oversees the broader strategy and operations of the G&R program, including breeding colony management, long-term planning for puppy production, and data-driven decision-making. She is responsible for approving all mating pairs and the selection of new breeders, ensuring the colony continues to advance in both health and working potential. Zuhey also supports team development by providing resources for colleagues working toward BCL certification and by fostering continuous improvement across the department.

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