RESEARCH ON THE EXTERIOR PARAMETERS OF DOGS OF THE NATIONAL ODIS BREED

Research was conducted on the exterior parameters of breeding dogs of the Odi (n=29) used for breeding over the past 10 years. The animals were evaluated using the standard measurement method accepted in dog breeding. The study aimed to evaluate the main linear measurements according to the sex and age of the animals, analyze body structure indices, and assess the compliance of the obtained values with the breed standard requirements. It was found that the height at the withers in males and females (38.73 ± 0.40 cm and 35.31 ± 0.75 cm, respectively) is within the acceptable standard, and a small coefficient of variation (Cv = 3.38–9.02%) indicates the uniformity of the dogs in the sample. According to the assessment of all measurements, males had statistically significant (P ≥ 0.95–0.999) larger parameters compared to similar indicators in females, which indicates a pronounced sexual dimorphism in the breed. An analysis of the animals' format and high-leggedness indices, which are specified in the breed standard, also confirmed that the animals' exterior corresponded to the model of the desired dog breed. However, a question arose when calculating and analyzing the muzzle length index. The national standard states that the ratio of muzzle length to head length should be 1/2, but the corresponding index was 43.08 ± 0.69%, indicating a slightly smaller muzzle than the cranial part of the head. Overall, the breeding work shows a positive dynamic, indicating a sufficiently established genetically related population of the breed that transmits its morphological features of exterior that are specified in the breed standard. Also, considering the analysis of the values obtained in age groups, it is necessary to select animals for breeding to prevent the appearance of dogs with too light a skeleton, increased size, and long legs in the breed, and some points of the current standard need to be revised.