What is the ZW number ?
The abbreviation of ZW stands for the German word Zuchtwert. Zuchtwert translates into the English word of “breed value”.
A ZW number reflects a dog’s individual breed value. This was created to be able to more realiably estimate a cchance of hip displasia in puppies coming from a certain mating. It is established by
- the dog’s pedigree and therefore the values of the dogs in his pedigree,
- his own health ratings (A-1,2,3 ) hips
- his litter mates’ hip ratings
- his- and his litter mates’ offspring.
Thus this number might slightly vary from time to time. If new offspring has been evaluated can either decrease the number (which makes it better) or increase the number (which makes it worse)
The lower the number- the better the dog’s breed value. In pairings, the combined numbers of two breeding partners should never accede 200. The lower the added number the better the chance that the offspring will be healthy.
The average is reflected by the number 100. So to combine two dogs through a breeding that both have 100- the outcome will be average measured on current results within the dogs in the database. Since every one shoudl strive to make things better, we should breed two dogs that are better than average (number less than 100 each).
The ZW number is to be researched / observed in the data base of the SV (German Shepherd dog Club in Germany Verein fuer Deutsche Schaferhunde)
Zauberberg K9 has all ZW numbers published within an individual dog’s webpage, if the dog is registered in the SV database.