linebreeding - Page 1

 why do some  dogs have a long list, but some (like mine) have none? Is it good or bad- to have less or more?

If the sire and dam of your dog do not have any ancestors in common in the past five generations, your dog is considered have no linebreeding, to be an outcross.  This is a good thing in many ways: (1) it vastly reduces the risk of recessive genetic problems becoming actual (phenotypic) problems in your dog; (2) it may give your dog something called 'hybrid vigor'.  (If your dog actually has many common ancestors in the 6th generation, you get less of this benefit.)

It is "bad" only in one general way: you have less idea, as a pup, what he will grow into -- how he will look or behave.   Take the case of a heavily linebred dog (inbred): say both grandfather's are the same dog.  In this case, the traits of that common grandfather are very likely to show up in some way in the dog.  From the breeder's point of view, some linebreeding (but not this much which is frowned upon) gives them the chance to create a "type" -- a combination of expression and behavior that they can claim to be consistent in their breeding program.  You can see why breeders might like this, and you can see why some buyers might like this, but if it was of no interest to you when you bought your dog, it should not bother you now!  What you got with a low or no linebreeding is a the likelihood of better health and vigor!

A brilliant breeder can get away with some linebreeding because they have studied hard enough to know that there are probably no worrisome genetically recessive diseases in the common dogs -- based on a careful analysis of all their progeny -- and they traits of those common dogs are very desirable.  The average breeder is probably doing a little of this, and poor breedings are just rolling dice.

Good luck.

MVF--- Thanks for explaining, just didn't really know what it meant......but....why this>>>but if it was of no interest to you when you bought your dog, it should not bother you now!<<<<      ??? It does not bother me, i just wanted to know the reason for it.....beside, i did not know anything about pedigrees when i got my dog, i didnt start looking into this stuff untill after....not that something like that would have mattered to me, because he was givin to me as a gift.....