just a random , curious musing.

do people actual still line breed within blood lines to keep them pure. and what does the KC think about line breeding. do they still offer full reg for dogs out of there own siblings by siblings ect.

and things like crufts.

Line breeding is the method used by the majority of breeders, and it's generally the safest way of getting a good litter without the risks involved with close inbreeding or out-crossing (using an unrelated animal of the same breed).

Linebreeding usually involves mating together two individuals who have mutual ancestors 3 or 4 generations back - a degree of alliance which is absolutely legal if the individuals were human. :)

oh i see!
i seem to have got my wires crossed here then.
is "inbreeding" still acceptable by the KC?

Yes. Many people don't realise that it won't cause problems that aren't already there - it will show any recessives that may be lurking behind dominant genes. Used wisely it's a very effective way of clearing a hereditary condition from a line. However, a huge amount of research into the pedigree is required, as it will 'fix' bad points as well as good ones.

I think the 3 catagories of breeding need defining to the poster.
1) Out Crossing - using random parents with few if any shared ancestors within 5 or 6 generations (shown on a pedigree). This can be useful if you have got to 'close' within a line, or see something you would very much like to try and bring in which you lack. It is a random mating with random results but it can throw up excellent offspring. It can also throw up offspring which look nothing like either parent or have all the bad bits of the one you were hoping to gain his 'good bits'! Obviously used more often in large gene pools.

2) Line Breeding. Using dogs with a number of related ancestors to a point. This is excelltn for if you have reached a point where you are basically happy with what you have in your bitch it would be crazy to outcross and bring in a whole load of unknowns. You will try and basically mate like to like and just 'tweek' aspects you feel might need a little improvement. Closest generally considered grandparents to grandchild type level of mating or half brother to half sister etc.

3) In Breeding. generally these days considered to be mother to son, father to daughter and full litter sibling to full litter sibling. In some minority gene pols there is little choice but to go this route. Inbreeds with any number of genetically recessive problems is probably foolhardy, however in well established lines in the hands of very experienced breeders then you may be able to pull a good one off even if there is choice NOT to go this route.

If both parents are KC registered purebred dogs and the paperwork is all in order the breeder of the litter sends up the KC will register any mating including in breeding matings. Therefore they can be exhibited anywhere including crufts.

Di