How to Read a Dog's Pedigree and select for desired qualities.

Getting a registered dog with a "pedigree' is easy. Finding or breeding a dog that has the requirements you want in your breeding program is much harder! If you are into showing and breeding dogs, a pre-reguisite to planning your breeding program is knowing what to look for in a dog's pedigree.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• several pedigrees to "practice" looking at so you can research the best dogs in your breed and study their pedigrees

1. 
   AN EXAMPLE OF A VERY IN-BRED PEDIGREE

   Determine whether the pedigree is line-bred or in-bred or an outcross. A line-bred pedigree is a pedigree where there will be two or more repetitions of the same dog on the top (sire) and the bottom (dam) of the pedigree within the first five generations. For example: grand daughter of one sire bred to grand son of the same sire but with different dams. An in-bred pedigree is a pedigree where both the sire and the dam have immediate relatives where at least one half is the same dog. For example, the sire's dam is the same as the dam's dam (half brother mated to half sister). An "outcross" is a pedigree which has no relatives in common on either the sire or the dam's side. A "line-bred" outcross is breeding a sire or dam that is line-bred to a mate that has no common relatives within the first five generations. In the photo you will see a very in-bred pedigree. This dog achieved a Register of merit status with her offspring when she was bred to outstanding OUTCROSS line-bred males.

2. Determine if the line-bred pedigree (which is usually the best choice) has an OUTSTANDING dog sprinkled two or three times throughout the first five generations, and if this is an OUTSTANDING dog that has some of the characteristics that you are wanting to breed for. If not, continue to search for pedigrees of dogs that DO have the qualities that you wish to breed, whether it be correct movement, correct head, correct ear set, etc.

3. When you have selected the puppy that has the pedigree you want,then you have the basis for a sound breeding program. The actual breeding "program" will depend on many things... how the puppy grows and develops, whether you have accomplished some wins in the show ring, and so on. But you have accomplished at least ONE requirement of breeding top quality bloodlines when you have learned to thoroughly research your pedigrees.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for and accept advice from mentors in your breed
• Always wait till the puppies grow up and pass health certifications before breeding.
• Pedigrees are not the be-all and end-all. If the dog in the pedigree doesnt have what you are wanting...keep looking!
• Setting "type" in your bloodline is definitely going to mean doing some breedings that are very close. Breeding and producing INBRED puppies is usually the only way to actuallly set TYPE in a bloodline but this can be done successfully as long as you do this with good judgment and be prepared that FATAL genetic problems may crop up. Be able to accept setbacks and be able to spay or neuter (or even euthanize) puppies who do not work out. "Close" breedings may bring out the BAD stuff in the bloodline, and this is good because you can then begin to make genetic studies of your inherited or genetic conditions in your bloodline and do planned breedings to eliminate or avoid these problems.
• breeding to complete outcrosses brings in "fresh blood" but can be risky since you have no idea what might crop up as far as genetic problems. It is best to breed to Line-bred outcrosses whenever you need to breed away from your own bloodlines.

Resources

• breeding dogs
• finding a responsible breeder
• Champion dog photos

[Brett445]

on 9/30/2008 Yes its a good one. So when you are choosing new dog you must remember these tips