[quote=Sam427]Inbreeding has it's place, but I am a firm believer that you need excellent stock to inbreed with, otherwise you will just make a mess, or worse yet, set in health problems or bad traits in the line. A heavily inbred dog will also tell you what your strengths and weakness are in your line. Outcross breedings have their problems too, I have found that in the canine breeding world that there isn't much truth about the stock you are working with, and unless you have been breeding for a long time and have many generations behind you, you really have no idea what you have just bred. My ideal situation would be to have a very large kennel and know everything about each dog and several generations prior, then do a tight line breeding, or an inbreeding on occasion if the dogs prove to be worthy of such. Then have a separate line to outcross within my own kennel. The key is to know all about every dog you are working with, because you can never trust the other breeder to be honest, at least that is my opinion.[/quote] This is quite true. you put this well and hit a home run. when i first started breeding guinee pigs at the age of seven i learned that i must breed at least three generations to themselves to get what i was breeding for and to be sure of what i had. then i could start my breeding. first you must know what you have and you can not rely on false paper work and pedigrees that may not be true. i take a look at the total dog first. i listen and study a pedigree but i never trust them. i have been breeding for over 40 years and have started my own breed. in starting your own lines, or your own breed you must first have a goal set in your mind as to where you wish to go. what qualities you want to improve on. Then you must pay the price and go the distance to find just the right dog. This may take time and trial and error. you must be willing to cut off lines that didnt produce what you wanted. it is very costly and time consuming. inbreeding is necessary to set up your genes strong. it is also necessary to cull and/or find homes for the unwanted "pet" dogs. next you will find deformities and illness and weakness. you must be able to "see" these and breed only to those who come through such breedings in great health. this is rather difficult some times to see. once you have a line "set" then you outcross to keep your lines healthy and strong. that is just the way it works. out crossing and linebreeding and tight inbreeding all has it purpose in a well planned and thoughtout breeding program. it is a long haul and for those of us that love breeding and dogs and such it is a life long love and dedication no matter the distance to be traveled. i hope i havnt offended anyone. Lois Schwarz breedmaster and founder of the Alsatian Shepalute Rare Companion dog.