Comment to 'Bloodlines and Breeding'
  • [quote="gsicard"]I have been thinking about this for some time now and still don't know if I will articulate the questions correctly. Anyway here goes. 1. How important is bloodline when it comes to improving the health and functionality of a breed? In breeds such as the Caucasian Ovcharka, Central Asian Ovcharka, American Pit Bull Terrier and the Neapolitan Mastiff, I often hear a significant amount of importance placed on bloodlines where breeding is considered. 2. So, does adherence to bloodlines reduces the breeds vitality by narrowing its gene pool? If we consider the dogs’ adherence to the standard and try to move closer to the ideal dog as described by the standard, I think that would better serve the breed. 3. So, would we better serve the breed based on the attributes of the individual dog regardless of bloodlines when we consider any breeding. and finally. 4. Is the adherence to bloodline breeding ruining any of the breeds mentioned above? Please reply to this post openly and honestly and don't use it as an opportunity to belittle anyone or breed.[/quote] Very interesting thread Gary! Here goes: 1- It is very important because if properly chosen from field tested individuals will bring certain traits that will make a difference. It all depends on how this bloodline is built. Some people think they have a bloodline after having a few generations of matings...THIS IS not a bloodline. A Bloodline is a family of dogs that throws certain characteristics...Otherwise you have good dogs from scatterbred matings. 2- Not at all. It depends on how the bloodline was built and tested. Some of the most influential APBTs and Greyhounds in history have been tightly bred with no loss of vitality or health. In either breed, outcrossing to another bloodline is almost as introducing fresh blood from a crossbreeding, because of how well planned the breeding programs have been. 3- If we are talking about a high quality individual, thats ok. But I would rather have a GREAT dog from a proven family of dogs. 4- Within the APBT, when choosing a family of dogs you are doing it knowing first hand what you will get. Thats how a well bred program is run. With the Neo, it is not easy to find well bred, healthy dogs. The animals are being inbred for the wrong reasons (mostly aesthetic) and this increases the loss of valuable traits, such as health and athleticism. Then, to prevent this, some people crossbreed into other molossers, plagued with recessive genes that will result in more issues down the road. On the first, second, third generation, you may be alright, but sooner or later, those issues are going to surface. Recessives dont always come up with inbreeding...they also come up with POOR outcrossing practices. If you match two dogs completely unrelated that CARRY the same fault as a recessive, you will have that surfacing. If you spend some time studying, most of the molosser breeds tend to suffer from the same issues (lack of drive, poor health, weak nerve, etc).