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BamaFan121s · 09-21-2010, 07:29 AM

Not just the breeders you got the dam and sire from, but the breeders of the dogs before that too. Genetics goes back past just the dam and sire.

Hmmm...it's kind of hard to explain...
The more established and well known a line is, the more likely you will be able to find information. A well established line will be producing more uniform, predictable dogs. (not because of their experience/knowledge) but becase they have selectively bred their dogs over multiple generations.
You ask around...it maybe common knowledge among those who've been immersed in the breed for a while that XYZ line throws small dogs or ABC's line has had LS pop up. The characteristics of their dogs starts to become more and more uniform...size, color, topline, sets, AND genetic issues.
Yes, contact the breeders, other owners of dogs they've produced, vets, do research and see if they have an titles, etc.

As far as "line breeding," could be a good or bad thing, depending on the breeder. Breeders should know their lines very well and line breed to bring out specific aspects. IMO, it's something that should only be done WITHIN well established lines by someone who really knows what they are doing. NOT by someone who skipped a generation and bred back immediately, generally to try to get smaller sizes (which rarely works like they intended).

For example, lets say there's a long line of BamaFan's Line of Made Ups on your dams side....say it fans out from grandam/sire on to the previous 4 gens. You do research and discover that BamaFan's line is known to have very strait toplines and occasional diagnosed LS. Chances are good, that because there is so much of that line in the pedigree, that chances of it showing up in yours would be good.
Now, try to imagine figuring that out without that 4 gen of strong, well known lines to factor in. Instead of having an answer, something well established and long proven, you have to try to figure it out for, say 10 breeding pairs, all from different breeders.

(I hope someone else can give a better explanation.)

09-21-2010, 07:29 AM	#6
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	Not just the breeders you got the dam and sire from, but the breeders of the dogs before that too. Genetics goes back past just the dam and sire. Hmmm...it's kind of hard to explain... The more established and well known a line is, the more likely you will be able to find information. A well established line will be producing more uniform, predictable dogs. (not because of their experience/knowledge) but becase they have selectively bred their dogs over multiple generations. You ask around...it maybe common knowledge among those who've been immersed in the breed for a while that XYZ line throws small dogs or ABC's line has had LS pop up. The characteristics of their dogs starts to become more and more uniform...size, color, topline, sets, AND genetic issues. Yes, contact the breeders, other owners of dogs they've produced, vets, do research and see if they have an titles, etc. As far as "line breeding," could be a good or bad thing, depending on the breeder. Breeders should know their lines very well and line breed to bring out specific aspects. IMO, it's something that should only be done WITHIN well established lines by someone who really knows what they are doing. NOT by someone who skipped a generation and bred back immediately, generally to try to get smaller sizes (which rarely works like they intended). For example, lets say there's a long line of BamaFan's Line of Made Ups on your dams side....say it fans out from grandam/sire on to the previous 4 gens. You do research and discover that BamaFan's line is known to have very strait toplines and occasional diagnosed LS. Chances are good, that because there is so much of that line in the pedigree, that chances of it showing up in yours would be good. Now, try to imagine figuring that out without that 4 gen of strong, well known lines to factor in. Instead of having an answer, something well established and long proven, you have to try to figure it out for, say 10 breeding pairs, all from different breeders. (I hope someone else can give a better explanation.) Last edited by BamaFan121s; 09-21-2010 at 07:34 AM.