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main systems: inbreeding, linebreeding and outcrossing. INBREEDING Simply put, inbreeding consists of mating very closely related dogs with one another. That is, mother to son, father to daughter or sister to brother— the object of which is to continue and improve inherent desirable character- istics by the concentration of the cor- rect genes. In the past, and even in the present (usually those who have little if any practical experience with inbreed- ing), inbreeding has been condemned as the great and all-powerful evil of dog breeding. It has been and is suggested that this system has been responsible for hereditary defects from imbecility to gross physical deformity. Regardless of the opinions expressed, selective inbreeding has been the foundation of stock without exception of breed or country. It is not the planned system of inbreeding that is wrong, but the care- less and inexperienced approach of the breeder in its application. As a breeder once said, “Inbreeding is like electric- ity. If you know what you’re doing, you don’t get any shocks.” The system of inbreeding is not so much concerned with the creation of type (that is already established) but with its maintenance and fortification. Its intention is to for- tify and enhance desirable points. Indiscriminate inbreeding can also create unfortunate defects. In the same way it will improve desirable character- istics it can also increase those that are undesirable. Inbreeding should be the responsibility of those with sufficient experience in breeding to know how to control it to obtain the best results and advantages. LINEBREEDING Varies from inbreeding by degrees. It consists of mating less closely related animal to one another; half-brother to half-sister, aunt to nephew, and uncle to niece. It is a diluted form of inbreed- ing with far less drastic results. The variable are more numerous, so that the influences that the breeder is try-
ing to induce take longer to achieve. Linebreeding is not as bold an approach and is considered a much safer sys- tem. It is accepted that in linebreeding genetic impurities are not so likely to be revealed or maintained in a strain as with inbreeding. OUTCROSSING This third and final system of breed- ing is dependent upon mating entire unrelated stock. It is a system that cannot be regularly indulged in as a planned system, and is usually used by breeders when a defect is present which cannot be removed by either inbreeding or linebreeding. Contrary to belief, outcrossing will not necessar- ily rejuvenate or improve a line. It has quite often been proved that outcross- ing has only introduced new defects, and a first generation outcrossing will only mask the original defect that the mating was meant to eradicate. These descriptions of the three sys- tems of breeding are too inadequate for anyone to embark upon a successful breeding program. They are intended to illustrate that there is much more to a pedigree than simply the numbers of champions listed. This does not for one minute mean that the existence of Champions in pedigrees is wrong, but their presence is or should not neces- sarily be the prime factor in deciding what is a good pedigree. Obviously, if a Champion has all the correct charac- teristics and it is known that they are transmittable, and if this Champion has been used as a part of a planned and what appears to be a logical breeding system, so much the better. It is unfortunately not always the case. Owners are very often inclined to use the current “star” that is winning, without any regard to his genetic suit- ability—or indeed to whether or not he is carrying unapparent genetic defects. Once again Nigel has given us much food for thought. Both gone from our world, Nigel and Bill built a legacy which cannot be underestimat- ed. We send our thanks.
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138 • S how S ight M agazine , D ecember 2018
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