Posted by KawValley
on May 15, 2009, 9:45 am, in reply to "Re: out-crossing?"
66.45.156.101 | Message modified by user KawValley May 15, 2009, 10:37 am
Vanessa, I would say Out-crossing doesn't prevent genetic disorders- it keeps recessives hidden. Nor does line-breeding "cause" problems- it exposes them. No new genetics are created when a breeding is done, It's all there in both parents to start with. If a breeder concentrates genes paying attention only to improving or maintaining phenotype (or any other SINGLE goal)- that's when the breed/ line suffers. On the other hand, if you concentrate genetics in order to expose and remove unwanted traits from a performance/health bred line (rather than conformation exclusively)- the line will be better off for it in the long run.
Obviously we don't want a bunch of overly inbred mutant Boston Bulldogs running around, and out-crosses are necessary in every line, but line breeding is really the only way to know what your working with genetically. If out-cross after out-cross is done it becomes increasingly more difficult to keep track of what genetics came from where or caused what etc. These are the kind of topics both breeders and dogs benefit from, and I look forward to learning and sharing as much as possible. Long live the Boston Bulldog!
Scott136 
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