Hopefully this isn't an ignorant question, I will try to make myself clear.
I would like to get another dog, whether it is next summer or the one after, I'm not sure, but it never hurts to look, right?
I've become enamored with a rare breed. A pretty darn rare breed. Probably less than 10 litters a year in North America, as far as I can tell. Before I go down the road further, in terms of contacting breeders, etc., I would like others' opinions.
I have two questions.
1) To what degree is common ancestry to be avoided?
2) What is the effect of repeat breedings on a small population?
For instance one breeder takes great pain to make certain that there is no common ancestors for 4 generations. However, there have been three repeat breedings. In such a small population, I would think that would make about 3% of the dogs in NA full brothers and sisters. Is this too much? Also, most of the breeding stock is still imported from Europe, but it's hardly a common breed there, either.
Another breeder I have looked at uses a sire that has grand-dams as full sisters. He is a great dog, and the dam would be from a separate line.
The breeders I have looked at both do all the health checks, etc. that I would expect or want. My only concern is the effects of a small population.
I would like to get another dog, whether it is next summer or the one after, I'm not sure, but it never hurts to look, right?
I've become enamored with a rare breed. A pretty darn rare breed. Probably less than 10 litters a year in North America, as far as I can tell. Before I go down the road further, in terms of contacting breeders, etc., I would like others' opinions.
I have two questions.
1) To what degree is common ancestry to be avoided?
2) What is the effect of repeat breedings on a small population?
For instance one breeder takes great pain to make certain that there is no common ancestors for 4 generations. However, there have been three repeat breedings. In such a small population, I would think that would make about 3% of the dogs in NA full brothers and sisters. Is this too much? Also, most of the breeding stock is still imported from Europe, but it's hardly a common breed there, either.
Another breeder I have looked at uses a sire that has grand-dams as full sisters. He is a great dog, and the dam would be from a separate line.
The breeders I have looked at both do all the health checks, etc. that I would expect or want. My only concern is the effects of a small population.