Breeding Definitions by John Sullivan

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Editor's Note: John Sullivan has been breeding Bouviers since the 1970's. Foundation dogs from three sons of Ch. Marc de la Thudinie, Ch. Picard des Preux Vuilbaards, Ch. Prudhome des Preux Vuilbaards and Rhombus des Preux Vuilbaards. He served as Breed Columnist for five years with the AKC Gazette, ABdFC Club Secretary for one year, member and Chairman of the Board of the ABdFC for five years., President of the ABdFC for one year, AKC delegate for one year for the ABdFC, and now is an AKC Judge. Sullivan's kennel name is "Boston Bouviers" and this editor was fortunate enough to have owned one of John Sullivan's pups. His call name was Burton.

For some time now, I have been asked by Jan and others to write a simple article" on the definitions of breeding terminology, however it seems that there is a crowd out there, looking to turn simplicity into rocket science.

There has been a recent rush to embrace mathematical models to describe the coefficient of "relatedness" in systems of breeding. It has been put forward that "our definition" is essential and "all breeders" should know how to quantify the degree of 'relatedness' when planning a litter.

Let's not make breeding any harder than it has to be. The Basic Terms of Linebreeding, Inbreeding and Outcrossing are the terms we are concerned with. If you need to know the mathematical probabilities of the coefficient of relatedness for these basic terms, this column will not interest you.

When you have made a commitment to breed the first step is to make a plan to achieve your goals. Take a piece of paper and make two columns, one column for the strengths your dog possesses and the second column for it's weaknesses. Now that you accessed your strengths and weaknesses, articulate your goals.

The three systems of breeding: Linebreeding, Inbreeding and Outcrossing are systems of breeding that employed to bring about breed improvement. The question that faces each of us is: What system of breeding must I employ to achieve my goals?

To begin with, a simple and easily understood "definition" of these terms is necessary.

"LINEBREEDING" is the mating of animals, by the using J dogs, who are closely related to the same ancestor, but are little, if at all, related to each other through any other ancestors." Linebreeding" is the breeding in line to that common ancestor, answering the common breeder's question, when a breeder says that his dog is "linebred", one questions, "linebred to what?"

"INBREEDING" is the mating of animals who are closely related, to that common ancestor. Inbreeding implies a much closer relationship between the mating pair, than does linebreeding. Instead of involving the second, third or more distant generations, it is generally understood to have to with only four relationships: Son to Mother, Father to Daughter, Brother to Sister, Half-Brother to Half-Sister, both having the same sire and different dams, or the same dam and different sires.

"OUTCROSSING" is the mating of animals who have little or no relationship to one another. In practice a breeder who follows this method of breeding generally produces a jumble of different types and nothing of note. It is probable that a fancier could produce a percentage of good dogs if he confines himself to the limited area of breeding the best individuals without regard to bloodline, especially if these selections came from related stock.

In closing, breeding is not for everyone. To do it right takes a lot of time, effort and money! It has to be every breeders goal, to make the breed better before he sets out to do a breeding. As a breeder, you are responsible for every dog and every life, that you bring into this world. You must do it right the first time and every time or you don't do it! You must do the research behind your breed, to know your breed's Standard, and as much as you can, about the characteristics not only of your breed and your dog's, but for every dog behind your dog, as far as you can trace them back, to understand the probability of what you are apt to produce.