Re: confused -- Boerboel Farm Dog

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Date Posted: 00:15:33 11/17/09 Tue
Author: Jenny W
Subject: Re: confused
In reply to: Jordan 's message, "confused" on 19:44:41 11/16/09 Mon

A lot of science questions the existence of Hybrid Vigour and IF it exists at all, it is usually suspected across Species, not lines. If it exists, it is a transient condition that applies to one generation only, (think mules) so you cannot maintain it in a usable form. It may seem to work when unrelated individuals are bred together as hidden or unknown genetic conditions held in recessive mode could remain hidden or unexpressed, therefore giving the appearance in one generation of "healthier" dogs. What lies behind and within them is actually represented in the individual parents and other ancestors. It is probably true to say if you breed this way "you can run, but you can't hide". The genetic make up of the dogs will catch up in subsequent generations and will need to be dealt with at some stage. Inbreeding or close breeding shows you exactly what you've got, but of course it is a big risk and most breeders run a sensible middle road between maintaining what they've got and adding or trying to remove particular traits or conditions gradually while avoiding the worst when possible. There are no shortcuts and each step should be monitored carefully to check progress.
At the end of the day Jordan, each breeder has to make up their own mind what their priorities are and work towards those goals in the best way they can. Outcrossing can lose you everything you previously had and give you more future problems than you could ever imagine. It can also add diversity, but at a cost. Both extreme forms of dog breeding carry their own risks and any breeder applying these really has to have an intimate knowledge of the dogs being used for several generations and a clear set of goals to work to. Offspring from extreme breedings should be kept by the breeder until maturity as it would be unfair to let "experimental" dogs go to unsuspecting homes where the breeder could not predict temperament or health with any level of certainty.
Extreme breeding is not particularly useful to a breeder and difficult to control, manage and monitor. It is also highly expensive and risky. The old fashioned methods of slow but definite progress are far less glamorous but tried and tested so why re-invent the wheel?

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