I'm going to admit my ignorance here! What is Line Breeding? What makes it different from regular breeding?

Line breeding is how breeders create their "line" of dogs. It involves breeding individuals that are related, but not close relations. Inbreeding is breeding closely related dogs, like brother to sister, mom to son. Breeders use it to quickly solidify traits in their line. It takes a lot of knowledge and careful planning to do a straight Inbreeding (doesn't happen all to often..more often by accident). Almost all show dogs are line bred...not always, but the majority of purebred dogs are. For example, Chinese Cresteds were first recognized by the AKC in the early 90's. The dogs that arrived here from the UK started the breed in America. Thus, most Cresteds in this country have common ancestors--these dogs go WAY BACK--they were the foundation dogs. Technically, Stevie was bred to her great uncle (her dad's dad's littermate). Make sense? She is also a line bred dog. Jude is a line bred dog too, not as closely related. The common dog goes back further into the line (great great grandma or something?). Anyway, breeders don't use outcrosses very often once they've decided on their type and what they're perfecting. They will, however, bring in an outcross to introduce a new trait, color, coat type, or make other improvements. The problem is that its more risky because you really have no clue what's going to be produced. So often, they will go back and line breed from the outcross to solidify the traits. I hope thats clear. Let me know if you need more explanation. And no, it doesn't mean your dogs are going to be born with 2 head and 6 feet :) You can run into just as many issues with an outcross.

Thank you, Alena! I understand now. I'm a little dumb when it comes to breeding!

Great explination. I didn't know anything about it. Never heard about it till now!

i would actually like to hear your own thoughts on this. you seem to know what you are talking about, so i'd like to hear. please educate us on the pro's and cons of line breeding. (i am not a breeder, nor do i want to breed, but i would like to hear about the subject of line breeding)

Thanks for sharing that information. That's when this site works the best - sharing knowledge

my mommy feels that most of purebread dogs and cats get there healt problems from line breeding lets face it its incest really. We understand that most breeders are just trying to make a certin line flasher or want just certin traits but do you really think that is health friendly to breed with ones momther,grandmother or father or grandfather? Would humans do it NO its againts the law so why would you do it to your animals that you claim you love so much?????