Inbreeding is the mating together of closely related dogs, for example mother/son, father/daughter and sibling/sibling matings. For breeders, it is a useful way of fixing traits in a breed—the pedigrees of some exhibition dogs show that many of their forebears are closely related.
What happens if two dogs that are related mate?
On most occasions, it is generally considered dangerous to breed brother and sister dogs together because of the risk of long term health complications. Even if inbreeding is carefully planned and managed, it still has the potential to cause other indirect problems over time.
Can you breed dogs from the same bloodline?
Don't ever breed two dogs from the same litter together. This can cause genetic defects in the puppies. It is, however, okay to breed dogs from different litters even if they have the same parents.
What happens if brother and sister dog have babies?
Breeders who have bred siblings together have witnessed dog inbreeding effects, such as weakened immune systems and more autoimmune diseases. Inbred dogs seem to get sicker from common causes more often than other dogs, such as catching colds.
Can brother and sister dogs mate from same litter?
The reasoning behind the unsafety of breeding a brother and sister dog together is mainly because of the long-term risks and complications behind inbred litters. Even if neither of the dog siblings has current health issues, it can eventually cause indirect problems due to unnatural genetic material.
