LINEBREEDING AND INBREEDING

I should preface this article with the caveat that the principles of breeding a long-established pure breed are entirely different from breeding one that is still in its developmental stages, as is the Australian Cobberdog (ACD).  The majority of pure dog breeds were established hundreds of years ago and in many instances even thousands of years. They're way beyond the combined influences of the infused breeds that make them what they now.  Their breed type and general character traits have been 'set' for centuries.

Most, if not all of the well-established breeds were developed by judicious linebreeding, and close inbreeding to set 'type'. I personally do not endorse close inbreeding, but that is only my personal opinion. The closest I have bred, were especially excellent grandfathers on the precept that if anything were to be doubled up on, then excellence begets more excellence.  But I also used fresh blood on the ensuing progeny.

The ACD has attained incredible consistency in its relatively short history, but only to a degree.  Until  dogs bred by breeders across the world all present with the same look and behavior, it still has a long way to go. This is where linebreeding comes into the equation.  Linebreeding is I believe, the very thing that produces pre-potency, which is the ability to pass on a female or male's own qualities, at least in the following generation, regardless of who they're mated to.