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There are cases of inbreeding where breeders crossbreed father and daughter dogs. This practice is usually a way to produce puppies that are identical to the father.
When you crossbreed a father dog and its daughter, the pup genes are 75% identical to the father. This means that inbreeding helps create true breed dogs with particularly desirable traits.
But are there risks or consequences of breeding father-to-daughter dogs? Yes, and this article highlights them all.
Risks & Consequences of Breeding Father to Daughter Dogs
Although inbreeding can be beneficial, the risks outweigh them. The Kennel Club has banned this inbreeding, acknowledging the likelihood of the subsequent offspring inheriting negative consequences.
These risks include:
Fertility Problems
Breeding father and daughter dogs have seen a rise in infertility. This is because these inbred dogs lack gene variation, which is the difference in the DNA sequence in the genomes.
Since the mother and father share the same genes, reports indicate that male inbred puppies have lower fertility rates than purebreds.
How about the females? It turns out that they have a higher probability of experiencing absorbed litter. Puppy absorption is when the fetuses die and disintegrate in the pregnant female’s womb. The remains undergo enzymatic breakdown.
The females also suffer from dystocia, a condition where they undergo difficult or abnormal labor. Dystocia in inbred females takes place when the litter has congenital disabilities or is larger than regular-sized utero puppies. This condition complicates dog pregnancy, and these females often deliver via C-section.
In addition, female inbred dogs may deliver unhealthy puppies with a high mortality rate.
Limits Gene Pool
A gene pool is a genetic diversity found in a population at a given time. Animals with a large gene pool have extensive genetic diversity. They can withstand challenges and stresses posed by their environmental conditions. The large gene pool creates room for growth and variety throughout the generational lines.
Inbred dogs, however, do not enjoy this. On the contrary, they have a small gene pool that makes the species prone to extinction when faced with environmental stresses. Close inbreeding damages the potential of the gene pool expanding and makes the generational lines more susceptible to genetic disorders.
Did you know that inbreeding a dog for more than six generations reduces the genetic variation by over 90%? This puts the inbred dog at risk in case of environmental changes or diseases. They are less likely to survive these changes.
Congenital Defects
Congenital disabilities are functional or structural anomalies that develop during intrauterine life. Breeding a father dog to a daughter may pass on undesirous and abnormal genes to the litter. How?
With inbreeding, it is more likely that the recessive genes will be more prevalent in the offspring. This is because both the father and mother share a similar set of alleles in their genes.
For this reason, it is not uncommon to see inbred puppies with eye disorders, abnormal bodies and faces, cancer, system disorders, and skeletal deformities.
These defects impact the puppies’ quality of life and their average lifespan. Owners also face the challenge of raising money for treatments or the decision to euthanize the pet.
Unfortunately, some congenital disabilities are visible after birth. Some owners report raising a healthy dog until it becomes severely sick later, only to realize they had an existing congenital disability.
Health Problems
To better understand how inbreeding causes health problems, take the Cavalier King Charles as an example. This breed is prone to heart problems. In fact, most Cavalier King Charles dogs die from heart Mitral Valve Disease (MVD).
So, assume you inbreed this type of dog. Both the father and the mother are susceptible to MVD, and this condition will be heightened in their offspring. The results? A sickly litter with a high mortality rate.
Behavior Difficulties
In addition, inbred dogs tend to display abnormal behavioral issues. For instance, they lack affection, are more anxious, impulsive and have higher aggression and irritation levels. They may also be fearful compared to purebred dogs and are less intelligent.
Ethical Concerns of Breeding Father to Daughter in Dogs
Ethically, it is unconscionable to breed father and daughter dogs. Inbreeding is what humans refer to as incest. Allowing inbreeding is reprehensible because it puts the lives of many dogs at risk.
To illustrate, consider the above risks. Why would anyone breed a father and daughter dog only to incur expensive medical bills or be forced to euthanize a beloved pet? It would be best to avoid this inbreeding practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I Breed Dogs With the Same Father?
Breeding half-sibling dogs increases the coefficient of inbreeding. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of bad behavioral traits, diseases, and disabilities in the offspring.
Inbreeding depression, reduced lifespan, and dystocia are some of the risks of breeding half-siblings.
Are There Consequences of Breeding a Mother Dog With Her Son?
Yes, there are. It’s the same as breeding a father dog to a daughter. This breeding makes a poorer DNA in the pup litter because of the repetition of the genetic information. The lack of genetic diversity means that the offspring will be less adaptable and prone to allergies, malformations, hereditary diseases, and a shorter lifespan.
Conclusion
Never crossbreed a father dog with its daughter. Although there are chances of having a healthy dog, the risk of ending up with a dog with serious health issues is even greater.
Inbreeding reduces the offspring’s genetic variability, their life span and makes them more prone to hereditary diseases. It would be best if you avoided this risky and cruel practice.
Featured Image Credit: Crystal Alba, Shutterstock
