What is Linebreeding?

We have noticed recently Presa Canario breeders are using the term linebreeding more and more.  It's important that we take a moment to properly inform the public, and our fellow Conquistador family what this means, and more importantly, what this means to the Presa Canario breed.

Let's start here...

Linebreeding is a term commonly used to describe milder forms of inbreeding. Typically it involves arranging breedings so that one or more relatives occur more than once in a pedigree, while avoiding close inbreeding, inbreeding meaning direct relatives such as mother and son/ father and daughter/ brother and sister. 

Now, let's understand the genetic pools that might make up the Presa Canario breeding stock of any program.

The Presa Canario is considered a "rare breed" meaning there are small to moderate numbers of the breed in comparison to more widely know breeds.  With smaller numbers comes smaller genetic pools.  It could be said relatively easily, that given the history of the breed, it is common to see many linebreed pedigrees.  One might only have to venture one generation past the typical fourth to see these occurrences, but it is somewhat a surety that 20-30 generations will show linebreeding.  For this same purpose in any breed, we can also positively say that all purebreed dogs contain some linebreeding, some where in their lines.

Linebreeding and inbreeding have the same effects on the breed, to either solidify or eliminate certain traits in the dog.  These traits can be both positive and negative.  

Because of the smaller genetic pool available for the Presa Canario, it is very important to understand completely the level of linebreeding, or coefficient,  of any dog selected.  Even more important than this is what reasoning your breeder might have for selecting each linebreeding.  

To the breeders...

We caution all those interested in linebreeding the Presa Canario, but also except the benefits of doing so correctly.  Be sure to weigh your positive traits and negative traits very heavily and be prepared to eliminate the negative with extreme prejudice.  Don't relay on simple coefficients to do the job of good breed research. Pictures do not show things such as temperament, gait, teeth, eye and ear functionality, ect. Call the breeder or owner on record on the reoccurring dog, see the dogs in person if possible.

To the buyers...

Don't let the term scare you from a wonderfully breed dog, but be sure to understand what traits your breeder is trying to solidify and what are inherently negative - THE WILL ALWAYS BE A NEGATIVE.  Ask your breeder for the dogs coefficient, and also question them as to why they are linebreeding.  You may find that some breeders are doing so for convenience, or cost and access to a better stud.  Patience and research will be your best avenue to success.

How many puppies can you count? Understanding your bitch's x ray.

There is nothing here we post that we have not learned hands on, hopefully not through a mistake or failure, but sometimes yes, that is the case.

In the case of completing an x ray on your pregnant bitch, we have learned through trail and error what works best and is the most effective use of this technology.  We understand how exciting breeding your bitch has been, and the thought of waiting to confirm her pregnancy is almost unheard of, however at Conquistador K-9 we do not use early ultrasonic testing and opt to only perform third trimester x ray exams.   If you have no opinion on the matter, know that in the least an x ray will give you some piece of mind and prepare you for the impending whelping by alerting you to how many puppies you should expect and also if there are any visible complications with puppy placement.

55 days pregnant

Here you can visibly see the puppies spine and cranium outlines, we count 8 puppies here and notice no placement that seems concerning.  We can determine more closely her due date based on the formation of the skeletal outlines of the puppies.

Radiographic imaging of the abdomen is most accurate for determining pregnancy during the last trimester (43 to 63 days after ovulation). After 42 days, the fetal skulls and spines are visible on radiographs. As pregnancy advances, the bones of the front legs become visible, followed by the bones of the rear legs, the pelvis and the ribs. Finally, the fetal teeth become visible around 56 to 61 days after ovulation.

Prior to 40 days, the enlarging uterus may be visible on radiographs, but it may appear very much like the surrounding intestines. The contents of the pregnant uterus may be difficult to distinguish from an abnormal non-pregnant uterus before fetal skeletons develop. The physical and medical condition of the bitch will help to identify a diseased or a healthy pregnant uterus.

As the pregnancy nears its end, the number of fetuses can be determined radiographically by counting fetal skulls. 

Canine Prenatal Stimulation

Studies have shown that when a pregnant animal is petted, the litter is more docile.  The petting activates the parasympathetic system, facilitating relaxation, emotional attachment and socialization.  Puppies from a petted mother have a greater tolerance to handling than puppies from a mother that is not petted. 

There is also an array of other relaxation therapies such as soothing music, aromatherapy, massage, TTouch and other therapies to provide the best pre-natal environment to doggie mothers!

Here you will find a link http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/3/207.full to an Oxford Journal examining the effects of prenatal and postnatal effects of exposure to certain stimuli; here food.  It is proven that the stimuli has the most long lasting effects on neonatal development if introduced prenatally and postnatal. 

It is important to note that we are actively involved in not only early developmental stimuli, starting at 3 days old in our Conquistador K-9 puppies, but also prenatal stimuli.  We feel that this is the "recipe" to setting our puppies on the correct and most promising path and are devoted to continuing to expand our understanding of canine behaviors and physiology.