In a message dated 12/15/11 7:33:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, tanksr@xxxxxxxxx writes: I think you're on the right track, Ed. Google "Inbreeding Depression" and you'll find a lot of information. While I have no objection to a larger gene pool, remember that it means less predictability in the breeding results. If you increase the gene pool for no other reason than to have more options, it is like breeding more litters to get more puppies. You should only bring additional genes into the breed, if it will improve the breed. Those who for years have successfully bred German shepherds have done so with the current gene pool selecting for breedings that will improve the subsequent litters. So far I have not seen anyone say that they can't find a male to breed to because everything is tainted. In fact the quality of our dogs improves year by year. We could open the gene pool by breeding to outcrosses all the time. That is a pattern for disaster, or at least an inability to know what you will get. You might get a dog of quality, but will that animal ever produce itself? Breeding is not an exact science, but it is something that will allow the intelligent breeder to predict with some degree of possibility what they will get from the choices. If you bring in new lines, you need the knowledge of what they have produced both good and bad. It is unfortunate but true, that no matter where you go, the only reliable information you can have is what you yourself have observed. No country has a monopoly on honesty. You do not know what is in the rest of the litter from that great male from Germany, unless you yourself were there to see those not shown. Increasing the gene pool is more of a "feel good" thing, than an actual boon to the breed. You have to understand that you get the good with the bad. Or, you may get just the bad, and that can be a real problem with our breed. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Evan Ginsburg Asgard German Shepherds http://www.asgardgsd.com/ Where Type Movement and Temperament come together ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================