There is NO reason to think that there would be genetic suicide...in fact..look at the issues many breeds deal with and you will conclude that working from a small, refined gene pool is more of a loaded gun than anything resembling hybrid vigor --> Look at the Sharpei and Akita during WWII. There were so few left, that that actually added GSD to t he Akita suring WWII (That is where the Japanese say the mask came from), and there were only 62 Sharpei left at one point You don't have to look to dogs. The AMish has an alarming number of NEW GENETIC diseases of neurological and skeletal that are killing their children and a lot of research is going into it. A GSD is A GSD, whether it is white, black, pink or pinto. You just don't breed dogs with disqualifying faults And more importantly, to ME, IMNSHO, you don't breed animals with know genetic diseases - epilepsy, certain torsions, etc. I leave out Hip and elbow dysplasia because NOBODY knows how it happens ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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. 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@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================