Hello all, I was looking at some Breeding Kennel websites in WIsconsin and came across one that seemed to suggest if all puppies are not cookie cutters (no mixture of colors)of the parents then the breeding was mismatched. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this and why or why not?

Thanks

Are we talking GSDs or another breed.

Bottom line is, it depends on what you are breeding for.

If it is show, then perhaps, since you are breeding for COLOR. That color is ideally red and black. Black and tan is also acceptable, but less desirable lately.

If you are breeding for ability, then color is second, third or fourth on the list. Sables, bi-colors, blacks, black and tan, and many different variations of these colors are all acceptable if the dog can perform their job.

I also wanted to add, that body type and personalities are also things that "should" be uniform. There is a lot more to it than just mismatched parents, it is more like well bred parents that are from well bred lines that compliment each other. You should see a uniformity in "type" from a single litter.

Poorly bred or bred without regard to type, being bred to the same will give you a variable litter with no understanding insight into what the pups are. It IS a sign of a breeder with out forethought, unless there is a reason for the breeding. Again, uniformity in color would be much less important than the uniformity of other traits to me...

BYB dogs are a great example, where one has a "pure bred dog!!!" but no clue why or what went into the dog (if anything) and they breed it to a friends "pure bred dog!!!" for no other reason than that. The two will create pure bred pups, but not much more.

I really don't know anything about breeding, but with two breeds I own you end up with different colors in the same litter. German Shepherds like Jessica noted and English Setters.

So in those two cases color wouldnt be what decides a good, consistant litter.

Hi Jessica, I'm talking about GSD's. I was kinda unsure what to make if that since I've seen pups of different colors from the same litters many times.

I believe they were talking about line breeding.

You'll have to wait for some experienced breeders on this subject. I know absolutely squat about it.

Again, it comes down to why the litter was bred. If it was like my example of BYB, then, IMO, bad litter with mismatched parents (from a purely "breeder" point of view, the pups could be nice pets still). If you are looking at working litters, not as big a deal.

I would not hesitate to breed a very nice sable to a very nice black. Depending on the parents genes, you may get anything out of them.

Who was the breeder?

I think the simplest answer is that they're wrong ;-) In fact, I think they are wrong on many levels. Color, aside from seeming to be very important in the show ring, should be the last of one's worries. A good dog is never a bad color.

When people talk about uniformity in a litter it is often in discussions about line breeding to produce certain traits the line carries. However I usually define uniformity in regards to structure and sometimes temperament and not color. If a breed is so focused on color that they consider a breeding a mismatch if the pups are not the same color I would run, not walk, away from that kennel.

On a side note - Steve when I get a non-herding breed it will be the English Setter. My friend breeds them and they are great dogs. Hers are bench setters but she hunts them and just put a UD on her group placing male along with agility titles so they are not idiots by any stretch of the word :-)

Lol, I know we got our's at an older age, but I'll tell you Ingrid, I never see the light bulb go on. Sweet, gentle, but Duuuuhhh!!

They are not smart like herding breeds but they do have their moments :-p I lo

Yeah, like when I move out of her way on the couch.