07/31/2026
My friend is so great with words. So true for any breed but especially bullies. Northern Diamond Bullies helps me understand the geeky side a lil more all the time. I appreciate her knowledge and help so much.
Genetic Diversity vs. Eliminating Disease: The Balance Responsible Breeders Must Find
One of the biggest debates in dog breeding today is what to do when a dog carries a genetic disease. The easy answer seems to be: "Remove that dog from breeding." After all, nobody wants to produce puppies with health problems. But genetics is not always that simple.
Many genetic diseases are carried by dogs that are completely healthy. These dogs are called carriers. They do not have the disease, but they can pass the gene to their puppies. If breeders remove every carrier from a breeding program, they may also remove some of the best qualities a dog can contribute, such as excellent temperament, structure, working ability, health, and longevity.
The problem is that a breed needs genetic diversity to stay healthy. When too many dogs are removed from the gene pool, the remaining dogs become more closely related. Over time, this can increase the risk of other health problems because harmful genes have fewer places to hide.
Responsible breeders do not ignore genetic diseases. They use knowledge and planning. In some cases, a healthy carrier can be responsibly bred to a clear partner, with proper testing and careful decisions made about future breeding. What is irresponsible is breeding without testing, hiding results, or knowingly creating affected puppies.
The goal is not to create a breed with the fewest number of dogs. The goal is to create a healthier breed with strong genetics for future generations.
Good breeding is not about eliminating every imperfect dog. It is about understanding genetics, making educated decisions, and balancing health, temperament, structure, and function.
A responsible breeder does not ask only, "Does this dog carry a bad gene?" They ask, "Does this dog improve the breed, and can I make a responsible pairing that reduces risk while preserving the qualities that make this dog valuable?"
The future of any breed depends on breeders who look beyond the next litter and think about the generations that come after it.