Purebred

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Purebreds, also called purebreeds or pedigreed, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of a species, achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred is recorded, that animal is said to be pedigreed. Therefore, although the terms are often used sysnonymously, there is a difference: all pedigreed animals are purebred, but not all purebred animals are pedigreed.

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[edit] Purebred dogs

In the hobby of dog fancy, the word 'purebred' causes controversy, largely because of unresolved differences of opinion over what constitutes a breed. Critics also point to the fact that closed registries ensure that only genetically similar dogs may be breed. Many of these organizations also permit inbreeding which may result in many of the genetic disorders found among purbred dogs such as canine hip dysplasia.

In general, there are two types of purebred: those 'recognized' by a kennel club and those of independent breed clubs.

Kennel clubs usually have strict sets of criteria for the recognition of a new or existing dog breed, normally with some period of developmental or provisional status. It cannot be assumed that the date of recognition of a breed indicates how long the breed has existed as a pure breed.

Independent purebreds are typically dogs of renown in their originating countries, usually with a long history of breeding true to type. They may remain independent due to any of the following reasons:

  • The lack of a national kennel club or low interest in dog fancy in smaller nations.
  • The dogs being so venerable that there is no reason to seek outside affiliation.
  • The desire to preserve independent control over the attributes of the breed.
  • Concern over the decline of working breeds following kennel club recognition.

Recently, proposed breed-specific legislation has threatened the existence of independent dog clubs, as the fanciers of independent breeds are forced to seek alliance with kennel clubs to preserve their dogs' purebred status.

The fanciers of newly developed breeds now almost always seek kennel club affiliation at the outset.

[edit] Breed true

In the animal breeding, to breed true means that specimens of an animal breed will breed true-to-type when mated like-to like; that is, that the progeny of any two individuals in the same breed will show consistent, replicable and predictable characteristics. A puppy from two purebred dogs of the same breed, for example, will exhibit the traits of its parents, and not the traits of all breeds in the subject breed's ancestry.

[edit] See also


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[edit] Purebred horses

Many of the same theories of dog breeding can also be applied to horses. Some horse enthusiasts will assert that the only purebred horse is the Arabian, but this is not so. Horses were and are cross bred until a desired characteristic is achieved and then that type is declared a breed or a purebred. The Arabian horse is a combination and an evolution of horse breeding through the ages and is a very refined breed which has influenced virtually every modern breed.

In simplistic terms, the Thoroughbred is a larger version of the Arabian and the Quarter Horse is a stockier version of the Thoroughbred.

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