Thread: Llewellin Setter breed

Originally Posted by Hales Smut

The only man who I know of, that was very succesfull with linebreeding was Robert Whele of Elhew fame.

As you mentioned earlier, Dr. Gubertis' best dogs were the result of outcrosses, but if you look closely so where Mr. Wheles, notably through Guard Rail. For the outcrossing pundits on here ( not aimed at you Hales), we must remember this isn't merely complete outcrossing, but the outcrossing of one inbred strain to another. I feel people get too severe with the whole 'pure strain' idea, and perhaps a more gradual model such as Anders Wassbergs' in Sweden with his kennel of 'Black Lucky' pointers is the way to go.

Most , just like my friend, ended with dogs wich where completely outdated and unable to compete with other breeders dogs.

Interesting, as that seems to be the general concensus of Advies pointers, also bred under a 'closed pedigree'. Great game finders but lacking the pace and range of todays kennels. As a side note, there are a few guys putting current trials blood to the Advie blood with good results.

The 'Red Queen theory' is a an oldie but a goodie, thrashed to death by evolutionary biologists. But it does raise a very good question in this situation, and that is, why do people, particularly Americans, want to stick to breeding a strain of dogs under a name of a man who died nearly 90 years ago? What purpose does it serve? It certainly can't be for the improvement of a strain?

Don't get me wrong. I believe more in linebreeding, I only do an outcross when needed. The problem is that for some breeders linebreeding becomes the purpose. If it's not linebred it won't be good. I am not of that idea. Linebreeding should be there to improve the breed and not as a goal himself. Those I know put linebreeding as the only way and become kennelblind. In these blindness they use antything in the line good or bad, just because " the qualities are in the line" . They forget to cull anything what is substandard. I like to keep 50% of the dog and the dam in the line? Is this better ? Time will tell.

I should read " Snakefoot, the making of a champion" to get a better idea on Whele's work.