Balancing Genetic Diversity in the English Shepherd Breed: Perpetual Outcrossing vs. Bloodline Conservation

Black and Tan English Shepherd

The long-term health and vitality of the English Shepherd breed depend on maintaining genetic diversity and minimizing inbreeding risks. This short article compares two approaches for achieving these objectives: perpetual outcrossing with a cognitive bias towards low Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) percentages versus bloodline conservation. We discuss the pros and cons of each strategy … Read more