breeding choc lab

Question
We have a 2 year old chocolate lab that we kept from out first litter with her mom.  Her mom had 2 litters and then she was fixed.  The dad sired both our litters and we were told it was ok to use the Dad to breed with his daughter.  Is this true or do we find another male to breed her with.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Cheryl,

Inbreeding is the breeding of close relatives not separated by more than one generation, such as brother to sister, father to daughter. This method is used to concentrate good qualities in the line but may also concentrate bad qualities. Only the most experienced breeders should be willing to attempt this method and be willing to make possible hard decisions with respect to the resulting puppies. Continual inbreeding should not be done.

Interbreeding should only been done by experienced breeders that understand and are knowledgeable of at least 5 generations of their dogs. They know of any hereditary defects, health issues (both mental and physical) and shorting comings in their lines.  Only the very best should be interbred. Interbreeding brings out whatever genetic disposition, good, bad or indifferent out. So if there is any issues like skin, eye, etc., it will be full blown in an off-spring.

If you have a choice of what dogs to breed to yours, it's defiantly best for the gene pool to use an unrelated dog.

You can read more about interbreeding dogs here:
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/vet00/vet00056.htm

Best of luck,
Patti