Genetic bottlenecks and lack of genetic diversity

Yeah, I think about these things, and take them under consideration when breeding. People have suggested that I breed to the Northlight, Trinity or the other very few well known Sheltie herding lines.

Well....

No. Atleast not yet. One of the problems the breed has right now is lack of herding traits, and I'm not sure bottlenecking the working genes from a handful of kennels is the right thing to do. There aren't many of us concentrating on herding, far fewer that use the dogs daily. Count us on one hand, more than likely. I am of the opinion that taking unrelated but good working dogs from here and there, looking anywhere and everywhere for them, is the better approach. So I'm going to avoid the known working lines for know, might use them as an outcross at a later date, but geez, when there's only a handful of kennels, doesn't it make more sense to found a new one, rather than just make a spin off that really isn't any different genetically? Wouldn't people rather have more selection when thinking of a working bred pup?

Anyway, the COI on the potential Jon Jon x Whiskey litter would be 18.05% - lots of linebreeding on Whiskey's sire. They should pretty much come out looking how the guys want them to look, I'd think. COI on a Brick x Whiskey litter would be 2.82%. Stuff to ponder.

Want to read more on the popular sire problem? Fine line to walk and a hard one too, to attempt to establish consistency without losing genetic variety.