Rhodesian Ridgehound: Can brother and sister mate without health problems for the offspring?

Go here and read this article

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/business/28dogs....

Specifically this

But the real problem is what often arrives in the same litter: genetically defective sister and brother puppies born with missing paws or faces lacking eyes and a nose.

There have been dogs with brain disorders so severe that they spent all day running in circles, and others with bones so frail they dissolved in their bodies. Many carry hidden diseases that crop up years later, veterinarians and breeders say.

QUOTE

"Trouble is that they believe the sire is a littermate "

So in reality they have no idea who the sire is (or if it was even a Ridgeback)

Doesn't sound like a dog that I would want.

Breeding a half brother to a half sister isn't all that uncommon, but it is something that should only be attempted by experts because there is a lot to it. Breeding a full brother and sister IMHO is just asking for trouble.

It is more common to do line breeding rather than sibling breeding. It probably won't be a problem, but it's not suggested. All purebreds are inbred. When you do this you further limit the genetic material and raise the risk for genetic problems. That doesn't necessarily mean you will have a problem, but the risk is greater with this type of sibling breeding. I wouldn't do it.

But there is no such thing as the ten commandments for dogs, so it isn't inherently wrong to do either. I just wouldn't.

It's a known fact that health issue's can arise but there is no guarantee that there will be. If you have insurance on the dog then I'm sure it would be fine. These are expensive dogs to buy so maybe getting a free one is worth the risk. I would however say that you should not breed this dog again as you could seriously affect the breed standard.

The breed is called a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Though back-crossing to relatives is occasionally done in dog breeding, it is usually not a direct sibling and it is done for very intentional reasons to improve the breed in some way. This sounds like it was an accidental breeding. I'd skip it.

I have heard father daughter is OK but not brother sister. Also have heart son mother is OK but not brother sister. It is always better to avoid any inbreeding if possible which would make sense. You will always be wondering. If you plan to neuter the dog and it has a great personality and is built OK then I figure you would have a good pet just with higher chance of defects.

Assuming that the two littermates are out of an "outcross" breeding, a breeding between a brother and sister should not be a problem. While not the ideal, there shouldn't be any real issues related to health problems provided the two dogs have their health clearances as well as their parents.

In the first place, it's Rhodesian Ridgeback, not Ridgehound. The dog was developed in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Are you sure you want one? They can be very agressive. In Africa they're used to hunt, and fight, lions.

Brother and sister mating is not that big of a problem. Parents mating offspring can cause problems...........Same with people.

Ridgehound

Only If I am rich enough to take care of them otherwise I won't make my life difficult and someone else ! _ Well, to provide them good health care, a good living for her, and a living for myself.