Is it normal if a sister and brother dogs mate?

Question

it seems a bit odd to me but they are just dogs and dont know the difference

Answer 1

It's normal, but not recommended, because breeding siblings can cause complications.

Answer 2

Yes, it can happen but it is very bad if it does and here is why:

Although you are asking specifically about dogs, the answer to your question applies to almost all living species! It is also a very complicated question and to answer it properly would require you to have a college degree in genetics!!! So, I will try and simplify this as best as I can...

Genetic diversity is favored in the natural world. Every animal
carries 2 copies of its genetic code in the form of DNA. The way the coding system is designed, an animal can have an disease or disability built in on either copy of the DNA. An animal will not show signs of most diseases and disabilities unless both copies of their genetic code carry the disease/disability. In other words, an animal can carry on one copy of its a disease/disability and not show it.

When animals mate, the offspring obtains one copy of its genetic code from its mother and one from its father. The less related the parents are, the less likely they would both carry matching copies of a disease/disability, the less likely an offspring will inherit the disease/disability, and the less likely the offspring will even be a carrier of the isease/disability. And the more related the parents are, the more likely the offspring will carry or obtain the disease/disability.

Here's a really simplified picture of what I am trying to explain...
A mother dog has the following genetic code: A, X where A is a strand of DNA which does not code for a specific disease/disability and X is a strand of DNA which does. Her offspring will inherit either strand A or strand X. In order for the offspring to be a carrier, they have to carry strand X. In order for the offspring to obtain the disease/disability, they have to carry to copies of strand X.

Let's say she mates with an unrelated male which does not carry the disease/disability, and we'll call his strands of DNA strand R and strand S. Their offspring could inherit any of the following combinations: AR, AS, XR, XS. That is, there is a 50% chance her offspring will be a carrier, but NONE of her offspring will come down with the disease/disability.

Let's say she mates with a related male which is also a carrier of the diesase/disability, and we'll call his strands of DNA strand B and strand X (where, again, X carries the disease/disability). Their offspring could inherit the following combinations: AB, AX, XB, XX. That is, there is a 75% chance their offspring will be carriers with the disease/disability, and a 25% chance their offspring will contract the disease/disability.

Let's say she mates with a related male who has the disease, so he carries 2 copies of strand X. Their offspring could inherit the following combinations: AX, XX, XX, XX. And now ALL of their offspring will be carriers, and there is a 75% chance the offspring will inherit the disease/disability!

This is what happens with inbreeding. AND the more inbreeding you have, the more it perpetuates the disability/disease! Unfortunately there is tons of this that goes on in the dog breeding world, and that is a lot of what keeps veterinarians in business! On the bright side, there are many breeders who are working to increase diversity in their animals and hopefully elimate the diseases/disabilities those breeds are known for!

They should just be spayed and neutered.
Sloane

Answer 3

Dogs don't understand the concept of genetics. Out in the wild, they know not to mate with their brothers\sisters, but domestic dogs are less intelligent and sometimes do it. If the female gets pregnant, the puppies might be messed up, but it's not really a big deal. You should probably get one of them spayed or neutered though.

Answer 4

"Normal"? Dogs are dogs. They have no idea about brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, moms, dads. And for those who posted that inbreeding will get you "messed up" puppies: flash news bulletin - that's not true. While not desirable, it IS done. Breeders will do brother/sister, father/daughter, mother/son breedings when trying to fix a particular trait in a line. Inbreeding like line breeding will double up on the good AND the bad traits in the genes of the two particular dogs. Grandfather/granddaughter breedings in dogs are considered to be one of the best to imprint desirable traits. Outcrossing and line breeding are the two generally accepted "types" of breeding practices among responsible breeders who are working to improve breeds. Generally once you've done five line breedings it's wise to outcross one breeding. As a 20+ year breeder of standard American Eskimos I can tell you I've done both. I've even done half-brother to half-sister breedings. Frankly I've had more health problems from outcrosses than from line breedings.

Answer 5

Not normal, and not a good idea. They aren't just dogs that don't know the difference. I have a male who acts like his mother isn't in season, but is surely interested in the other girls when they come in. I had a male who wouldn't even think of breeding his sister, just plain acted like she wasn't in heat at all.. They do know the difference.

Answer 6

A female dog usually will breed with any dog ,brother or not,it's not a good idea,because a inbred dog turns out usually DUMB.

Answer 7

you were certainly right about it being odd. It is normal but you need to stop it if they aren't fixed then it can cause horrible Miss-breeding and that is not good. but if they are fixed then one of them is probably just trying to be dominant and that is normal.

Answer 8

no,if they do the pups will get some extra toes.
trust me i had a dog who came from her parents that were sister and brother and she had 4 extra toes on her left paw.

Answer 9

Yeah it's normal they're dogs!! They dont exactly know their family trees

Answer 10

Sure it is! Thats why woman call men dogs, they'll sleep with anything!