Fri, 01/30/2026 - 12:06pm
Question of the Week
Which side of a pedigree is more important to you, the dam's or the sire's?
Suzanne Orban-Stagle
Hurlock, MD
When I plan a breeding I use both phenotype and genotype but for pedigree purposes the dam side is more important
I look at my girl and ask myself what does she need and then I work to find it!
To me always the dam side is more important than the sire!
You can always find good/great sires but finding that super dam line is not as easy and it is critical!
Lori Pelletier
Exeter, RI
While I feel it is really important to have a solid bitch line in a breeding program I feel both sides of the pedigree are equally important as each side will contribute to the genetics of the offspring.
Peggy Kenney
Cape Cod, MA
While BOTH sides have an influence - Mom's is of more weight - as her disposition will greatly affect the puppy.
Mark Jaeger
Mason, MI
It's fairly easy to see what a stud dog is producing. Brood bitches get a lot less exposure. We've always based our breeding program on what the girls have been producing. That has limited the amount of breeding we have done, but contributed significantly to our success in the show ring.
Janice M. Leonard
Denver, CO
I believe building a solid, full of type bitch line is crucial to creating a true line for the breed. However it is also a definite way to set in a fault, too, so be careful. I remember a lady who seemed to be blind to a fault I felt was so obvious. It is many generations later and I still see this fault carrying forward even though she has bred her bitches to various dogs who do not display this fault.
Diana Smiley
Santa Rosa, CA
In my case it seems to have always been the dam that keeps The look of my lines, I Do have one stud dog that is prepotent to put his look on whatever female I breed him To
My girls always seem To carry the line forward and I do a lot of line breeding.
Michael Morgan-Lynch
Sonoma,CA
Although both are important to me when looking at the final outcome of a litter, I do place emphasis on the dam side of the pedigree. I often look in the stud dog's pedigree to see if he comes from a line of producing bitches as well. Most of the times, these stud dogs have been my strongest and predictable producers.
Barbara Miller
Old Brookville, NY
Both sire and dam are important in any pedigree but as a breeder it’s best to have either bred a darn good bitch or buy one. A bitch can be bred to a stud dog of the breeder’s choosing as long as it compliments the bitch pedigree. I believe it’s most important to know the pedigree on both sides. I consider breeding an art as well as a science so to speak. And then there are those of us, me included, who prefer line breeding. Line breeding is a subject all its own so for now just consider the fact you have good bitch and breed to a stud dog that will enhance the bitch.
Anna Stromberg
Brooksville, FL
Both.
But one of them better be truly line or inbred.
I am known to build pedigrees that are heavily line bred on the dogs or bitches representing what I like. Then I can go out, but again, to a line bred dog.
Victoria M. Sottile
Cape May Beach, NJ
I do not think one side of a pedigree is more important than the other. Most important is that the bitch and the stud complement one another genetically and physically. I do, however, believe that thoughtful line breeding through the bitch line is advisable because in addition to contributing genetics, the bitches nurture & rear the puppies which establishes the basis of their temperaments and behaviors. By building and preserving a strong bitch line, the goal is to improve the chances of breeding consistently high quality, sound dogs.
Matt Perchick
Old Monroe, MO
This is not a simple question of one or the other. Is terms of genetics, it is 50/50. But there are less measurable factors that come into play as well. The bitches maternal influence will help form social skills and temperament starting in the whelping box. Puppies inherit 100% of their mitochondrial DNA from the dam and this directly correlates to overall general health. This is why bitches are the foundation of a successful breeding program. Sires should be chosen to complement a bitchs strengths and improve any weaknesses. But as always it takes two because a poor quality dam cannot be redeemed simply by breeding to an outstanding sire.
Angela Stein
Mount Holly, NJ
BOTH!
Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki
Green Valley, AZ
Both sides of the pedigree are important, however I absolutely believe that the dams side is more important in the long run just because it is so often neglected. Sires are often chosen because of their show records often they are also some of the top producers just because they are used so much. Always take a careful look at both show as well as produce records of the dams in the pedigrees of both potential sires as well the dams. Just to let you know wherefore I speak. I have been showing and breeding dogs very successfully since 1957. Also the breeder and exhibitor of some top Arabian Horses. Have to say that my horses pretty much financed my dog habit.
Karen Fitzpatrick
Kankakee, IL
No question for me, the dam's side. I am an avid line breeder, I do so on the dam's side of the first 3 generations. I think it's especially important when out crossing that you are sure about the female side. Rarely do we get a male that is so influential in a pedigree that you get all of his attributes. One can only hope he passes at least one great one and doesn't take you backward. Out crossing for me is simply throwing your hat in the ring and you never get consistency for the future without going back to your female lines.
Jacquelyn Fogel
Gardnerville, NV
For me the Female, and in particular the entire tail line in the female pedigree is the most important part of a pedigree. You can start an entire bloodline with a strong foundation bitch. I like to have one or two strong males with solid pedigrees on-site, but with the ability to ship semen or travel with a bitch to breed to a good dog, the male is far less important. Each female can only produce 3-4 litters, whereas males are virtually unlimited in their ability to reproduce. No question that a good producing dam is invaluable to a breeding program.
Pat Rock
Providence Forge, VA
Seriously? Your question is offensive to anyone with an even rudimentary knowledge of basic genetics. For all practical purposes each parent brings half of each pup's genes. Yes, I am aware of phenomena like the "maternal grandsire effect" (poster child for that one was the stallion Secretariat, who notably passed on the genes for his large heart only through his daughters, and scientists figured out and explained how).
Maybe epigenetics is more important than claiming it is sire or dam line. Diet, especially during gestation and growth determines what genes are turned on, and which may be suppressed.
And don't forget that traits in some breeds can be "fixed" to pass generation after generation, but for many hunting and working dogs that certainly isn't true as far as temperament in concerned, and in breeds like terriers where the ideal make and shape for work is definitely NOT the default generic (wolf-like) shape (i.e. earth-working terriers need large heads in proportion to their bodies for killing power in their jaws, good length of neck for flexibility underground (and so they can breathe and still hang onto their quarry), and short loin for stamina for covering a lot of ground during a day's hunt. No matter how many generations you breed that kind of purpose-bred dog (and caricature looking toy dogs, too) you will forever need to continue selecting for the desired make and shape.
Jay Phinizy
Acworth, NH
My father in law suggested that, absent any major faults, to use the brother of the winning dog, if the littermate was at stud. That way one avoided large stud fees. He not only raised beagles but Herefords and used to enter shows with his beagles when Foley was a pet shop in Philadelphia (located on Ranstead Street??). Elin and I always preferred taking back stud fee puppies to capture bloodlines, less work!
Iva Kimmelman
Stow, MA
Depends on who is in each side and what I know about the health of those dogs, 5 to 7 generations deep.
My own pedigrees I know well and developed a strong maternal base over time, so I trust that much, obviously.
Finding healthy sires, that produce well with different lines also takes time.
I admire people who take a chance on a unproven dog and find success. They obviously know how to research the pedigrees.
I have been surprised in the past at which bitches in my program were the great producers and which ones disappointed. If a bitch doesn't produce well after one try, I tend to move on.
Some of my best results were outcrosses from Australia and England.
Lynda Lamensdorf
Memphis, TN
BOTH!
But sometimes a dog or bitch will come along that has the proven ability to produce outstanding traits for your breed. So no hard & fast rules here, BUT the ability to pivot matters most & some common sense on this topic.
Bill Shelton
Pomona, CA
Neither is more important, than the other. Each genetically contribute to the whole.
Laura Libner
Grand Rapids, MI
The side of the pedigree that has always been most important to me has been the dams. Over the decades, what Ive noticed is that consistency in outcomes are more pronounced when you have an exceptional line bred bitch.
Rita Figg
Laurel, FL
NO QUESTION!! The dam's side is more important!!! start with a good typey, sound girl, solidify with a boy who complements her pedigree and her structure, movement and temperament!!
Patty Pace
Deltaville, VA
The bitch side for sure. 3/4 contribution from the bitch side, 1/4 from the sire's.
Laura Coomes
Ocala, FL
When I am looking for a stud dog, I always look at his sisters, if they are good, I will do more research. I believe the pedigree starts with the female, even though the male gets blamed for all the problems.
Shawn Brown
Grass Valley, CA
Which side of a pedigree is more important? Well, I come from livestock, and I know that each parent contributes 50% of the genetic material. However, there are other factors to consider. For example, the young are raised by the mother, so I believe temperament and personality traits can be more influenced by the dam. If you look at cattle genetics, there are bulls known for qualities needed in first calf heifers, such as low birth weight, but high rate of gain. Dog people would be amazed at the stats kept on bulls for all kinds of traits, and they have a high degree of success in passing those traits on. Then there are those traits that are "prepotent" to one or the other parent. We are so lucky to live in a time where a detailed genetic panel is at our fingertips for an affordable price. So, the answer for me is, what exactly am I hoping to see in my puppies? And that question changes with each generation.
I would think that because cows generally only have one "viable" calf we must assume that this would mean the Bull could be on even ground with "influence" but as he produces far more offspring than a cow these traits are much more predictive, and that's why the stats are kept on them and not cows. Most cowmen get to know their cows pretty good and know which ones need what bulls. I do know that certain traits are more (or less) inheritable from one side of a pedigree, but I don't think that qualifies as "more important" unless you are needing that trait in your line. JMHO!
Margaret P Kotin
Avon, CT
The dam's side. A strong bitch line will usually hold on to those traits you wish to keep and add in the sire's as needed. This is the same as in horses. The mare side of the pedigree is what you are basing decisions on.
Pat Wolklin
Mountainside, NJ
Dam is more important
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Fri, 01/30/2026 - 12:06pm