Heterosis or hybrid vigour is the opposite of inbreeding depression. Inbreeding
depression often occurs naturally when out breeding animals or plants are inbred. This
can be recognised by loss of overall fitness, lowering or loss of fertility and reduced
competitiveness.
In the past there have been some very famous hybrid bull & terriers such as the famous
badger field trials dogs Kilwilkie lad (Stafford male) * (English bull terrier bitch), and the
famous pit dog Stormer (English bull terrier bitch * “pit bull terrier” dog). No doubt an
important reason for the success of the former in badger trials and the latter in the pit was
due to their hybrid vigour. Hybrid vigour leads to dogs that are nearly always stronger
and more athletic than the parents (humans are no exception to this rule). It is often
thought that crosses between different breeds such as an English bull terrier and a
Staffordshire bull terrier is required for hybrid vigour. However dogs of the same breed
but of very different bloodlines i.e. American pit bull terriers crossed with other
American pit bull terriers; can also express varying degrees of hybrid vigour. In the
shadowy world of dog fighting and **** fighting these dogs are known as battle crosses.
A battle cross is a cross of different lines, or in extreme cases even different breeds for
use in battle (here meaning the pit or badger trials). Hybrids are not themselves used to
produce offspring, as hybrid vigour is greatly reduced in the offspring of hybrid dogs.
Therefore a battle cross is the offspring of two successful highly inbred dogs but from
very diverging lines or different breeds.
Lurchers are a good example of hybrid dogs. “Lurcher” is the name given for any dog
crossed with a greyhound. Lurchers are generally used for the hunting of hares (although
bull-lurchers are also used for the hunting of foxes and deer). A greyhound although fast
is a very inbred animal, that is extremely suited to one thing only, (racing on a well
conditioned race track.). This can result in very weak bones (very unsuitable for the
bumpy surface or quick turning that would be required for hare coursing on an English
field). For Lurchers that are hybrids (stronger and more hardy) this is not a problem;
therefore the use of lurchers rather than greyhounds for hare coursing. Lurchers are the
perfect example of hybrid working dogs.
But why don’t hybrids always result in an improvement? The answer is simple; hybrid
vigour only results in improvement of the offspring as compared to the parents. So don’t
expect to take two low performing parents and get offspring that are superior to the best
game or working dogs already out there. (Note it is also important to keep in mind that out
crossing even within a specific breed leads to far more genetic scatter and variation, resulting in a
line that is not “tight”. This will result in a lot of “undesirable” garbage. Within that “garbage”
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depression often occurs naturally when out breeding animals or plants are inbred. This
can be recognised by loss of overall fitness, lowering or loss of fertility and reduced
competitiveness.
In the past there have been some very famous hybrid bull & terriers such as the famous
badger field trials dogs Kilwilkie lad (Stafford male) * (English bull terrier bitch), and the
famous pit dog Stormer (English bull terrier bitch * “pit bull terrier” dog). No doubt an
important reason for the success of the former in badger trials and the latter in the pit was
due to their hybrid vigour. Hybrid vigour leads to dogs that are nearly always stronger
and more athletic than the parents (humans are no exception to this rule). It is often
thought that crosses between different breeds such as an English bull terrier and a
Staffordshire bull terrier is required for hybrid vigour. However dogs of the same breed
but of very different bloodlines i.e. American pit bull terriers crossed with other
American pit bull terriers; can also express varying degrees of hybrid vigour. In the
shadowy world of dog fighting and **** fighting these dogs are known as battle crosses.
A battle cross is a cross of different lines, or in extreme cases even different breeds for
use in battle (here meaning the pit or badger trials). Hybrids are not themselves used to
produce offspring, as hybrid vigour is greatly reduced in the offspring of hybrid dogs.
Therefore a battle cross is the offspring of two successful highly inbred dogs but from
very diverging lines or different breeds.
Lurchers are a good example of hybrid dogs. “Lurcher” is the name given for any dog
crossed with a greyhound. Lurchers are generally used for the hunting of hares (although
bull-lurchers are also used for the hunting of foxes and deer). A greyhound although fast
is a very inbred animal, that is extremely suited to one thing only, (racing on a well
conditioned race track.). This can result in very weak bones (very unsuitable for the
bumpy surface or quick turning that would be required for hare coursing on an English
field). For Lurchers that are hybrids (stronger and more hardy) this is not a problem;
therefore the use of lurchers rather than greyhounds for hare coursing. Lurchers are the
perfect example of hybrid working dogs.
But why don’t hybrids always result in an improvement? The answer is simple; hybrid
vigour only results in improvement of the offspring as compared to the parents. So don’t
expect to take two low performing parents and get offspring that are superior to the best
game or working dogs already out there. (Note it is also important to keep in mind that out
crossing even within a specific breed leads to far more genetic scatter and variation, resulting in a
line that is not “tight”. This will result in a lot of “undesirable” garbage. Within that “garbage”
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