Population parameters to compare dog breeds: Differences between five Dutch purebred populations

Differences in five purebred dog populations born in 1994 in the Netherland s were evaluated using different parameters, Numerically, the Golden Retrie ver was the largest breed (840 litters of 234 sires) and the Kooiker Dog (1 01 litters of 41 sires) the smallest. The litter per sire ratio was largest in the Bernese Mountain Dog (4.59) and lowest in the Kooiker Dog (2.46). T he mean relatedness and the actual mean level of inbreeding in the studied generations were 0.102 and 0.056 respectively for the Bernese Mountain Dog, 0.041 and 0.046 for the Bouvier 0.018 for the Golden Retriever, and 0.146 and 0.070 for the Kooiker Dog. Quantification and visualization of populati on parameters for purebred dogs will facilitate the comparison of breeds an d the comparison of breeds in different periods or countries, It appears un likely that the increase in inbreeding is a major determinant of the possib le increase in the frequency of genetic diseases.