A pedigree is a written record delivered by an official organization devoted to purebred dogs.
In addition to ancestors' mere identification, a pedigree may give further information about awards, qualities or titles acquired during the ancestors' "career." This information is not sufficient to judge an individual, since it lacks details about its descent or "blood relatives"; however, an average genitor from a well-known family line should always be preferred to a perfect stud from an unknown origin.
Therefore, a qualified reading of a pedigree should seek the logic behind ancestors' mating and, especially, the degree of inbreeding, which reflects the rate of homozygosity and the expected qualities of an "elite" dog. By reading a pedigree, one should be able to consider the balance between esthetic and working titles among a dog's ancestry. Indeed, a breeding selection solely based on esthetic criteria might split up a breed into two "sub-breeds" with strong features.
Further information about the results of dog shows, exercises for working dogs, and recommended individuals, may be found in dog clubs or other organization devoted to purebred dogs.
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