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How to Read a Dog Pedigree Chart
A pedigree chart is read left to right, with the dog itself on the far left and its ancestors branching out to the right. Each generation doubles the number of ancestors: 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great-great-grandparents.
The Structure of a Pedigree
Column 1: The Dog
The subject of the pedigree. Their registered name, registration number, date of birth, and sometimes health test results and titles.
Column 2: Parents (Generation 1)
The sire (father) on top, the dam (mother) on the bottom. Two animals. These are the most important -- their combined genetics represent 50% of your dog.
Column 3: Grandparents (Generation 2)
Four animals -- the sire's parents and the dam's parents. Each contributes approximately 25% of your dog's genetics.
Columns 4 and 5: Great and Great-Great-Grandparents
8 and 16 animals respectively. Health test results and titles become less critical here but foundation bloodline identity becomes important for breed history.
What to Look For in an American Bulldog Pedigree
- OFA hip/elbow scores on both parents
- NCL and Ichthyosis DNA test results (Clear, Carrier, or Affected)
- Titles (working, conformation, or sport) showing the dogs were evaluated
- No same dog appearing on both sides at close generations (watch COI)
- ABRA registration numbers (verifiable at pedigreedatabase.ca)
Search American Bulldog Pedigrees
The American Bulldog Archive contains over 42,000 records with pedigrees, photos, and health data. Free to search.
Search NowFrequently Asked Questions
How many generations does a standard dog pedigree show?
Most dog pedigrees show 3-5 generations. A 3-generation pedigree shows parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents (14 ancestors). A 5-generation pedigree shows 62 ancestors. The American Bulldog Archive can display pedigrees up to 10+ generations for some bloodlines.
What does it mean when the same dog appears twice in a pedigree?
When the same ancestor appears on both the sire (father) side and dam (mother) side of a pedigree, this is called inbreeding or line breeding depending on degree. It means the dog inherits copies of that ancestor's genes from both parents. The COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) measures this mathematically.
What are the different colors in a pedigree chart?
Color coding varies by database, but commonly: blue for males, red/pink for females, gold or yellow for titled or tested dogs. At pedigreedatabase.ca, icons indicate health test results and registry status.
What does OFA or health test notation in a pedigree mean?
Notations like "OFA Good" or "OFA Excellent" in a pedigree record indicate that the dog was evaluated by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hip and elbow health. This is one of the most important things to look for in a pedigree -- parents with documented health testing.
How do I read a pedigree to find out a dog's type (Scott vs Johnson)?
In American Bulldogs, the founding bloodlines appear in most pedigrees. Look for names like "Johnson's Incredible Mean Machine," "Scott's Mac the Masher," or their progeny in the upper generations. Pedigreedatabase.ca annotates many historic foundation dogs.
American Bulldog Pedigree Archive
42,000+ records. Free to search. The most complete American Bulldog lineage resource available.
