Dog pedigree chart

About this dog pedigree chart

A dog pedigree chart uses symbols to track detailed information about a dog's ancestry. The basic symbols use circles for females and squares for males. Shaded symbols show dogs affected by a particular genetic trait, while half-shaded symbols represent carriers who do not exhibit the trait but can pass it on to their offspring.

A diagonal line through a symbol shows that the dog is dead. A double horizontal line between a male and female shows a consanguineous or close-relative mating. If a small dot appears inside a square or circle, it signifies that the dog is neutered or spayed.

Vertical lines connecting parent dogs to their offspring branch out horizontally to show litter mates, with triangles or diamonds used to indicate multiple offspring in one litter without detailing each individual. A dashed line connecting a circle and square shows an informal mating, meaning the dogs bred without a formal record.

If the offspring are marked with a “P,” it stands for "provisional," indicating that their pedigree or breed registration is not yet fully confirmed. An asterisk (*) next to a dog's name highlights an exceptional pedigree, such as a champion title.

Small triangles are placed on the corners of squares or circles to show dogs that were imported from a different country. A slashed line through a connecting line represents a mating that resulted in no offspring.