We may not expect a good whelp from an ill dog. 
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in another language
Latin
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Mala gallina malum ovum.
A bad chicken lays a bad egg.
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Ex fructu agnoscitur arbor.
A tree is recognized by its fruit.
French
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De mauvais corbeau mauvais oeuf.
Bad crow bad egg.
German
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Von böser Kuh kommt kein gutes Kalb.
From a bad cow comes no good calf.
Czech
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Ze zlé kůže nemůže být dobrý kožich.
A bad skin can't make a good coat.
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Jaký strom, takové ovoce.
As the tree, so the fruit.
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Od špatného semene nečekej dobrého plemene.
Don't expect a good breed from a bad seed.
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Zlý pták, zlé vejce.
Bad bird, bad egg.
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Zlého stromu zlé ovoce.
Of the evil tree of the evil fruit.
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Jakovéž semeno, takovéž plemeno.
Like seed, like breed.