What asplundii and Deborah said, regarding having a goal and making your breeding decisions around it.
To that, I would add having an image in your mind of what the best examples of that goal, and the mutations you'll need to reach it, and try to keep your purchases and holdbacks as close to that image as possible. But also try not to get male-heavy with those holdbacks. That was my biggest mistake early on, letting go of girls I could have used to help further my project.