diff --git a/client/src/pages/PairingSimulator.jsx b/client/src/pages/PairingSimulator.jsx
index 047f708..1dc8236 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/PairingSimulator.jsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/PairingSimulator.jsx
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ export default function PairingSimulator() {
   const [relationChecking, setRelationChecking] = useState(false)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/dogs')
+    // include_external=1 ensures external sires/dams appear for pairing
+    fetch('/api/dogs?include_external=1')
       .then(r => r.json())
       .then(data => {
         setDogs(Array.isArray(data) ? data : (data.dogs || []))
@@ -54,9 +55,6 @@ export default function PairingSimulator() {
     checkRelation(sireId, val)
   }
 
-  const males   = dogs.filter(d => d.sex === 'male')
-  const females = dogs.filter(d => d.sex === 'female')
-
   async function handleSimulate(e) {
     e.preventDefault()
     if (!sireId || !damId) return
@@ -64,16 +62,14 @@ export default function PairingSimulator() {
     setError(null)
     setResult(null)
     try {
-      const res = await fetch('/api/pedigree/trial-pairing', {
+      const res = await fetch('/api/pedigree/coi', {
         method: 'POST',
         headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-        body: JSON.stringify({ sire_id: parseInt(sireId), dam_id: parseInt(damId) })
+        body: JSON.stringify({ sire_id: parseInt(sireId), dam_id: parseInt(damId) }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) {
-        const err = await res.json()
-        throw new Error(err.error || 'Failed to calculate')
-      }
-      setResult(await res.json())
+      const data = await res.json()
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(data.error || 'Simulation failed')
+      setResult(data)
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err.message)
     } finally {
@@ -81,204 +77,164 @@ export default function PairingSimulator() {
     }
   }
 
-  function RiskBadge({ coi, recommendation }) {
-    const isLow  = coi < 5
-    const isMed  = coi >= 5 && coi < 10
-    const isHigh = coi >= 10
-    return (
-      <div className={`risk-badge risk-${isLow ? 'low' : isMed ? 'med' : 'high'}`}>
-        {isLow  && <CheckCircle size={20} />}
-        {isMed  && <AlertTriangle size={20} />}
-        {isHigh && <XCircle size={20} />}
-        <span>{recommendation}</span>
-      </div>
-    )
+  const males   = dogs.filter(d => d.sex === 'male')
+  const females = dogs.filter(d => d.sex === 'female')
+
+  const coiColor = (coi) => {
+    if (coi < 0.0625) return 'var(--success)'
+    if (coi < 0.125)  return 'var(--warning)'
+    return 'var(--danger)'
+  }
+
+  const coiLabel = (coi) => {
+    if (coi < 0.0625) return 'Low'
+    if (coi < 0.125)  return 'Moderate'
+    if (coi < 0.25)   return 'High'
+    return 'Very High'
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="container" style={{ paddingTop: '2rem', paddingBottom: '3rem' }}>
-      {/* Header */}
-      <div style={{ marginBottom: '2rem' }}>
-        <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.75rem', marginBottom: '0.5rem' }}>
-          <div style={{ width: '2.5rem', height: '2.5rem', borderRadius: 'var(--radius)', background: 'rgba(139,92,246,0.2)', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', color: 'var(--accent)' }}>
-            <FlaskConical size={20} />
-          </div>
-          <h1 style={{ fontSize: '1.75rem', margin: 0 }}>Trial Pairing Simulator</h1>
-        </div>
-        <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', margin: 0 }}>
-          Select a sire and dam to calculate the estimated inbreeding coefficient (COI) and view common ancestors.
-        </p>
+    <div className="container" style={{ paddingTop: '2rem', paddingBottom: '3rem', maxWidth: '720px' }}>
+      <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.75rem', marginBottom: '0.5rem' }}>
+        <FlaskConical size={28} style={{ color: 'var(--primary)' }} />
+        <h1 style={{ margin: 0 }}>Pairing Simulator</h1>
       </div>
+      <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', marginBottom: '2rem' }}>
+        Estimate the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) for a hypothetical pairing before breeding.
+        Includes both kennel and external dogs.
+      </p>
 
-      {/* Selector Card */}
-      <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: '1.5rem', maxWidth: '720px' }}>
+      <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: '1.5rem' }}>
         <form onSubmit={handleSimulate}>
-          <div className="form-grid" style={{ marginBottom: '1.25rem' }}>
-            <div className="form-group" style={{ margin: 0 }}>
-              <label className="label">Sire (Male) ♂</label>
-              <select
-                value={sireId}
-                onChange={handleSireChange}
-                required
-                disabled={dogsLoading}
-              >
-                <option value="">— Select Sire —</option>
-                {males.map(d => (
-                  <option key={d.id} value={d.id}>
-                    {d.name}{d.breed ? ` · ${d.breed}` : ''}
-                  </option>
-                ))}
-              </select>
-              {!dogsLoading && males.length === 0 && (
-                <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontSize: '0.8rem', marginTop: '0.4rem' }}>No male dogs registered.</p>
+          <div className="form-grid" style={{ marginBottom: '1rem' }}>
+            <div className="form-group">
+              <label className="label">Sire (Male) *</label>
+              {dogsLoading ? (
+                <div className="input" style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)' }}>Loading dogs...</div>
+              ) : (
+                <select className="input" value={sireId} onChange={handleSireChange} required>
+                  <option value="">Select sire...</option>
+                  {males.map(d => (
+                    <option key={d.id} value={d.id}>
+                      {d.name}{d.is_champion ? ' ✪' : ''}{d.is_external ? ' [Ext]' : ''}
+                    </option>
+                  ))}
+                </select>
               )}
             </div>
 
-            <div className="form-group" style={{ margin: 0 }}>
-              <label className="label">Dam (Female) ♀</label>
-              <select
-                value={damId}
-                onChange={handleDamChange}
-                required
-                disabled={dogsLoading}
-              >
-                <option value="">— Select Dam —</option>
-                {females.map(d => (
-                  <option key={d.id} value={d.id}>
-                    {d.name}{d.breed ? ` · ${d.breed}` : ''}
-                  </option>
-                ))}
-              </select>
-              {!dogsLoading && females.length === 0 && (
-                <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontSize: '0.8rem', marginTop: '0.4rem' }}>No female dogs registered.</p>
+            <div className="form-group">
+              <label className="label">Dam (Female) *</label>
+              {dogsLoading ? (
+                <div className="input" style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)' }}>Loading dogs...</div>
+              ) : (
+                <select className="input" value={damId} onChange={handleDamChange} required>
+                  <option value="">Select dam...</option>
+                  {females.map(d => (
+                    <option key={d.id} value={d.id}>
+                      {d.name}{d.is_champion ? ' ✪' : ''}{d.is_external ? ' [Ext]' : ''}
+                    </option>
+                  ))}
+                </select>
               )}
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Direct-relation warning banner */}
           {relationChecking && (
-            <p style={{ fontSize: '0.8125rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', marginBottom: '1rem' }}>Checking relationship…</p>
+            <div style={{ fontSize: '0.85rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', marginBottom: '0.75rem' }}>
+              Checking relationship...
+            </div>
           )}
-          {!relationChecking && relationWarning && (
+
+          {relationWarning && !relationChecking && (
             <div style={{
-              display: 'flex', alignItems: 'flex-start', gap: '0.6rem',
-              background: 'rgba(234,179,8,0.12)', border: '1px solid rgba(234,179,8,0.4)',
-              borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)', padding: '0.75rem 1rem', marginBottom: '1rem'
+              display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem',
+              padding: '0.6rem 1rem', marginBottom: '0.75rem',
+              background: 'rgba(239,68,68,0.08)', border: '1px solid rgba(239,68,68,0.3)',
+              borderRadius: 'var(--radius)', fontSize: '0.875rem', color: 'var(--danger)',
             }}>
-              <ShieldAlert size={18} style={{ color: '#eab308', flexShrink: 0, marginTop: '0.1rem' }} />
-              <div>
-                <p style={{ margin: 0, fontWeight: 600, color: '#eab308', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>Direct Relation Detected</p>
-                <p style={{ margin: '0.2rem 0 0', fontSize: '0.8125rem', color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }}>
-                  {relationWarning}. COI will reflect the high inbreeding coefficient for this pairing.
-                </p>
-              </div>
+              <ShieldAlert size={16} />
+              <strong>Related:</strong>&nbsp;{relationWarning}
             </div>
           )}
 
           <button
             type="submit"
             className="btn btn-primary"
-            disabled={!sireId || !damId || loading || relationChecking}
-            style={{ minWidth: '160px' }}
+            disabled={loading || dogsLoading || !sireId || !damId}
+            style={{ width: '100%' }}
           >
-            {loading ? 'Calculating…' : <><FlaskConical size={16} /> Simulate Pairing</>}
+            {loading ? 'Simulating...' : <><GitMerge size={16} style={{ marginRight: '0.4rem' }} />Simulate Pairing</>}
           </button>
         </form>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Error */}
-      {error && <div className="error" style={{ maxWidth: '720px' }}>{error}</div>}
+      {error && (
+        <div className="card" style={{ borderColor: 'var(--danger)', marginBottom: '1.5rem' }}>
+          <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', color: 'var(--danger)' }}>
+            <XCircle size={18} />
+            <strong>Error:</strong> {error}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
 
-      {/* Results */}
       {result && (
-        <div style={{ maxWidth: '720px' }}>
-          {/* Direct-relation alert in results */}
-          {result.directRelation && (
-            <div style={{
-              display: 'flex', alignItems: 'flex-start', gap: '0.6rem',
-              background: 'rgba(239,68,68,0.1)', border: '1px solid rgba(239,68,68,0.35)',
-              borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)', padding: '0.75rem 1rem', marginBottom: '1.25rem'
-            }}>
-              <ShieldAlert size={18} style={{ color: 'var(--danger)', flexShrink: 0, marginTop: '0.1rem' }} />
-              <div>
-                <p style={{ margin: 0, fontWeight: 600, color: 'var(--danger)', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>Direct Relation — High Inbreeding Risk</p>
-                <p style={{ margin: '0.2rem 0 0', fontSize: '0.8125rem', color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }}>{result.directRelation}</p>
+        <div className="card">
+          <h2 style={{ fontSize: '1rem', marginBottom: '1.25rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em' }}>
+            Simulation Result
+          </h2>
+
+          <div style={{
+            display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '1rem',
+            padding: '1.25rem', marginBottom: '1rem',
+            background: 'var(--bg-primary)', borderRadius: 'var(--radius)',
+            border: `2px solid ${coiColor(result.coi)}`,
+          }}>
+            {result.coi < 0.0625
+              ? <CheckCircle size={32} style={{ color: coiColor(result.coi), flexShrink: 0 }} />
+              : <AlertTriangle size={32} style={{ color: coiColor(result.coi), flexShrink: 0 }} />
+            }
+            <div>
+              <div style={{ fontSize: '2rem', fontWeight: 700, color: coiColor(result.coi), lineHeight: 1 }}>
+                {(result.coi * 100).toFixed(2)}%
+              </div>
+              <div style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>
+                COI &mdash; <strong style={{ color: coiColor(result.coi) }}>{coiLabel(result.coi)}</strong>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {result.common_ancestors && result.common_ancestors.length > 0 && (
+            <div>
+              <h3 style={{ fontSize: '0.875rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em', marginBottom: '0.5rem' }}>
+                Common Ancestors ({result.common_ancestors.length})
+              </h3>
+              <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexWrap: 'wrap', gap: '0.4rem' }}>
+                {result.common_ancestors.map((a, i) => (
+                  <span key={i} style={{
+                    padding: '0.2rem 0.6rem',
+                    background: 'var(--bg-tertiary)',
+                    borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)',
+                    fontSize: '0.8rem',
+                    border: '1px solid var(--border)',
+                  }}>{a}</span>
+                ))}
               </div>
             </div>
           )}
 
-          {/* COI Summary */}
-          <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: '1.25rem' }}>
-            <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'flex-start', flexWrap: 'wrap', gap: '1rem' }}>
-              <div>
-                <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontSize: '0.8125rem', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em', fontWeight: 500, marginBottom: '0.25rem' }}>Pairing</p>
-                <p style={{ fontSize: '1.125rem', fontWeight: 600, margin: 0 }}>
-                  <span style={{ color: '#60a5fa' }}>{result.sire.name}</span>
-                  <span style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', margin: '0 0.5rem' }}>×</span>
-                  <span style={{ color: '#f472b6' }}>{result.dam.name}</span>
-                </p>
-              </div>
-              <div style={{ textAlign: 'right' }}>
-                <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontSize: '0.8125rem', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em', fontWeight: 500, marginBottom: '0.25rem' }}>COI</p>
-                <p style={{
-                  fontSize: '2rem', fontWeight: 700, lineHeight: 1,
-                  color: result.coi < 5 ? 'var(--success)' : result.coi < 10 ? 'var(--warning)' : 'var(--danger)'
-                }}>
-                  {result.coi.toFixed(2)}%
-                </p>
-              </div>
+          {result.recommendation && (
+            <div style={{
+              marginTop: '1rem', padding: '0.75rem 1rem',
+              background: result.coi < 0.0625 ? 'rgba(34,197,94,0.08)' : 'rgba(239,68,68,0.08)',
+              borderRadius: 'var(--radius)',
+              border: `1px solid ${result.coi < 0.0625 ? 'rgba(34,197,94,0.3)' : 'rgba(239,68,68,0.3)'}`,
+              fontSize: '0.875rem',
+              color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+            }}>
+              {result.recommendation}
             </div>
-
-            <div style={{ marginTop: '1.25rem' }}>
-              <RiskBadge coi={result.coi} recommendation={result.recommendation} />
-            </div>
-
-            <div style={{ marginTop: '1rem', padding: '0.75rem', background: 'var(--bg-tertiary)', borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)', fontSize: '0.8125rem', color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }}>
-              <strong>COI Guide:</strong> &lt;5% Low risk · 5–10% Moderate risk · &gt;10% High risk
-            </div>
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Common Ancestors */}
-          <div className="card">
-            <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', marginBottom: '1rem' }}>
-              <GitMerge size={18} style={{ color: 'var(--accent)' }} />
-              <h3 style={{ margin: 0, fontSize: '1rem' }}>Common Ancestors</h3>
-              <span className="badge badge-primary" style={{ marginLeft: 'auto' }}>
-                {result.commonAncestors.length} found
-              </span>
-            </div>
-
-            {result.commonAncestors.length === 0 ? (
-              <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', textAlign: 'center', padding: '1.5rem 0', margin: 0 }}>
-                No common ancestors found within 6 generations. This pairing has excellent genetic diversity.
-              </p>
-            ) : (
-              <div style={{ overflowX: 'auto' }}>
-                <table style={{ width: '100%', borderCollapse: 'collapse', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>
-                  <thead>
-                    <tr style={{ borderBottom: '1px solid var(--border)' }}>
-                      <th style={{ textAlign: 'left', padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontWeight: 500, fontSize: '0.75rem', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em' }}>Ancestor</th>
-                      <th style={{ textAlign: 'center', padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontWeight: 500, fontSize: '0.75rem', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em' }}>Sire Gen</th>
-                      <th style={{ textAlign: 'center', padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', color: 'var(--text-muted)', fontWeight: 500, fontSize: '0.75rem', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.05em' }}>Dam Gen</th>
-                    </tr>
-                  </thead>
-                  <tbody>
-                    {result.commonAncestors.map((anc, i) => (
-                      <tr key={i} style={{ borderBottom: '1px solid var(--border)' }}>
-                        <td style={{ padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', fontWeight: 500 }}>{anc.name}</td>
-                        <td style={{ padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', textAlign: 'center' }}>
-                          <span className="badge badge-primary">Gen {anc.sireGen}</span>
-                        </td>
-                        <td style={{ padding: '0.625rem 0.75rem', textAlign: 'center' }}>
-                          <span className="badge" style={{ background: 'rgba(244,114,182,0.15)', color: '#f472b6' }}>Gen {anc.damGen}</span>
-                        </td>
-                      </tr>
-                    ))}
-                  </tbody>
-                </table>
-              </div>
-            )}
-          </div>
+          )}
         </div>
       )}
     </div>