[PyrNet-L] BREEDING, HEALTH: An idea whose time has come?

[Kshoffman@aol.com]

Okay folks, I'd like to get some input here.  Check out the web sites listed 
below ... a couple of Scandanavian Belgian Shepherds breeders who in my 
opinion are laying the framework for where we should ALL be heading as dog 
breeders genuinely concerned about reducing the incidence of health defects 
in our breeds.

This is just so cool, and has just recently come about. One breeder put their 
health stats and information up on their web site, and another has since 
followed suit. It will be interesting to see how many more jump on the 
bandwagon (lots and lots of Belgian Shepherd breeders worldwide have web 
pages). I can't wait to see the day where this practice is routine and 
commonplace across all purebreds and all breeding cultures (okay, so dream on 
a little maybe <g>).

Please, do go to these web sites and check out their health pages and maybe 
we can have some productive discussion of this approach to public disclosure 
of health data.  I'm really curious to know what others think about this.  
Would YOU be willing to follow suit if someone in our breed started such a 
trend?

Within a year, I intend to have something similar up for both my Belgian 
Shepherds and my Great Pyrenees.  Hope others might care to join me.

Shirocky Belgians - Groenendael and Tervuerens - Norway
To go directly to health data/disclosure page:
http://home.c2i.net/shirocky/health.htm
Home Page:
http://home.c2i.net/shirocky/

Kennel Black Master's - Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael and Tervueren) - Finland
To go directly to health/data disclosure page:
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/blackmasters/newpage2.htm
Home Page:
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/blackmasters/

Kelley Hoffman
kshoffman@aol.com