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Hello,
Genetics is one of my favorite topcis to teach in my college bio
classes and I often use canine examples. A large gene pool is
theoretically great but is only useful if all members are participating
in breeding. It is true that if all members of a
*species* are interbreeding recessive diseases and health issues are
much more rare. Please remember that in the case of a dog breed we
are automatically dealing with an artifically-selected subset of
the species so the gene pool is already reduced and modified.
In the case of show-quality dogs the gene pool is further
reduced. Certain individuals and lines are used much more
extensively and it's the care a breeder takes to *not* breed
dogs with defects that matters. But we all know that there are
breeders who breed dogs that have known defects because the
value of other characteristics of the dog prevail. So we have
to think about the actual gene pool that is being used - just because a
breed becomes popular and more numerous doesn't solve any
problems. This leads to the second issue, as we all know
- back-yard breeders, often well-intentioned people who are just
naive, that breed without checking for known disorders in the
breed. They usually don't know what the issues are and certainly
wouldn't pay the hundreds of dollars to have their dogs checked prior to
breeding - even if they think they are going to make lots of
money selling pups. There is no quality-checking going
on. In both cases (unethical breeder and back-yard breeder) the
appearance of recessive genetic/health problems is not being addressed
through good selection of the parents of the next generation. (Please
realize I do know that sometimes these issues arise after a dog has been
bred, sometimes extensively - but it's still the breeder's duty to make
every effort to get that genetic set out of the breeding pool.)
Speaking to the choir here, I'm sure, but really, the only way to
clear up these problems is for breeders to be responsible in their own
crosses and for breeders to be sure pet-quality puppies they
sell are spayed or neutered. Even the sale of show-quality puppies
should include some assurance that the new owners have knowledge of
possible genetic/health issues and must return to the original
breeder before breeding their dog.
Personally I see trends in breeds that don't seem to make the breed
more "popular" to the general public - such as the newer type German
Shepard that crouches in the rear end and the changes in the Irish
Setter prior to that. Somehow the breeds morph into new "trendy"
forms and I'm not sure how that occurs - I certianly don't think it's a
preference coming from the general public - except perhaps by the
overdue influence of certain breeders?
Laurie
--- On Thu, 12/10/09, Amy Bailey
<amy.bailey@myfairpoint.net> wrote:
From:
Amy Bailey <amy.bailey@myfairpoint.net>
Subject: RE: [pyrnet]
RE: Pedigree Dogs Exposed
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Date:
Thursday, December 10, 2009, 11:00 AM
Makes
sense that popular dogs will be healthier if there is a large
gene pool to start. They stated that the Cavalier is the sixth
most common dog in the UK. Could be that too few were used to
start to breed, so many are now inter-related. I
agree that irresponsible breeders are to blame, but they are
responding to a market so popularity does matter. If people were
not interested in the dogs, there would be no reason to breed more.
It may be very difficult to remedy the situation for this
breed in the UK now without importing different lines. According
to this report, serious heart and neurological issues are now common
to the breed in the UK.
Amy
From:
owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org [mailto:owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org] On
Behalf Of KEITH WEBER
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009
10:40 AM
To: Pyr-Net
Subject: [pyrnet] RE:
Pedigree Dogs Exposed
Hello,
I
do not think popularity really has anything to do with the health
of the breed. If you really think about it, the very popular breeds...
ones with millions of dogs, should be the most healthy (phyically
and genetically) as there will be a large gene pool and lots of good
sires/dams to select among and pair up.
The
real problem underlying the health issues is irresponsible
breeders. The ones who are in it to produce a
product (puppies) and make money. Of course, these folks
are not breed fanciers of any sort, they choose a marketable
breed, get a male and female, and start up the assembly
line.
I am quite disgusted with these sorts of
folks... they are going to ruin lots of breeds.
Keith and Soo
Weber
http://www.sdk-weber.com
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