Health Testing, Responsible Breeders...
BY DR. CARMEN L. BATTAGLIA continued
“TAKING ON THE ISSUE OF GENETIC DISORDERS NEEDS TO BECOME A COMMUNITY EFFORT.”
• Bargaining: My dog sired more than 100 other dogs that are healthy. So this one doesn’t really count, right? • Depression: My breeding program or kennel is ruined. No one will breed to my animals. • And, finally, acceptance: My dog was dealt a bad genetic hand and there are ways to manage genetic disor ders, breed away from this, and work toward a healthier breed. CONCLUSION Bell reported that unless a breed can grow and expand, over time, it will have problems maintaining genetic diversity, which has serious health implications. He also suggested that breeds establish a priority of health initiatives coupled with a statistically valid breed health survey every five-ten years in order to document the number and frequency of conditions that are occurring. Sci- entific surveys work best because they are designed to eliminate sampling errors and bias that can invalidate survey results. Inherent in a good breeding pro- gram is support from the breed club and a willingness to reduce the stig- ma of disease which involves raising the level of conversation from gossip to constructive communication. Tak- ing on the issue of genetic disorders needs to become a community effort. It begins with a club’s leadership, its breeders and owners. For each disor- der there is a different level of risk and involvement. While breeds do not get to choose their problems, they must find a way to be supportive of others who are making a conscientious effort to continue breeding their animals while decreasing the risk of passing on defective genes. This requires tolerance and education, which should be given a priority. Knowing the dreaded diseases comes first. They are the disorders that can: kill, cripple, cause early death or blindness. A WORD OF CAUTION The Animals Rights as a Group has for years successfully used the idea of linking the use of tests to unde- fined labels as a means for affecting and influencing breeders. Their latest undefined term is the “Responsible Breeder”, which by design has many
vague meanings and interpretations. Most importantly, this term as they use it offers everyone who “does the right thing” the opportunity to label them- selves a “Responsible Breeder”. Under- neath its exterior is the special empha- sis it brings to the quality of the pups being produced. It assumes that if a pup is of poor quality, unhealthy or has something wrong, it should not be bred. Most breeders agree with this notion and respond by withholding AKC regis- tration papers or placing it on a limited registration or a spay/neuter contract. The underlying assumption is that they are being “Responsible Breeders”. The notion however is that the unsound and unhealthy should not be sold for breeding. This is fundamental to the label and with that logic it becomes the best indicator of whether a breeder is being responsible. Thus, it follows that testing is a way to measure the “Respon- sible Breeders” by what they produce and how they register it. This method identifies some breeders as better than other breeders and salutes those who breed to produce better quality. In the background however, there are some important and fundamental questions. For example, for most of the dreaded diseases there are no DNA tests which means there are different levels of risk and involvement when breeders choose to breed and avoid the dreaded disor- ders. The Animal Rights Groups hope that clubs will not take the time to train their breeders, develop mentors, or use DNA tests when they are available nor will they encourage using techniques that will manage the carriers. They know this could diminish their strate- gy. On the other hand, breed clubs and their breeders can determine whether their breeders are making progress via scientific surveys, training and educa- tional programs, thus being “Responsi- ble Breeders”. Said another way, quality pups are the goal, and how breeders sell their pups can be used as one method of progress. In retrospect, there is a lesson to be learned from the simple logic of pairing the idea of testing to undefined labels like the “Responsible Breeder” and the idea of “raising the bar”. Clubs are the stake holders and they need to drive the conversation with tolerance, education and a set of priorities. Includ- ed in their strategy should be a focus
on how to use of test results when they become available and how to develop health initiatives that combine health survey data that document the num- ber and frequency of conditions that are occurring. REFERENCES 1. Battaglia, Carmen. 2009. “A Gath- ering Storm”, Canine Chronicle , Ocala Florida, March Issue, pg. 162-166. 2. Battaglia, Carmen. 2009. “Manag- ing the Carriers”, Canine Chroni- cle , Ocala Florida, April Issue pg. 162-166. 3. Bell Jerold, 2005. “Anatomy of a Breed Health Initiative”, Tufts’ Canine & Feline Breeding and Genetics Conference , September 29-October 1, 2005. 4. Bell, Jerold S Bell, 2003. “Remov- ing the stigma of genetic disease”, Tufts Cummings School of Veteri- nary Medicine , N. Grafton, MA. (Adapted from an article that origi- nally appeared in the “Healthy Dog” section of the October, 2003 AKC Gazette and Tufts’ Canine & Feline Breeding and Genetics Conference , September 29-Octo- ber 1, 2005. 5. Bell Jerold, 2005. “The ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control”, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine , N. Grafton, MA. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carmen L. Battaglia holds a Ph.D. and Master’s Degree from Florida State University. As an AKC judge, research- er and writer, he has been a leader in promoting the better ways to breed dogs. An author of many articles and several books, he is also a popu- lar guest on TV and radio talk shows including several appearances on Ani- mal Planet. His seminars on breeding dogs, selecting sires and choosing pup- pies have been well received by breed clubs all over the country. Those interested in learning more about his articles and seminars should visit the website http://www. breedingbetterdogs.com.
S how S ight M agazine , S eptember 2018 • 171
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