GENETIC TESTING Can Offer Breeders Clarity
BY GEORGE SOFRONDIS
I t was back in 1998 when I first started attending dog shows and talking to exhibitors about genetic testing. There were conversations about how some tested for von Willebrand’s and how very progres- sive breeds, such as the Labrador Retriever, would collect blood samples and be part of what we called “20/20 Clin- ics”—collect and batch twenty samples in one day and everyone gets a 20 percent discount! Ah, those were the days when everyone worked together to get a discount. What has changed for me the most over these 20 years is that I have built some great relationships and friendships with breeders, so much so that they gave me the nick- name Genetic George. Because of these great relation- ships and conversations, I started the “Genetic George Explains It All” Facebook page. I do not in any way con- fess to being an expert, but I do think I have a really nice way of giving breeders an answer that reflects my under- standing of the challenges all breeders face from having to breed responsibly, but more importantly, making sure they breed for sound temperament, not just health. I have a wonderful way of putting it all together and keeping the math simple. Throughout my career, I have been asked many ques- tions by breeders about genetic testing. In this article, I hope to address some of the more common questions and provide some clarity on the issues that breeders face. HOW DO I BREED RESPONSIBLY WHEN A GENETIC TEST IS NOT AVAILABLE? I get a number of inquiries about cherry eye and cleft palate, and to date, there is no genetic test for these condi- tions. Is it hereditary? Is it genetic? In such cases, I like to apply the “first-time mating” rule. If the cleft palate you see is part of a first-time mating (sire and dam) and you notice several offspring in this litter with the defect, then my rule of genetic thumb tells me that this is most likely hereditary. Remember, we cannot currently determine the genetics and mode (no genetic test), but we can say that based on the pedigree and mating, it is hereditary. Genetic George would advise to avoid this mating, and if you do use the sire and dam, then you should breed to another dam or sire that is unrelated by pedigree.
George pictured with Charlie The Boston (His CFO) and Mary the Griffon (His CMO)
116 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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