QUESTION FOR ALL SHOWSIGHT READERS Should AKC require DNA testing to both sires and dams prior to any litter registration processing? Thank you to everyone who offered opinions on this month’s topic. The following is a selection of the responses. Want to voice your opinion to the fancy? Follow ShowSight’s Facebook page for the monthly question prompt!
YES
shark in Kansas. The more dogs that have their DNA on file, the less likely cross breeding is to occur. (And it would be oh so helpful if AKC investigated some of the dogs that are brought to their attention.) –Karen Hanson Yes, the AKC should require all sires and dams of every AKC litter to have a DNA profile before breeding. It is a way to prove the sire and dam of the litter. Many FCI countries require tattooing as a means of identification. –Steve Wolfson
Maybe
Now that we have the ability, I think DNA testing should be required. –Barbara Clingman Yes, DNA testing should be encouraged as well as OFA test- ing! –Anonymous
No
Yes
I already do this—and have been doing this a long time—to protect my pedigrees. –Toni Ackerman It’s probably a good idea. I am sure many litters are reg- istered with a different sire or dam. Someone wants more champions to the credit of the sire or dam, or some other reason. We need clean pedigrees to plan breedings. This would be a way to keep the integrity of the pedigrees. –Mary Anne Brocious Yes, as someone who has had bad experiences with AKC support on this issue, I think it wise. Because someone lies to them and denies existence of litters, but later they are reg- istered as that studs and shown and once again nothing is done. –Anonymous
Yes and I believe parent clubs should require a DNA for entry into any parent club event. –Monica Stone
Yes, I believe AKC should require DNA on all dogs with full registration at the time of registration! –Brenda L. Cook
Of course, we should have each and every puppy veri- fied by DNA. It is time to step up to the 21st century. –Anonymous Absolutely yes! The Vizsla Club of America requires all dogs (puppies included) entered in all VCA National events (conformation, obedience, rally, agility and field tri- als) to have a DNA number listed on the entry form since 2006. –Anonymous Definitely yes. In my breed in the past few years, sever- al pedigrees have been proven falsified by DNA. The integ- rity of the pedigree is important. The AKC relies on the ethics of breeders; some are honest, some are not honest. –Anonymous Yes, I already have to have DNA testing with my breed club which is a separate club from AKC in order to register a litter so it is something I already do on all my breeding stock. –Cindi Rackler Yes. DNA should be required. Perhaps it will stop some of the corruption in the Brittany world with the breeders mix- ing in the GPS and Irish Red Setters. –Anonymous
Yes, and microchip each exhibit for verification as they enter the ring. –Anonymous
Yes. I’d think it would give confidence that pedigrees and the stud book are more accurate. –Rose Jenks
Every sire and dam should be DNA tested. AKC will not do it. Several breed clubs have asked for this to help stop the flow of cross breeding, and their pleas fall on deaf ears. I’d be happy to sit down with anyone and show them how some very smart field trainers/trailers in my breed (Brittan- ys) have used DNA to their advantage to add American Field Pointers or Setters into our breed. As long as the dog being added doesn’t have DNA on file as a Pointer or Setter, the odds of getting caught are less than the odds of getting eaten by a
160 • S how S ight M agazine , A pril 2017
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