In a message dated 12/1/2004 5:37:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Santanagsd1954@xxxxxx writes: To keep the genetic defect under control, once it has been controlled, requires telling everyone who purchases any progeny from these breedings that Mega is in the line, no matter how far back... and to breed away from it!!! I don't know if that answered the question or not.. Don't know if my answer makes any sense to anyone.. Barb, that's all well and good and easy to follow when speaking about one "issue", in your example Mega, but we're trying to breed away from more than one health "issue" while trying to breed good temperaments and pretty (correct) structure. I study pedigrees too, and in all honesty, I don't know of any that are absolutely clear of EVERYTHING I'd like to avoid. Let's see, does anyone have a four generation pedigree where the breeding partners AND siblings NEVER had or produced HD, ED, UAP, FCP, OCD, bloat, heart defects, toxic gut, torsion, epilepsy, pancreatic insufficiency, mega, DM...etc., etc., etc...(It's a rhetorical question ~ IF you think you have such a pedigree, I'll bet I can show you where your don't!). Kathy visit _Pine Hill German Shepherd Dogs_ (http://www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds/) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2004. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================