Pointing to human diseases is comparing apples and oranges. Yes we do share some of the same diseases, but in breeding dogs hopefully WE CAN CHOOSE according to lines and what they produce. Humans choose their partners from different parameters, which has nothing to do with genetics. I agree with Helen about the increase of issues we see now. If we were to really analyze our increased problems in GSDs, it would most certainly be far worse in today's world than in the past. With the advance of science and technology, and vet medicine, we know and can treat many more diseases/conditions than say 50 years ago. In other words if our breed problems we have today would only have the vet care and technology of 50 years ago I'm guessing we'd be seeing a huge increase of problems plaguing our breed. As the saying goes "facts are stubborn things." Regards, Pat Sent from my iPad On Jun 11, 2013, at 7:38 PM, Helen Franklin <helenfranklin520@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > You point > to human diseases Polio, Muscular Dystrophy, Downs a genetic disease, which > has no relation to today's German Shepherds, except to say there's hope > for the future? Downs syndrome is not a disease but a genetic problem as > may be crib death. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2012. 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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================