[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: [SHOWGSD-L] What we try to do
- From: Kmgraphic2@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 12:49:28 -0400 (EDT)
interesting post, morgan. yes, it is imperative that we all do our best
at eradicating the problems that plague our dogs; i doubt that anyone would
disagree with that. however, if you were a seasoned breeder/exhibitor you
would understand that, while no perfect dog has yet to be born, most
breeders DO study their lines and what is behind them. we are aware of
backmassing in our pedigrees because we have bred 6 or more generations from a
foundation bitch, each generation, hopefully, better and healthier than the
last.
we can neither erase the past nor predict the future. instead, we use
knowledge, experience and advanced means of testing for genetic problems to
produce the best dogs we can. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
it is one thing to be a breeder and another to talk about breeders.
granted, we have many people involved in GSDs today who call themselves
breeders
but are not. anyone can put 2 animals together and create offspring; not
everyone can do so with a foundation of knowledge. it is easy to talk the
talk. it's not so easy to walk the walk and to assume that "testing", (and
a spreadsheet of results), is the answer to all our problems is naive at
best.
diane
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Morgan Lewis wrote:
Subj: [ SHOWGSD-L ] What we try to do
Evan is correct. "There is no perfect dog" BUT there is a better way of
breeding. That would include a pedigree data base which includes OFA, OVC Pen
Hip, Thyroid, Cardiac and TLI. It would include DOB and DOD, cause of
death. health problems (confirmed by VET). Co efficients in pedigree. The
problem is failure to know what the rest of the litter is like. If I have a
Champion that I am breeding, his genetics are not just what the Sire and Dam
contribute to the dog, but whatever the genetic makup is of those dogs
littermate and the generations before. In many cases these diseases have been
masked (great breeding) til the devil pops up) We will never remove these
health problems, but we can minimize them, through honesty and knowledge.
Unfortunately we have a problem with both, and it is not just in this breed. I
am
willing to bet that given a pedigree, most of the old timers could tell
you the physical strengths and weaknesses of a proposed
litter, and temperament; but could they or would they tell you of health
concerns?? We all know of certain lines carrying Mega, DM, IBD and EPI etc.
I think we honestly try to avoid in-line breeding on those lines; but some
does occur. Now we are seeing huge numbers of GSD affected by various
Cancers. We KNOW that the GSD is predisposed to Immune problems, We know that
over vaccination is a major contributor to immune problems.
I never worry about hearing of a GSD dying @ 12-14 from ANY disease, hell
we are all going to die from something) but when I see young dogs dying or
getting life long illnesses, I become very concerned .
We as breeders need to communicate with our PET BUYERS, informing them of
the necessity of testing, especially OFA, thyroid and TLI; hell charge up
front the cost of the test and refund when they are done. This is for their
protection and the continuation of breeding healthy GSD.
Whether you are a breeder of SHOW DOGS, WORKING DOGS or just plain PETS;
the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR is HEALTH - or else there are NO DOGS
Morgan Lewis, RPh.Member GSDCAPresident Last Hope of Georgia 501c3"So Much
to Do, So Little Time"
Diane Silver-Strasser
Silstra German Shepherds
_Skatiebug'z_ (http://skatiebugz.shutterfly.com/) The online store for
everything German Shepherd and then some!
_http://skatiebugz.blogspot.com_ (http://skatiebugz.blogspot.com/)
Skater's Blog
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