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screens because they only show us whether or not a particular an- and an estimated global population of fewer than 2000 animals.
imal is affected at a given moment in time and nothing about the Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 registrations in the United States
causative factors and/or underlying genetics) and single trait testing and an estimated global population of fewer than 5,000 animals.
(examples of single disease tests would include PRA or copper tox- Watch: Fewer than 2,500 annual registrations in the United
icosis) in dogs. Armed with some useful information to assist us in States and an estimated global population of fewer than 10,000.
breeding healthier dogs, testing became a defining characteristic This category also includes breeds that have special threats to
of excellent breeders. Eager for additional tools to use in our quest their genetic integrity or a limited geographical distribution, put-
for healthier dogs, various breed clubs often encouraged participa- ting the breed at risk from a common disaster such as disease or
tion in studies and helped to pay for the development of genetic natural catastrophe.
marker tests for defects affecting their dogs. It was a slow and ex- The American Kennel Club has not released any useful registra-
pensive process, but additional tests (mostly for autosomal reces- tions statistics for about ten years! This leaves breeders in the
sive conditions) did become available. United States in a difficult situation in terms of understanding ex-
We have been taught that even though it cannot be achieved, re- actly where our breeds are in terms of actual numbers and in which
sponsible breeders always strive for perfection. In the context of direction they are trending. By contrast, The Kennel Club (with the
health screening, this modus operandi quickly became “test and support of the Irish Kennel Club) annually compiles a list of Vul-
eliminate”. As additional tests became available (of varying accu- nerable (including Bearded Collies, English Setters and Irish
racy), increasing numbers of otherwise excellent dogs were dis- Wolfhounds) Native breeds based on less than 300 registrations per
qualified from breeding programs because of minor imperfections year. Additionally, the International Partnership for Dogs has a
that showed up in the testing website to share useful informa-
process. The late Dr. George “We are now finding significant tion on an international basis. It
Padgett made a compelling argu- linkages between breed-wide is a logical progression from low
ment against test and eliminate genetic disease and lack of di- registration numbers to a signif-
in his book Control of Canine versity within registered dogs.” icant level of risk as defined by
Genetic Diseases, originally various groups. The more terri-
published almost 20 years ago. fying information is that breeds
Sadly, rather than assisting us in with apparently sufficient num-
breeding healthier dogs, “test bers like Golden retrievers,
and eliminate” actually served to Doberman Pinschers, and Poo-
shrink the diversity of genetic dles are so homozygous in their
material available in our various genetic makeup as to be “at risk”
gene pools. We are now finding as well! As preservation breed-
significant linkages between ers, our ability to locate and in-
breed-wide genetic disease and tegrate quality dogs of
lack of diversity within regis- appropriate diversity to assist us
tered dogs. in breeding excellent individu-
In addition to health screens, the high level of competitiveness als, while also being mindful of our commitment to the genetic
at shows and trials created an environment where winning was health of the entire breed, is vastly improved with the support of
viewed as equivalent to excellence. By breeding only the best universities, non-profit educational entities and registries willing
(show dogs) and focusing breeding programs on top winning ani- to share vital information.
mals, havoc was wrecked on the gene pools of our purebred dogs. In order to make the leap beyond responsible breeder to preser-
To quote Joseph Harvill in the Great Scots Magazine Vol. 18 1 st vation breeder, we must change how we select and pair dogs to cre-
Quarter 2013, “And so we made facile choice of breed standard ate the next generation. Many of the breeds we love are in dire
without realizing that eclipsing health by handsome would in time shape genetically, and breeding for diversity must become the pri-
ruin the dog we love. In fairness, ignorance of genetics chose that ority. We must embrace responsibility for the entire breed gene
superficial appearance-based standard in the beginning. The graver pool, not just our own dogs. Each person who endeavors to breed
sin is our blindly clinging to that destructive choice a century later, a litter must have thoroughly educated themselves on the deleteri-
long after we know better.” The decision to breed with the goal of ous conditions present in the breed and prioritized them. We simply
winning dog shows as the first criteria over that of the health of the cannot continue to eliminate dogs from breeding programs that
entire breed gene pool most assuredly does not qualify one as a have minor, but screenable, conditions while ignoring the more
preservation breeder. complex and devastating diseases that we don’t have a test for at
We have learned in the last fifteen or so years that many of our this time. We are entering into a new era where science and tech-
purebred dog populations are at risk because of the dramatic drop nology has given us a second chance to do better for our dogs and
in genetic diversity over the past 50 plus years. The Livestock Con- ourselves. A strong commitment to make the best possible use of
servancy has established categories for measuring numerical and that opportunity is a hallmark of a true preservation breeder. I am
genetic threat to a breed. Here the three most concerning categories- not throwing away my shot! How about you?
qw
Critical: Fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States
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464 - February, 2018