NipntuckLR - 2018-04-02 10:07 PM

I have wanted to stay out of this discussion because I know how difficult it is and how passionate people are on both sides. But let me just say as a dog breeder I have seen EXACTLY the same conversations when all the new DNA tests came out for canine diseases: The tests are flawed, the people exposing carriers are jerks, the people who developed the tests are ripping us off, the affected dogs are fine. All of these statements are valid, to some degree. The first test developed for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Labradors was terribly flawed, people freaked out and overreacted on both sides, some neutering perfectly healthy dogs, some refusing to test at all. It was really ugly. But it was ugly before the test was developed, with dogs going blind at seven years old having sired hundreds of puppies and crazy witch hunts and guessing who the carriers were in every pedigree.

Anyway, twenty years later and DNA testing is the norm for all of our canine breeding stock. Tests are $30-$60 (they were expensive at first) and we can test for dozens and dozens of diseases with a simple cheek swab. People are still arguing about whether breeding to carriers and/or affected dogs is appropriate, but the bottom line is many of our worrisome diseases are a thing of the past. We can be certain, for example, that we will never breed another Labrador affected with Exercise Induced Collapse. And for that we are thankful.

I understand that horses are a whole different ballgame. That you have only one foal per breeding and it takes years and years to know what that horse is, while dogs can have ten to a litter and you know what you have in a year or so. So the financial, emotional, and just plain old work put into a horse up to maturity does not compare to one of my show dogs, and for that I have enormous sympathy to everyone involved in horse breeding these days. But my advice is embrace the science as best you can, and use what you know to make better breeding choices. PSSM sucks. If it can be thoughtfully bred away from, do your best to do so. Do not shoot the messenger, take deep breaths, keep learning and move foreward. Your breeding programs and our horses will be better off in the long run.

NipntuckLR - 2018-04-02 8:07 PM

I have wanted to stay out of this discussion because I know how difficult it is and how passionate people are on both sides. But let me just say as a dog breeder I have seen EXACTLY the same conversations when all the new DNA tests came out for canine diseases: The tests are flawed, the people exposing carriers are jerks, the people who developed the tests are ripping us off, the affected dogs are fine. All of these statements are valid, to some degree. The first test developed for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Labradors was terribly flawed, people freaked out and overreacted on both sides, some neutering perfectly healthy dogs, some refusing to test at all. It was really ugly. But it was ugly before the test was developed, with dogs going blind at seven years old having sired hundreds of puppies and crazy witch hunts and guessing who the carriers were in every pedigree.

Anyway, twenty years later and DNA testing is the norm for all of our canine breeding stock. Tests are $30-$60 (they were expensive at first) and we can test for dozens and dozens of diseases with a simple cheek swab. People are still arguing about whether breeding to carriers and/or affected dogs is appropriate, but the bottom line is many of our worrisome diseases are a thing of the past. We can be certain, for example, that we will never breed another Labrador affected with Exercise Induced Collapse. And for that we are thankful.

I understand that horses are a whole different ballgame. That you have only one foal per breeding and it takes years and years to know what that horse is, while dogs can have ten to a litter and you know what you have in a year or so. So the financial, emotional, and just plain old work put into a horse up to maturity does not compare to one of my show dogs, and for that I have enormous sympathy to everyone involved in horse breeding these days. But my advice is embrace the science as best you can, and use what you know to make better breeding choices. PSSM sucks. If it can be thoughtfully bred away from, do your best to do so. Do not shoot the messenger, take deep breaths, keep learning and move foreward. Your breeding programs and our horses will be better off in the long run.