[Wolfenstein]

I originally posted this in the other thread looking for a breeder in the same area, but someone suggested I start a new one.

I'm looking for a breeder preferably in IL within decent range of Chicago, but I had a question regarding health testing. I'm specifically looking for a pet dog because I don't have any specific training goals in mind like gaining titles, but I would prefer working line dogs because I feel their structure tends to be more what I personally envision the "correct" GSD structure to be, and I would definitely pursue obedience, tracking, and possibly Schutzhund if I wound up with a dog that had a desire to work. I really want to find a breeder who tests for things like DM as opposed to only testing for HD. I'm also curious if anyone has any suggestions of other problems GSDs are prone to that can be tested ahead of time. Chicagoland breeders would be best because it would be easy for us to visit, but breeders from south Wisconsin and northeast Indiana would also be ok. I suppose Michigan wouldn't be too big of a stretch, either.

Someone else in the other thread brought up the fact that the DM test is currently still being researched, but I would still prefer a breeder who tests their dogs since a clear dog is still a clear dog, and it's still possible to breed a clear dog to a carrier dog and get all puppies who don't have both the genes. I understand that an affected dog still may not develop DM, but I personally don't want to take that risk. This is the whole reason I'm considering going with a breeder as opposed to adoption, I feel the higher price I'm paying is an investment in the health of my future dog. If I have to go further for a breeder that tests, then I'm more than willing to do so.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Wolfenstein]

So what, then, in the whole of the GSD community, it's impossible to find a breeder that takes DM into account? It's not about lowering the gene pool by only breeding clear dogs, it's about being smart when breeding known carriers. I have no problem with a breeder that would even consider using an affected dog, so long as the the other dog was clear. That way, even though all the puppies would be carriers, they would also be unaffected by the disease. I refuse to believe there's no one out there that's doing this. Obviously, it's only one of many things that needs to be considered when breeding, but it doesn't mean it should be ignored!

 

[Wolfenstein]

I know, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was "attacking" or anything, I know you didn't say that. It's just frustrating that it's not the norm for people to test. I'm having a hard time looking at breeders when the disease isn't even mentioned, I don't understand why it seems like some people would pretend it's a non issue. I didn't mean to lash out at YOU, just lashing out in general! I know it's going to be hard to find a breeder like I'd prefer, but I was hoping to at least get some leads by posting here.

 

[Wolfenstein]

The way I understand it, the dog inherits two genes, and both need to be affected for the dog develop the disease. So if n=normal and a=affected,

nn = Dog is normal and not a carrier, dog can not develop symptoms.
na = Dog is a carrier, but still can not develop symptoms.
aa = Dog is affected. However, the dog still may never develop symptoms, but this is the only genetic combo that would result in the disease.

I think where people get that the test is inaccurate is because an aa dog still may never actually be affected. However, in my opinion, since it's a SURE thing the other combos WON'T show symptoms, it's only natural to breed where you won't have a dog that's affected.

So, you can breed an nn dog to any dog, and at the worst you'll get carriers, even if you breed to an aa dog. However, if you breed an na to an na or aa, you run the risk of having affected puppies.