Breed Improvement Suggestions for the UK GSD Breed Council - Page 16

 Continued..

It's all very simple really, without soundness of mind, soundness of body is of little use!! So my first suggestion for Breed Improvement would be to start straight away by introducing more stringent Character / Temperament / Aptitude Tests when doing surveys and that only dogs passing these tests should be allowed Top Honours in the Show Ring and that these tests should be conducted at our Major Breed Championship Shows in Open view of everybody, but can I say that for the time being, the methods we should be considering for these character / temperament tests should be some other than the Schutzhund Courage test. For IMO we need to have more trainers and facilities in place before going totally down that route but should not let that be the excuse for further delay in the introduction of valid testing.

Best Regards

Sue B

Sue - I totally agree with you.  As for training even just pet training classes are difficult to find round here.  The few classes we have are not designed for the GSD or other bigger breeds.

Another thing I think should be compulsory, especially with the show dogs is testing with non GSD breeds.  So many of the show dogs spend their lives in very controlled environmentsand they dont get socialised as much with non GSDs and I have seen them be obviously unsettled in the company of other dogs.  In fact I have seen a big GSD literally wet his knickers at the sight of a pug at Crufts a couple of years ago.

At last we seem to be getting some suggestions but i still think my own teo tier idea has the greater benefit as it does not preclude anyone and only encourages those that wish to aspire to a higher level

The two tier system can incorporate anything that the people in power wish but  why move from a system that works the world round unless you all wish to DILUTE its value

A ful european system is the only real way forward but i am sure that the powers that be i eBreed Council GSDL and BAGSD DO NOT HAVE THE WILL TO CHAMPION SUCH A MASSIVE STEP so our breed will still plod along going further down the road of the dogs dog being a beatiful looking empty shells

Sue B, your posts sound so very well thought out... it's clear they've been on your mind for some time.  You're "on" the BC, what are our chances of getting some/all of these things implemented?

If we must first go to the KC; how best to do this please?

Sue B

You make a very good point regarding the character tests such as they are being ineffective but the breed already has a specifically designed character test but as we now the majority of the breed people continue to ignore it, the other problem a character test without the correct assers and a very detailed grading system would not be worth the paper it was written on

A further problem with a new working assesment test would be the take up a few years ago the GSDL instigated a WORKING TEST overseen by J Rogerson on the 16th june 1990 the first event was held at Weston Park approx 9 people attended it was also the last event due to lack of interest.

A further point regarding lack of training clubs there are 27 country wide from Fife down to Cornwall whilst i know that some are full if people dont apply they dont now if they are available

The title of this post is Breed improvement and much has been said about hip x raying, elbow scoring etc etc all vital in my opinion, as is breeding from stock who have sound temprement.  But again I mention EPI as it is rife in our breed but breeders seem to be ignoring it and sweeping it under the carpet.  Why???

I know the problems, it often does not occur in a dog till it is past 3 years of age, by then the dog may have had puppies or been used at stud, particularly true if the dog is a show winner.  My question is how many breeders would then remove that top show winner from the gene pool and advise all puppy purchasers that their dogs may develop this condition and should not be bred from?

Only Beepy has mentioned the problem

'I have also had to work with a bitch with EPI - diagnosed at 1 year old.  Many months of working to get things right and then maintaining her.  She was the one I have mentioned that had the 1% behaviour problem and to be honest none of the current tests would have triggered her.  She occasionally lost the plot with strange men in the home, once went for a friends husband who she didnt like the look of, fortunately I was between them and reacted quickly enough.  She also didnt like strangers approaching in twilight/dawn when out walking.  However she was the best dog where my kids were concerned and never left their side whether they were in the pram or when they started to walk.'

Temprement changes often happen with dogs who develop EPI, my own dog was the soundest, friendliest dog on the planet until this dreadful complaint happened. now he is wary of men and dog aggressive.  This is common, I am a member of a site dedicated to dogs with this complaint (the majority GSDs) and many report temprement changes.

So surely this disease must be considered seriously, more dogs die from EPI than from hip or elbow displasia, more dogs have a reduced standard of life even after diagnosis and management on enzymes, all need medication and often Vit V12 for life.

As there are many breeders reading this column I beg you to consider this disease seriously and add it to the list of conditions which would eliminate dogs from the breeding programme with the true intention of bettering our beautiful breed

Estwyn - if you had read another thread regarding EPI - you would understand why it is not mentioned on here.

There are no genetic tests available for it.  Your comment re the temperment link to EPI I have to disagree with, when her pedigree was examined there was a dog who was known for throwing the dodgy temperment, but unfortunately people kept using those lines and at the time as a newbie to the breed I didnt know this.  As for the management of EPI, my bitch had a much better life than dogs with HD, CDRM or elbow problems as it took good management and after a period of maximum doseage of enzymes and considering Euthanisia we eventually had her drug free and manged through diet and minimal stress.  She continued to live for another 9 years after diagnosis.

i have to agree with beepy regarding EPI until it is PROVED hereditary and there is a control type test for it , it is not part of this particular thread subject

Thanks Beepy, I did not realise your dog had a forebearer known for throwing dodgy temprements, however I stand by the condition having an effect on temprement, I am a member of another forum dedicated to dogs with this complaint and many report that this change happens to them. Ok it cant be proved and I have to accept that but enough people have reported that this is does happen to dogs who have this compliant.

I have also read the other thread on here re EPI and I am aware there is no genetic test at present as I think I stated in my previous posting.

Your bitch was very lucky to be able to come off the enzymes as the pancreas often continues to fail in many cases and increased dosages are needed to keep the dog stable. Different dogs are affected in different ways by EPI as are dogs with HD, I had a bitch years ago with a hip score of 43:43 from a 0:0 sire and a dam below 7, she did agility and working trials and was never affected until old age when she got arthiritis. Yet a younger dog with a score of 21 showed signs of pain from an early age. 

Sorry Reason I have to disagree that this should not be included in a breed betterment thread. 

Canine EPI is “suspected” to be caused by autosomal recessive genes, but it is still unclear if it is one gene or multiple loci. Possibly a polygenic inheritance (traits vary in degrees of severity of the disease).  In 2005 researchers have honed in on 5 suspect genes, but further testing was needed. In 2007 Texas A&M Canine Genetics was awarded a grant by AKC-CH to further EPI research with the new SNP technology that can analyze multiple loci. Hopefully genetic markers will be identified in the next few years so the testing for carriers can be done prior to breeding.

Surely if there is this strong possibility of the condition being genetic it should be included in any breed betterment programme.