Whatever, Hans.

So what it comes down to is the breeder that has access to more information through spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for tests and working with a geneticist is more than likley to have a better breed.Well that sounds all good and well, but dont forget the other millions of factors that mother nature can add to the equation plus all the varables. Then we have to sort out what dosen't affect GSD's
 
                                                             I AM GOING TO STILL TEST BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUT OUR TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.
                                                                                       IT'S A BIG JOURNEY CAN WE HANDLE IT, WITH THE FIRST STEP.

Blitzen, I did not say there are not valid tests available. Period. I did say that the tests offered and recommended by OFA that do not have anything to do with orthopedics is OFA capitalizing on those tests.
Maybe they should change their name, call it the DNA data bank.

The OFA * FOR PROFIT* databank! Nothing like making big bucks off tests...if there is a profit, what is there to keep 'em honest? They have basically become  an offshoot (or another branch) of the AKCCHF, now, providing no checks and balances on the AKCCHF.  They are now like a perfectly trained dog- they will sit, lie down and roll over when the AKCCHF tells them to do so, all for a buck. How disappointing. This stuff should be handled by a non-profit organization, operating INDEPENDANTLY from the AKCCHF ( which is MIRED in P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S)  who will not push tests that havent been proven to be accurate and have stood the test of time!

AGAIN, OFA does not recommend which tests for which breeds.The parent breed clubs do that. I'm open to suggestions for another database to use in lieu of OFA.

Marjorie I do not mind that someone makes money. The point is, is this type of a DNA testing for genes marking problems  present but not expressed  worth anything from breeders point of view? Think about it. There are no perfect dogs . They all have somewhere genes which are bad. Let say that we live in future and can test for all problems. Thus every dog will have some. Now what? Are you going top stop breeding all together . Or are you going to decide which bad gene you can live with and which one  you will not.  
The companies doing this testing are indirectly but consciously scaring living daylights out of breeders and buyers into testing with pages which look like this. Is this just fear mongering people into spending money or do they really care?
Below is from this www:
 http://www.dogenes.com/

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP ?

 

 

1. Breeders

Arm yourself with knowledge!

 

• Be aware of the basic principles of genetics as they apply to breeding.

   

• Make sure that you are aware of the genetic disorders in your breed and how to recognize them.

   

• Don't be reluctant to disclose a possible genetic disorder in your kennel. Hiding this information may damage your reputation if at a later date a genetic disorder becomes widespread in your breed.

   

• Keep in touch with your puppy owners, and encourage them to report any health problems with the puppies that you have bred. Also you should know if the puppies are in overall good health.

   

• Seek help from the research community. If you can provide DNA samples, or bank DNA this will help your breed in the future.

 

2. Owners

Arm yourself with knowledge!

 

• Know the breed that you own, what possible genetic disorders are in that breed, and how to recognize them.
   
• Any problems with your puppy should be reported to the breeder, along with any test results and clinical information that your veterinarian has provided. Often this data is lost, and could contribute the the future health of dogs

   

• Seek help from the research community. If you can provide DNA samples, or bank DNA this will help your breed in the future.

 

 

 

3. Everyone

Communicate with each other!

 

BTW, OFA does not do DM tests, they send the samples to VetDNAcenter. And they don't give any break for multiple tests and they charge more than VetDNAcenter, who DOES give a break for multiple tests. Plus their base charge is less than OFA. If OFA wants the results for their databank, they should pay for the information.

I think when it comes to breeding or purchasing a dog, every individual must pick their own poison. As you mentioned, there is no such thing as a perfect dog. I do believe in tests which are accurate and have proven to be accurate. I see no reason to test for something if the test hasnt proven its worth and is not definitive. I do believe in communication between breeder and owner, to further the health of the breed and future breedings. That being said, does doing health screenings make for a good breeder? IMHO, hell no! I know a breeder who was awarded breeder of merit, from the AKC, because she chic'd her sire and dam for all the recommended tests for the breed. However, she always has two litters of pups in her house at a time, always has puppies on premisis and doubles up on epilepsy, so, there ya have it. Doing tests doesnt always make for a good breeder.  Thats simplistic...

I, personally, would purchase a dog from a breeder who is open about health problems but run from one who claims they never had a problem in their lines. EVERYONE who breeds wil eventually come up against a health problem- no such thing as a perfect dog- dogs get sick and die just as people do. My sticking point is breeders who refuse to tell you what their dogs passed from.  I have ZERO respect for them. Anyone who would have you believe that all their dogs died peacefully in their sleep at 16 years of age is full of s*it.

 Marjorie dog having a problem is one thing and I agree with you there. But we are talking about detecting a faulty gene which is not causing a problem in your dog  or even in his progeny.  
 
Also 
        now  there are just few DNA tests. But this is big business and going to be bigger business. Thus  eventually there will be thousands of tests for thousands of hideous diseases which are genetically detectable and we all would like to eliminate them. Some of these are present in all dogs.    Which tests are you going to do so that people will not stone you on Internet  and call you irresponsible breeder because you did not run this or that test?                           What are you going to do when you discover that no dog will be able to pass all those tests? 

-- >  What are you going to do when you discover that no dog will be able to pass all those tests?

As I said in my previous post- each breeder or purchaser will have to pick their own poison to either breed away from, or run from, when making a purchase. I meant to say lines, in my above post- not individual dogs.