Breed Betterment Registry for GSDs - Page 2

Hello, All, My name is Marjorie, and I am the person who created the GSDBBR, with help from a database knowledgeable friend....I have been in the breed since 1969. I would like to tell you a little about myself, which will explain how and why the the GSDBBR came into being... I was blessed to share my life for 13 + years with a German Shepherd Dog by the name of Jack Flash. Jack Flash was the other half of my soul, and it if werent for him, I probably wouldnt be alive, today.. You see, Jack Flash averted a car-jacking, when a man entered my car.. Surprise!!! Jack Flash was laying down in the back seat of the car, and when I screamed, Jack bared his teeth, growled the most menacing growl I have ever heard in my life, and he immediately launched himself at the intruder in my car. The intruder jumped out of my car, kicked the side of the car in, but because of Jack Flash, I was unharmed. I lost my beloved Jack Flash after a well fought 16 month battle with Degenerative Myelopathy. On August 4, 1998, Jack Flash lost his smile, and it was time to set him free. I held Jack Flash close in my arms, as his eyes closed for the last time, and I promised him that I would watch over his kind, in his honor, as he had watched over me...The idea of the GSDBBR grew out of my promise to him...

The GSDBBR was not created exclusively for Am bred GSDS, nor was it created exclusively for German Bred GSDS. The GSDBBR was created for ALL German Shepherds, worldwide. We are one of the few breeds that do not have a Health Registry, and if we want to try to overcome the health problems our breed is experiencing, something must be done. I happen to believe that there are many, many GOOD breeders in this breed. However, there are also a few who care only for the *glory*, their fleeting moment of *fame*, the stroking of their own egos and for the $$$$ with which to line their pockets. The latter type of breeder will never participate in the GSDBBR, and I am not naive enough to believe they will ever participate. However, I do believe that the many, many GOOD breeders, who truly want to better the breed, will have an opportunity to turn this database into a valuable source of information, which will, in turn, lead to more knowledgeable breeding choices. No one is claiming that this database is the end-all be-all solution to Health Problems in the breed. However, it is a starting point. Might it fail? Of course, but I would rather fail trying to do something positive, than to stand on the side- lines and do nothing at all, because of fear of failure. I cannot stand by and watch this breed go straight downhill, in regards to health. The future of our breed is dependant upon shared information, and I believe there are more than enough good breeders with ethics to fill up this database with a plethora of information. Eventually, those who care nothing for the breed will be left out in the cold. Their silence will speak volumes. The GSDBBR will enable breeders who truly care about the breed to regain control of the breed from those who would destroy it for personal gain.

"In order for the information in this or any database to be statistically significant and relevant for consideration, there would have to be hundreds of thousands of entries." It is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness. I am currently a working member of the GSDCA Health and Genetics committee and also serve as Liaison to Dr Clemmons DM Research. I am also working with Barbara Williams, Chairman of the GSDCA Health and Genetics Committee. Barbara and I are both presently working on a book of informative and up-to-date articles pertaining to the various health and genetic issues in the breed. We anticipate this book will be available by late October, published by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America and it will be available to all German Shepherd Fanciers. Proceeds will go to German Shepherd Dog Health Research. Marjorie

One last post.... Yes, it will take time to build up the GSDBBR. However, with every little piece of information entered, another is able to avoid doubling up on a health problem, and we are one step closer to our goal. There is no such thing as a dog without a health problem, but by sharing information openly and freely, we can possibly avoid programming our breed to self destruct. I ask all of you, who truly care about this breed, to become active participants in the GSDBBR. You will help to ensure a brighter future for our breed. No matter what side of the Ocean our GSDS are from, they deserve our best efforts to keep them healthy. They would lay down their lives for us, without blinking an eye-is it too much to ask for us to fill out a form, to try to save theirs? Marjorie The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry http://www.gsdbbr.org

"I am also working with Barbara Williams, Chairman of the GSDCA Health and Genetics Committee. Barbara and I are both presently working on a book of informative and up-to-date articles pertaining to the various health and genetic issues in the breed." ****************************************************** Interesting. I had a male and female AKC champion littermates (born in 1967) sired by a stud (Ch Santana's Man O'War--who, himself, died during surgery following numerous episodes of bloat/torsion) owned and bred by Barbara Lee Williams. My male had bloat (albeit, without torsion) surgery at age 6--was euthanized with DM at 12.5 years. Had he died of bloat earlier, we would never have known about his DM. His sister lived into her 16th year before she was euthanized for late onset DM. Nevertheless, I believe that, unless they die of something else earlier, if GSD's manage to live long enough, nearly all will develop clinical signs of DM--often long AFTER their reproductive years. As I have posted elsewhere, as noble as your cause may be, a simple registry cataloging dogs with documented DM is of little practical value until research leads to the development of routinely available laboratory testing for genetic markers of DM--before its actual clinical onset. Until then, an avowed goal of totally eliminating descendants of "documented" families of DM sufferers from the gene pool may be neither realistic nor of practical value--and may lead to a trend of "throwing the baby out with the bath water", JMHO. In the meantime, for all we know, DM may be no more than an unfortunate, breed-related, "immune-mediated" (but PERHAPS genetically predisposed) disease such as other breed-predisposed diseases (including, hypothyroidism, Staph pyoderma, demodectic mange, panosteitis, etc.).

"As I have posted elsewhere, as noble as your cause may be, a simple registry cataloging dogs with documented DM is of little practical value until research leads to the development of routinely available laboratory testing for genetic markers of DM--before its actual clinical onset." I have to disagree here.. We all know ALL lines have problems. Some lines have a much HIGHER incidence of a certain problem or problems. A database such as this is giving us a tool which we can use for comparison purposes. It can show us which lines are repeatedly showing us these problems and thereby showing us which ones to avoid.

"Interesting. I had a male and female AKC champion littermates (born in 1967) sired by a stud (Ch Santana's Man O'War--who, himself, died during surgery following numerous episodes of bloat/torsion) owned and bred by Barbara Lee Williams." This is precisely why Barb Williams is SO involved in the Health and Genetics Committee especially in regard to bloat and torsion...

When Barb had the problems with her dog, she called each and every owner she could contact, to let them know what happened, and to let them know it would not be adviseable to do any line breedings on these progeny. Barb has been studying bloat ever since that time, and trying her best to do right by the breed. She has taken a lot of flack for her efforts, which, IMHO, is ridiculous, as we are all supposed to have a common interest- the betterment of the breed..Barb has a wonderful heart and has worked diligently to better the health of the breed. No one is omnicient so she did not know what was coming. That is why we are working so hard on getting a health registry up and running, so information will be available to all. The GSDBBR health registry is not exclusively for DM dogs. I dont know how you got that idea..It is for ALL GSDS with ALL health problems. FYI: The DM Flash Test is availabe for those who wish to test their dogs. It is a DNA Test that looks for a specific DM marker. The DM Flash test is based upon the presence of allele 11J. Allele 11J a unique allele in the MHCII region of the canine genome. Dogs with GSDM tend to have a high incidence of a sub-group of allele 11 of the DRB-1 area which we term allele 11J, since it represents a single base pair substitution in allele 11. Although we continue to look at other regions the canine genome for other corollaries, the DM Flash test is based upon the presence of allele 11J. As far as throwing the baby out with the bathwater, IMHO, that is used too often as an xcuse. The baby, in case no one noticed, is dying, it is putrifying in that bathtub :( It needs mouth- to- mouth( ie sharing information- no pun intended) resuscitation if it will survive. That is all I am trying to do..

FYI: The GSDBBR is also for healthy dogs..information canalways be updated if you keep your vaildation email.

Quote by Mrs. Penery, "Interesting. I had a male and female AKC champion littermates (born in 1967) sired by a stud (Ch Santana's Man O'War--who, himself, died during surgery following numerous episodes of bloat/torsion) owned and bred by Barbara Lee Williams. " In the interest of "accuracy of facts" I am posting this on behalf of Mrs. Barbara Williams She also fails to mention that I openly contacted everyone who had progeny from him, and informed them about the Bloat (Gastric) and told them all to cease line-breeding to Man O' War... That was way before anyone even accepted it was inherited... PLUS He had two torsion surgery's, as he bloated twice and after a year passed, he was having problems because of adhesions. He died on the table at Davis University, where they operated on him because of the adhesions... his heart went into arrythemia and they couldn't stabilize him.. A BIG Part of my heart died that day too...He was Nine.That, as they say, is the 'Rest of the Story".. I have tried to be sure he didn't pass in vain. So I have continued gathering data on Bloat/Torsion..Gastric and Mesenteric for 45 years... Hoping to find a Vet research team to look for the DNA Marker and to have my research information to help them. Because the Davis University begged me to donate his body, he was a Magnificent Shepherd.... for Research and Student training...after he died...I did. I felt he had given so much in life, perhaps he could still give in death.. That was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life... But I like to believe someway he helped many of those who came after him. I still have dreams he is with me..I believe he is...Barb