DM through lineage - Page 2

Yes, there are breeders out there who test for DM. I've seen Mittelwest as one of the larger ones that tests for it, as well as small breeders here and there. It seems that other than here in the USA, there are a few breeders in Holland like Tempelhoeve. Other than that, it is tough!

There are at least three labs in the US that tests for it, and we have double checked the results from the DDCvet to find the same results. It is easy to see the negatives to the test (which is fairly inexpensive compared to others that can be done) and be against it, until you are faced with a dog who is affected by it, and the results from the test say "at risk". Then you start to think of the puppies that they put out there. Even if the test is not 100% correct, it is at least putting forth the effort.

It is fun to research lines to see who the carrier was in the line and narrow it down. We've tested enough dogs (and double tested a few to get the same results), and talked with enough people that I can start to see a pattern and get an idea for what lines are "free". Not many will publicly post that their dog is a carrier or at risk to begin with, so it can be hard, and all of the big names would take a major hit if they were found to have the mutation.

If you wanted to talk results and lines, feel free to shoot me an PM. I know only West German Show Lines, though.

We breed Czech working line German Shepherds (some of whom are direct imports) and test for DM. Website: www.k9obranci.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/czechshepherds/

I see lots of dogs listed as carriers in working lines. Perhaps show folks are more uptight about it? There are several "big name" studs who are carriers in the working dog world and it sure doesn't seem to be hurting their breedings. Most just make sure to breed them to a clear. "Problem" (if there is one) solved :)

The people selling puppies ONLY on their health testing merits seem to be the only ones that care deeply about clear/clear and will even avoid carriers. Those that look at more of the whole dog, train, and title their dogs, understand there is more to breeding than doing every single health test under the sun...don't care about breeding to carriers. If DM clear is a huge selling point for the breeder, I wouldn't even look their way.

Yeah, you don't need your dog live more than 6-7 years...

Sometimes there is not a focus solely on health benefits, but creating a better chance that there isn't going to be a family out there that has to experience the heartbreak of a genetic disease.

Keeping to that standard should always be the goal of course, and keeping to a healthy, functional dog that will stay healthy and functioning until they pass. :)

I know what BW is saying, though. You see breedings where there is zero mention of any working ability, let alone any titles, mediocre pedigrees, and they're health tested to the hilt- like, stuff hardly even heard of in GSDs. It's like the breeder wants to amaze (or baffle?) the buyer with a zillion letters of "clears"...you see lists like this: Heart, eyes, patellas, hips, elbows, DM, MDR1, vWD, HPV, EBV, sickle cell anemia, mad cow, etc. They may as well brag about a negative brucellosis test. I see looong lists of health testing and know right off the bat that they most likely have literally nothing else to offer and are pandering to novices who are unaware of the valid vs. fabricated health concerns in our breed.

Love the "mad cow" testing...

Pro tip...get off the computer and get out there and see dogs. Even those that are "at-risk" aren't coming down with DM. With shepherds in particular, there is a lot of questions about the test, and since most people don't necropsy their dogs, DM is rarely confirmed...people just notice DM like symptoms and call it that, but there are a ton of other diseases and issues that have similar symptoms.

Unlike what the internet wants you to believe...with posts such as the one above about a dog or two dying before 8, most dogs aren't coming down with it that early. Like I said, those that come down with it, generally do much later.

Most good breeders that care about the "whole dog" aren't eliminating carriers from their gene pool, they can't afford to. There aren't enough clear stud dogs and females out there right now to keep the breed from bottlenecking if we were to do so. Jen covered it, the people that focus on DM CLEAR are the same ones that test for patellas and other diseases that are a $40 DNA test rather than a $4000 investment to get a dog titled. They then advertise based on the fact that their dogs are clear of diseases that a GSD hasn't had since Horand.

Of course, if someone like myself actually has experienced the devastation and the expense to rule out other diseases that can present similar to DM because the dog in question was young, we aren't so quick to discount whatever science is available to absolutely avoid DM, ever again. Yes, it is that bad.