DNA testing? - Page 1

Here's another question in my pursuit of perfect enlightenment (whatever the heck that is)...

If a dog is "DNA tested", what can these tests reveal?  Verify that the dog is purebred GSD?  Verify the parents?  Spot genetic health problems?

I've seen some breeding dogs with "DNA" tagged on to the list o' acronyms of more familiar kind.  What does it really mean?

Thanks!

Yvette

When you send your sample off to the AKC they will send you back with a set of letters corresponding to a set of genetic markers they test for. In your dog, one marker will correspond with  1 of the two letters of the same marker on mom. The other letter will come from the sire.

If you just send a sample off to the AKC, they send you the report on your dog, but if you want to run parental verification then they will charge you about 40 or so dollars more. It also stands to reason that for a parental verification to be performed that the sire and dam must both be in the DNA registry.

I think, at least with the AKCs program, that its primary purpose to provide dog owners with a way to verify parentage. I am not aware of the AKC's dna program giving any indication of any more problems than those of parentage.

Here is more info on the AKC program.

http://www.akc.org/dna/index.cfm

You want my opinion? AKC wants more money (primary)...parental verification (secondary). 

They now require all imports be DNA'd...$$ cha ching! 

I also wondered why people put it on the end of their dogs name like its a title or health cert.

I know it's more money but I kinda like the idea. If you ever suspect your pup was fathered by the "wrong" dog, you can always find out. May be the end of days, for breeders swapping studs and false papers on litters.

How come they don't ask for the home bred pups to be DNA'd and only from the imports?

in germany, after so many breedings, and actually I believe AKC requires it also, a male has to have DNA registered. AKC requires that ALL imports submit DNA in order to have dual registration.

I've heard that too that after so many breedings it is required to have DNA testing.  I actually got a couple of kits from the AKC, but I haven't done the testing yet.  It's just a little toothbrush swab type thing.  I, for the heck of it, also tested my dogs for this genetic marker.  Probably only because I work with a few collie people where this is a must.  Helps to explain the whole herding dog sensitivity to ivermectin, etc.  Check it out.   The testing is done at Washington State University.  It says that German Shepherds  can be affected with it.  Thought it may be of some interest.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

Akc does require any male used more than three times in a year or 7 times in his life , he has to be DNA in order to register any other liltters..just as OFA requires a tatooe or a chip on every dog ofa submitted, regardless of whether it passes or not.

If you order by credit card and pay before  doing the test, you save $5.00 and price is $35.00 prepaid...If you just order the kit, pay after done and sent in , it is $40.00.  I think it helps from the switching of papers and and at anytime someone can challenge the fatherhood of a pup, and it can be identified , if the males are DNA.

You can still Dna even if you don't breed but every other year, or a lesser time...It shows intent of breeder to stand behind her litters as truthful bred liltters.

I think it is nice for someone to be able to know  with 100% certainty that what they bought is or is not what was represented. A lot of times someone just getting into the breed doesnt have the support resources (contact with experienced club members or experienced breeders)in place to know what they are really getting, and many times the buying decision is based mainly on the pedigree-especially if the pup is distant. It is just one less thing to worry about in the whole bushel of things to worry about with a new pup!

Not that DNA testing is by any means the main criteria of making a buying decision, but it is one of them. I probably wouldnt purchase another pup unless the parents were in the DNA database unless I knew the breeder very very well. I think this is particularly important if a buyer is dealing with a breeder with a fairly large operation.

Wasn't there a big recall of SV registry a some years ago when it was discovered via DNA that one of the top stud dogs in Germany did not sire some of the litters he was said to have? Forget which dog it was now.