PRA okay for ACD's!

[Hobbit]

I got this email and wanted to share it with some comments and discussions.

Of course, being an owner of working ACD's this inflammed me to no end and just adds to my "EVIL EMPIRE" AKC show people. This person has NO problem whatsoever with continuing to breed a carrier of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). I, on the other hand, have a HUGH problem with this!! Then I felt like she was giving me a butt chewing because of it. I did email her a response to the effect that OUR ACD's are NOT carriers nor are they affected --- and we will continue to look elsewhere for NON-affected, NON-carrier dogs --- and it's ignorance of genetics and people as this that will be the demise of the breed. It still boils down to MONEY and PRESTIGE.

To set the picture: I inquired about a male ACD that was doing well in herding trials.

Here is her response (in black) & my response (in red):


Ok, I have a good friend who lives in Waco, TX. He owns Leader's sire actually.

would you intend to have him neutered or do you think one breeding back in the future would be a possibility? Since he is Pattern B, carrier for PRA -- I would have him neutered.

Also, do you intend to breed him? No, since he is a carrier for PRA.

Ok, I would not have a problem with him being neutered if you choose to do so, since you don't have intentions to breed ACDs (I assume). However, Please think carefully about discluding dogs from a breeding program because of one simple genetic thing like PRA. PRA is a very easy thing to breed away from now that we have a test for it and it's a simple recessive gene. PRA in one form or another (either carrier or affected) is in %75 of the ACD population. We as breeders would never be able to sustain a genepool if we only used clear dogs. ACDs would become genetic nightmares and more serious problems would pop up like more severe dysplasia, dysplastic elbows, Epilepsy, intermittant rage disorder, other eye diseases like junenile cataracts,.... not to mention temperment, herding ability and breed type would go down the drain.
All that said, obviously, I'd prefer to keep a breeding option on Leader so I could have one litter of puppies, since he's a top ten breed CH, OFA good, OFA elbows Normal, BAER tested Normal, and PRA-B.
But, I still think this could be a very good place for Leader esspecially if you intend to do herding trials with him.
So, I would want to collect and freeze some semen before he was sent to you, And then the price I'll ask is $700 plus any shipping costs.

[Hobbit]

"One simple genetic thing" :evilbat:

SIMPLE? Going blind and passing this on to offspring, is SIMPLE??

[Guest Anonymous]

Hobbit, I, personally, cannot share your distaste for AKC breeder/showers. You have to take each breeder/shower individually and not lump them together. That being said, there are a lot of breeds who carry a specific gene for a specific disease in a high percentage. The Doberman for example. Von Willenbrand's disease is affecting many of this breed and all should be tested. Some are carriers and never show signs of the disease. Some have varying degrees of the disease, test positive, but are not bleeders. Doberman breeders have said, and I can understand, that if they pulled all Dobes with evidence of Von Willenbrands, their gene pool would be almost nil. Therefore, dogs with a very low percentage for having this disease (meaning, non-bleeders, no signs) are being bred to the very limited number of those that have tested clear, and spaying/neutering all bleeders. While I am apprehensive about all this, I can understand it because there would eventually be no Dobermans.

In your case, knowing that you want this dog neutered, I think the breeder is not abiding by your wishes in taking semen and freezing and then selling the dog to you. A reputable breeder who had high hopes for this dog would just tell you absolutely not, he has to go to a show home. However, I have very little knowledge of ACD's nor their breed specific illnesses, but I thought I would address the flip side of the coin in re to Dobe thinking.

[bk_blue]

Would you be able to breed something widespread like PRA out if you only bred from the dogs who didn't carry it? I thought the whole point of breeding was to better your chosen breed, not add to its problems. :-? But I can definitely see your point GP...

[Hobbit]

bk_blue napisał(a):

Would you be able to breed something widespread like PRA out if you only bred from the dogs who didn't carry it? I thought the whole point of breeding was to better your chosen breed, not add to its problems. :-? But I can definitely see your point GP...

In my opinion YES. If would take some time and the breedings would have to be very selective. And just not breeding because it was a champion. There are other things that go along with breeding ---- an affected or carrier PRA champion should be neutered/spayed and NOT bred!

If her statistics are correct, there is NO ONE to blame but the AKC breeders who continued and continue to breed carriers and affected ACD's .... for what? FOR SHOW, FOR THE PRESTIDGE, FOR THE MONEY. Makes me sick. They dont' care about the dog. They only care if it can become a champion and/or be shown!