Re: [pyrnet] Dwarfism--Facts and gossip

["Linda Weisser" <lmweisser@olywa.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <Impyrial@aol.com>

Why not?  I think that would be a great way to start.  That would assist
all
breeders trying to make educated decisions on breeding their dogs.  I think
the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America took this approach (on other
problems...not dwarfism) and it is working beautifully.>>

Well, it would be fine by me.  Perhaps you could make an "official" request
to the health committee and especially to the Board.  And good luck to you
:-((  Listing of carriers could be helpful but there are certain caveats.
Firstly, the number of *known* carriers (defined as animals that have
produced a dwarf) is fairly short.  Probably 60 or so animals.  Once you
know that an individual is a carrier where do you go from there?  That
individual has only one parent that is a carrier.  Which one?   Often this
is not definitively known.  So--does the concerned breeder guess?  If so,
does that guessing lead to even more speculation and possibly to more
gossip etc etc?

As you know, when it comes to dwarfs it is one of my big issues that there
is so much careless talk and speculation out there by people who have only
a vague and general understanding of the facts.  It is one thing for
concerned and affected breeders to discuss the possibilities with other
informed people.  Often the health committee.  It is quite another thing
for non-involved people to engage in random speculation.  Or worse yet, to
get their facts wrong when they feel compelled to "share" information "for
the good of" some reasonably innocent party.

Listing affecteds and/or carriers in a public forum is a two edged sword
and its value is, to some degree, dependant upon the knowledge of the
reader.

Linda Weisser