[mymnduccete]

Hello all..

Recently I have been in contact with someone who I considered buying a Dachshund puppy from. They seemed totally responsible and competent up until I asked if they done any screening for Glaucoma, Cataracts, etc prior to breeding their dogs and they replied with:

"No, I'm sorry, but I do not do any genetic testing on the dogs. My retort is usually "Well, you had kids, did YOU do any genetic testing on yourself?" lololol I think people are expecting "lifetime perfection" when they purchase a puppy, and that is just not (I think) reasonable. Where there is life, there is going to be problems, and genetic testing (I feel) is not going to do a heck of a lot to prevent them. Of course, I do NOT agree with breeders breeding dogs who have genetic faults. But life is not perfect - it's just life. And I find it ironic that most of the breeders who claim to do genetic testing know absolutely zilch about genetics.
Our knowledge of genetics today, I think, is still in it's infancy - as I try to explain on the FAQ genetics page of the website. Certain things happen, that shouldn't happen - according to the genetics as are understood today. For instance, a dog should have a dominant gene or not - there should not be "part of a gene" present - but breeders can tell that offspring without the dominant gene have a telltale bit of it.

I think we've barely scratched the surface regarding genetic knowledge. And I think that "genetic purity" is not just a myth, but often used as a false sense of "the warm & fuzzies" as I like to call them. I remember a chain of pet stores that used to be called "Dr. Pet" and they claimed that all of their dogs were xrayed and proven to be clear of hip dysplasia before sold. Hip dysplasia often doesn't show up on a large or giant breed until the dog is 2 years of age, and any testing done prior to that is worthless.

I do think that "genetic purity" can be misused to "redirect" focus away from the important things - kind of like a dog food manufacturer claiming to use "pheasant" or "duck" in a poorly digestible kibble.

I look at DCIS and the PSA testing and see how the misguiding and mis-informing the doctors are - and the tests only now are being questioned by the medical community itself. Mankind can find minute (genetic, if you will) flaws - but that does NOT mean that the person (or dog) will 100% come down with that affliction. The PSA testing (for prostate cancer) and mammograms which diagnosed DCIS as cancer (when it isn't), have devastating (and completely unnecessary) consequences for the testees.

Puppies are like children, each and every one is special and deserves a wonderful life. And breeders should be knowledgeable about genetics and not breed obvious faults. (And I think the same should be done with humans....but that's another rant.) To expect "genetic perfection" is an unreasonable expectation with life - and I think one that leads down a dangerous path.

I fully understand your wanting a puppy who has been genetically tested, but mine are not - and never will be.

I do, however, understand that more and more breeders are getting on the genetic testing bandwagon - and I'm sure you will have no problem finding a puppy whom a breeder had tested."


...I am a little in the dark on this one. In the first paragraph she says, "Of course, I do NOT agree with breeders breeding dogs who have genetic faults." Yet she does no testing herself to even find out if her dogs have genetic faults?? Uggghh I'm just ranting I know.