Labradors are not living as long as they used to

The evidence suggest that if our current dog breeds are to survive the registers must be opened, and some degree of outcrossing permitted. Before we get to point [13]

Yet the KC seem unable to listen to scientists on this one, and indeed have just closed another register of healthy dogs - the Jack Russell Terrier. Which I find beyond comprehension.

Opening the registers does not mean changing the dog's conformation or characteristics. There other ways of achieving appearance and performance without inbreeding. Awareness of this is what the Institute of Canine Biology is trying to achieve - and that link is a fascinating article on solving the problems of genetic disorders in dogs

 

The situation regarding the Jack Russell Terrier fills me with great sadness , the KC will be the ruination of yet another grand " breed " . I use the term breed very loosely , because I love the diversity of the JRT , its all very worrying .

 

Even if the registers are opened, I wonder if breeders would actually outcross or would continue to breed as they do today? Are there any Labrador breeders today, I wonder, who disagree with the KC and are starting to outcross?

I know people say working line Labradors have been crossed with a hound type at some point, and I've always assumed that was after the registers were closed as the pictures of the earlier champions do not have the same characteristics that you see in working line dogs today. It might have been done surreptitiously of course.

 

There has always been a certain amount of surreptitious outcrossing But not enough to reverse the decline of the gene pools.

The ICB have educational programs / training courses for breeders, and an active Facebook group (managed by Carole Beuchat with an iron hand ) for breeders who want to learn about genetics, and how to breed healthy dogs. I don't know how many breeders take the course, it would be interesting to find out.

But to achieve wider uptake these courses need to be applauded and promoted by the Kennel Club. If registers were opened and the KC were willing to join forces with the ICB on educating breeders - then yes, I think many breeders would outcross. Probably in a limited way to begin with.

There is a real battle going on here, for the survival of our pedigree breeds, and the people really fighting to get us off the slippery slope and onto solid ground are the fifteen scientists behind the Institute of Canine Biology. I don't know how well organized they are or how well funded. But I think much relies on them getting their message across

 

The Kennel Club has actually produced some good advice for breeders here, and they talk about the option of breeders giving consideration to outcrossing: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/hea...ty/managing-inbreeding-and-genetic-diversity/

 

This isn't crazy It's a really good thing and can expand the range of alleles (variants of genes) in an otherwise isolated population. Breeders should be seeking sires from overseas populations, not just looking locally. UK breeders should follow this example and import more dogs, or use AI.

 

It is good information, yes. But outcrossing at the moment is being used as a tool of crisis management, when a breed is in dire straights, instead of as a mainstream sensible breed health strategy.