shortstep

This may not apply to Berners in Australia, but in the states (OFA) they have a fairly high rate (16 out of every 100 scored) hip problems and a very high rate of (30 out of 100 scored) that had elbow dysplasia. Make sure in writting they pay for the xrays and you may want to know what they will do if you pup has hip or elbow dysplasia.

With you on the watermelons. I am not sure what the motive is. Maybe a prefered far far left animal rights group who would like the job, coming to a town in Oz near you soon?

Jed it is not Joe Hockey, he is a liberal and a current federal opposition front bencher. He is not promoting any dog legislation anywhere (by definition a liberal would be opposed to more governement). Joe Hockey has nothing to do with any of this. The person you are talking about is Joe Helper, he is in the Labor Government which is currently in power in Victoria. He is the person who wants to make more legistation agaisnt dog breeders.

It says Joe Helper not Hockey. Isn't Victoria a labor government? Hockey is a Liberal. Edited to add Here is the fellow Joe with the bright ideas. Minister for Agriculture Joe Helper and he is in the Labor Party http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we...ers/agriculture

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/06/3003579.htm This is really good news and is going to open up gene research on some of the really hard multi gene diseases like HD and epilepsy in dogs. Researchers say they have made a breakthrough in testing for complex genetic conditions like heart disease, after the successful trial of new gene-testing technology. Traditionally, genetic testing only assesses one gene at a time, but in some conditions like heart and neurological diseases, many genes are involved. Using new technology, scientists from Melbourne and the US were able to look at 100 genes in a study of 103 patients, all of them children. Associate Professor David Thorburn from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute says they found gene mutations that would have been impossible to detect under old testing methods. "It will help in diagnoses and because we can look at a lot more genes we can also find new causes of disease," he said. "One of the other factors that came out of this study is that we identified two novel diseases, disease genes that we hadn't realised were a factor in disease previously." Associate Professor Thorburn says the trial will lead to much quicker detection of diseases. "The methods we've used in this study make it much more efficient to do genetic testing," he said. "In the past it might have taken us months or years to find these mutations. We're hoping within a few years' time [that] on a simple blood test we can find the mutations in most of these patients within a few weeks."

Words to live by! Thanks for chiming in Sylvia. I agree that is always difficult when it is such an emotional issue as a sick puppy. I am assuming the parents were not DNA tested for Retinal folds and dwarfism. It will be good to know why Ollie says her dog has dwarfism. Perhaps she does have a Dx for that from a vet or even a DNA test on her pup. When I looked up the short ulna and radius curvus syndrome Dx that she gave, it linked straight into the Rental Fold Dwarfism disease. So there may be some further connection she has become aware of. OCD these days is often thought of as a disease of tendencies rather than a disease of a certain defective gene. These tendencies increase the risk in certain dogs or certain breeds. Labs are at risk for OCD. Some of the risk factors are, large size and or heavy bone, over weight, males, periods of rapid growth (4-9 months of age), poor shoulder structure. The second factor seems to be trauma. This trauma can be cause by an injury, or by what would appear minor repetitive exercises (such as regular stair climbing) and are complicated by the above risk factors such as rapid growth, heavy bones and so on. However OCD can also be associated with deformities of the joint/s, such as dwarfism. In this case it would secondary to the deformity of joint caused by dwarfism, not the other way around. Certainly expert education of the new puppy owner in breeds that OCD is found in can help in it's prevention and is just one way a registered breeder can stand out from the unregistered breeder. I do hope the Ollie comes back and helps us to all understand.

So if it is the lab Dwarfism, then you think the breeder is right not to have done the DNA test? Honestly I have no idea how often this disease happens, perhaps no breeders in Australia test for this disease. I did see on line that it was common to test for it in europe and they were finding carriers fairly often. I saw the one gal on this topic said she has seen it in black labs, so I assume that the breeders must know about it and the DNA test that is available. Honestly I do not know what is the norm for prevention of this disease in labs.

Hi Ellz, Yes it is clear that Ollie did not come clean on her first posts, she was fishing, but instead of getting answers she needed to help get to the bottom of her problem, she just got a lot of advise that really did not help her. I am sure that Ollie is very upset that her pup has these problems, who would not be. However, I think her question is a fair one, what is the difference between a registered breeder and an unregistered breeder? And in her eyes it is all about what if anything might have prevented her pup from having this disease/s. If (and we need to know exactly what kind of dwarfism) this dog does have the kind of dwarfism that is associated with labs, then we know this could have been prevented by a DNA test. However, how often labs have this disease (how rare is this? ) and if most registered breeders are DNA testing for it or should be DNA testing for this disease, I do not know. Unfortunately no Lab breeders have entered in to help clarify the situation for her and us. I do know that one thing registered breeders can do to be clearly different and stand out for Ollie, is to be professional and try to help her understand what has happened. Dismissing it as bad luck is not helping her. I know she expressed unfairness of the breeder wanting the dog back if she was to get a refund, but I do not think if the breeder had said keep the dog and here is your money back that she would have walked away happy. Yes I am sure she has an axe to grind but so far I am unclear what exactly is wrong with her dog and have even less idea about what if anything the registered breeder could have or should have done to prevent it. It is a reasonable question, what makes an ANKC breeder different in relationship to what has happened to her in this case. So far I do not think we have answered that question.

this off topic but just wanted to expand on the above. The Australian show ring phenomenon of restricting coat colours is not found in the rest of the world, be it on the paddock or in the breed ring. It is also not found on the paddocks of Australia. The registry over the past hundred years time you speak of is ISDS. It was formed in the UK in 1906, more than 50 years prior to any show standard being written in Australia. The Kennel Clubs and the Working Registries in the UK, NZ, USA, Canada and most if not all of Europe do not limit colours. There has never been a 'wrong' colour for border collies. Border collie have been bred to work sheep and should not be judged on colour. The standard for the breed for the past hundred years has been one of working style and abilities. The only consideration for colour should be based on local working considerations if they exsist. World wide you will find that coat colour is not restricted in border collies and is in keeping with current genetic knowledge to not eliminate dogs from gene pools for reasons that are not based in science.

Yes not easy in many cases to prevent some diseases from happening. However, if this is the type of dwarfism that her pup has, then it is totally preventable by DNA testing the parents and all breeders of labs should be aware of this disease and how to prevent it. I would also guess that the OCD is a direct result of the deformities of the joint due to the dwarfism (and the other risk factors for OCD). OCD is now believed (by most in science) to be a disease of risk factors more than a disease of a direct gene. Some risk factors include; poor construction, heavy build, large size, youth, and male.

HI Ollie, I am sorry to hear about your pup. Can you clarify exactly what type of Dwarfism your pup has? Is it this type, Ocular-chondrodysplasia? http://www.labradornet.com/dwarfism.html Dwarfism in Labradors For many years there has been a known genetic link between eye defects known as "Focal Retinal Dysplasia" and skeletal abnormalities known as dwarfism. The particular combination of symptoms is mainly found in field trial strains of Labrador retrievers. Retinal dysplasia is the most important retinal disease affecting Labrador Retrievers used for hunting and field trial work. Retinal dysplasia is a widespread inherited condition in the Labrador. During CERF clinics in Minnesota, there is a 10 to 20% incidence in the Labradors examined. Most dogs have the mild form of the disease. The condition is congenital and may or may not be associated with retinal detachment depending on the extent. (It is relatively uncommon in lines of Labradors used for conformation work.) It is important to be aware of this eye disease. Retinal dysplasia involves abnormal development of several structures of the visual system. Dogs may be very mildly affected and demonstrate folds in the retina. These are areas where extra retina develops and instead of forming a thin membrane over the back surface of the eye, the extra retina develops into folds. This fold results in a blind spot. Often times the retina is also undernourished and an area of retinal degeneration will occur. Dogs with mild changes (i.e. a few retinal folds), usually have no visual compromise. Subtle changes on the part of the dog, on the positioning of the head while marking a bird, help affected Labradors make use of normal areas of the retina. Larger blind spots may cause dogs to miss a mark or miss stationary objects, while these dogs are able to perceive moving objects with less difficulty. Labradors with a more severe form of retinal dysplasia may result in blindness due to large areas of retinal folds or degeneration. Retinal detachment can also develop resulting in blindness. The more severe form of retinal dysplasia can occur with retinal separation, cataracts, and eye enlargement in dogs which inherit the gene from both the bitch and stud dogs. These dogs also may suffer from skeletal dysplasia or dwarfism, as the same gene for retinal dysplasia (which works in a dominant fashion for the eyes) cause skeletal dysplasia (in a recessive fashion). Retinal dysplasia in Labradors is the result of a dominant gene. Dogs with only a single dose of the genetic information usually develops the mild form of the condition with retinal folds. These folds can be seen early in life. Because retinal dysplasia is a dominant trait for the eyes, a concentrated effort should be made by dog enthusiasts, by careful selection of dogs for breeding, who do not come from lines with the condition and by using dogs who were examined at an early age and found to be clear. Examination of a two year old dog prior to breeding does not necessarily prevent the introduction of this condition into your line of dogs because very small folds noted at an early age can "straighten out" with growth, making the condition clinically impossible to diagnose in the older dog, although the dog has genetic information to produce other dogs with mild to severe forms of retinal dysplasia. Most of the dogs that are mildly affected suffer no visual compromises and can make excellent hunting dogs or pets. There are two forms of retinal dysplasia found in Labrador retrievers; one (Retinal Dysplasia- complete) which is found predominantly in dogs of European descent and the other (retina Dysplasia-folds) found in dogs with predominantly American field trial bloodlines. The European form is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene and only effects vision. The American form is inherited as an incompletely dominant trait with recessive effects on the skeleton resulting in abnormalities of limb development (short-limbed dwarfism). Dogs which receive two recessive genes for this defect (one from each parent) will exhibit retinal detachment which will result in blindness; however, dogs receiving only one recessive gene for this defect (one parent contributes the recessive gene for this defect and one parent contributes the gene for normal retinal development) will develop retinal folds of a non-progressive nature and, therefore, may have normal to slightly impaired vision. In this disease, three different ocular phenotypes are present (normal, localized retinal dysplasia (retinal folds), and complete retinal detachment) and two different skeletal phenotypes are present (normal or dwarf). This is an inherited condition, whose mode of transmission is as follows: Call N the normal gene and rd the gene for retinal dysplasia. + N x N normal eyes, normal skeleton + N x rd classic symptoms, retinal folds, normal skeleton + rd x rd dwarfism, eye problems/blindness, skeletal problems The gene acts as an autosomal recessive in regards to dwarfism, but acts as though it were dominant when only one parent passes on the gene to its offspring. If we bred NN x Nrd we would expect half of the puppies to be affected the others normal. If we bred Nrd x Nrd we would expect the following: + 1/4 normal + 1/2 afflicted carriers, can be identified in puppies + 1/4 dwarf that the ocular and skeletal defects are inherited together, and that the skeletal effects act as a recessive trait and the ocular effects act as an incomplete dominant trait. This implies that 1) any Labrador with any type of RD is a carrier for dwarfism, and 2) at least one of the two parents of puppies with RD is a carrier for dwarfism. Retinal folds may disappear with age, so an accurate evaluation for RD requires that puppies be evaluated, ideally between 8 and 10 weeks of age. In mild cases of retinal dysplasia, sight is probably not affected much, if at all. In severe cases, skeletal abnormalities are present. Test for Inherited Dysplasia/OSD in Labrador & Samoyeds Now Available Ithaca, NY – July, 2008 - OptiGen is offering a new DNA test that identifies the Inherited forms of Retinal Dysplasia associated with OculoSkeletal Dysplasia (OSD) in Labrador Retrievers and Samoyeds. OSD is characterized by short-limbed dwarfism and blindness at an early age. The new OptiGen DNA test for OSD-associated Retinal Dysplasia will allow Labrador Retriever and Samoyed breeders to determine if the retinal folds that are often insignificant in many breeds are correlated to the serious condition of OSD. For more information click on the link above. http://www.optigen.com/opt9_rdosd.html

Sandgrubber, Congratulations on having a line of Labs with no HD problems! You really should let some of the research teams know you have line of labs free of HD disease. They really need to look at what you have done to accomplish this and the genetics of your dogs. Your dogs could hold the genetic key for HD free dogs of all breeds. Cornell is using Labs right now in the search for genes. However the Labs are used as the affected line not the line free of HD genetics. They are using a different breed for the line that does not carry the genes. Usinfg 2 different breeds makes it harder to find the genes. I am sure your HD free labs would prove very valuable in their research.

Business must be very slow at PENN. Nothing like beating your own drum. I see they fail to mention PENN is only a prediction and fail to mention you will still have to do an x-ray later to see if their prediction comes true. Not to mention that most dogs fall in the can't predict range anyway. No way I would switch over to PENN. And no way would I only select the very few dogs with the best DI to breed, this would be devastating in decreasing the gene pool (there by increasing the risk of other problems) for most breeds. The current DNA research is already proving that 'scoring' parents hips by either/any method is never going to be the end all in preventing HD in litters of pups. With at least several genes directly involved and several more traits/tendencies indirectly involved, not to mention environment and nutrition, prediction is going to be difficult until we have at least some form of DNA test and even then it will likely still not predict if the dog can produce it in their pups. http://www.stilhope.com/hipartical.htm Here is a article that compares PENN to some other methods, and what this shows is PENN is very breed specific and not as accurate on all breeds, also examines some of the pitfalls of PENN prediction. At then end they mention a new method to look at hips, which is now available see http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/facu...page.php?id=197 This test which is done at 8 months is also compared to PENN and is more accurate in predicting HD. Latest work at Cornell... 'We have identified chromosomal regions harboring the genes that confer susceptibility to, and protect against, canine hip dysplasia. We have discovered several markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that predict a dog's breeding value or genetic potential for hip conformation. We are validating these markers. ' This is very exciting news and the gossip is that in a few years we will have some sort of DNA tests. This link will take you to links to most of the work they are currently doing. http://web.search.cornell.edu/search?outpu...splasia%20genes

Steve, looking now at the NSW breeders code I can not see anything about 15 meters and can not have them in the house. Table #2 says socially compatable group (dogs) housed in the back yard or house...3.5 m2 per animal (around 1.8 m floor space??) I can not see anything about space for bitches with pups, I must be missing it, can you tell me where you found that?

Steve am trying to wrap my head around a few things. About section 1.1 So a puppy farm is a breeder that breeds any number of pups from many to a few, that does not supply adequate psychological, behavioural, social and/or physiological needs? So any breeder can be considered a possible puppy farm? So what we think of as puppy farms might be included or not included under this definintion? Or if an ANKC breeder, who has bred 2 litters in 5 years gets raided by the RSPCA, and they find they have not followed any of the laws for supplying adequate psychological, behavioural, social and/or physiological needs, then they would be prosocuted as a puppy farm?

http://akcchf.libsyn.com/genome_barks_podc..._rory_todhunter This podcast has a good section at the end about the current research on genetic markers for HD and how it wil be used to reduce HD in breeding programs, (and will lead to the same for other ortho diseases), worth a listen. Clink on link above and then click on the podcast Direct download: Toddhunter.mp3 'HD OCD Patella Genome Barks Podcast - Orthopedic Disease with Dr. Rory Todhunter This week on Genome Barks we welcome Dr. Rory Todhunter, professor of surgery at Cornell University. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery, Dr. Todhunter's research has focused on the orthopedic diseases hip dysplasia and arthritis. In this podcast, Dr. Todhunter discusses the use of genetic tools to understand inherited orthopedic disease in dogs, additive and threshold traits, and orthopedic tests and treatments.'

Can give a little information on HD and COI. I think no matter what type of breeder, be it purebred register breeder or breeder of unregistered dogs, working breeders or show breeders, you would ask the same questions. Checking OFA Orthopedic Foundation for Animals in the US for Hip dysplaisa, 208931 labs have been scored and 17% had excellent hips and 12% had hip dysplasia. Reporting is voluntary and many will not report affected dogs, so most experts believe you could double the affected rate and not be too far off. Australia will have a hip score average, this tells you what all the reported scores average out to be, it does not tell you the affected rate in the population. I am not sure if Labs have mandatory reporting (mandatory reporting means all xrays taken by vets must be submitted even if owner refuses). HD is a multi gene disease, likely being a combination of direct genes that cause the disease and genes that increase the risk of the disease but do not directly cause it. There are believed to be at least 6 genes at play. Diet and exercise can also affect the severity of the disease. This makes it very difficult to predict which pairs of parents can produce it. Some rule of thumbs All parents, grand parents, great grand parents (I would think in labs at least back 5 generations should have been scored. You should ask for all the scores. You should also ask for a lateral pedigree for HD and ED (elbow dysplasia), where all the scores of all offspring and siblings for each generation are recorded (also the total number of pups that each dog had). The more dogs scored normal the better, the more dogs not scored or scored not normal the higher the risk. Many breeders can not supply you with these records, some should be able to, so that is something to consider. Another words you need to look at the whole family (as many generations as possible of siblings, aunts, uncles, even half sibs and cousins) not just the parents. The bigger and more complete the genetic family picture the better the prediction. No breeder, no matter how hard they try can prevent HD. They can however use all of the latest surveillance methods and be able to show you exactly what is happening with HD in the family of dogs that are the parents of your pup. Guarantees revolve around what they will do if the dog is affected. Please note that accurate and verifiable pedigree information is vital for the above HD screening to happen or for you as the buyer to review the breeding practice. edited to add; Your concern about dogs being scored normal and then later getting HD. A normal hip score at just after 12 months is something like 97% accurate for staying normal through the life of the dog (last study I look at had xrays taken at 8 months 97% accurate for normal/affected at 5 years of age) . The risk is so very low as to not bother retaking later xrays, provided the dog had a low score at 12 months or older (lets say a total score of 12 or under with neither hip with a score over 6 total or 4 in any area). You would only become concerned if at 12 months the dog had a poor or borderline dysplastic score, (lets say total 15-20) then it would be best to not breed the dog at all or to wait till the dog is over 2 years of age and score it again depending on the breed. If there was further decline then the dog should not be bred. Inbreeding is something else you can ask for information on. What you need to see is (at least) a 6 generation pedigree with COI's for the pup and all dogs in the 6 generations. COI is the level of inbreeding for a dog. It tells how closely each of it's parents are related. Each breed should have a breed average for COI and you need to make sure you are looking at the same number of generations and in my opinion at least 6 generation. (I do not know what that is for labs in Australia). You can also ask the breeder what they are doing to lower COI. Those breeders who are looking at COI will usually try to reduce the COI in each generation and will usually have a goal of reducing the COI below that of the parents and below that of the breed average in each generation until the reach 0%. It is fairly common to find dogs in the 1-2% range COI for 6 generations (written COI-6 = 1.5%) and these would be considered low levels of inbreeding. Australia has no controls on inbreeding. Please note that accurate and verifiable pedigree information is vital for the above calculations on COI to happen or for you as the buyer to review the breeding practice.

Here is the UK data for your breed http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1...hsdeerhound.pdf As you can see most of the areas they (RSPCA and the Uni) targeted for real animal welfare issues in large dogs are listed for your breed. It will be intersting to see how they will end up dealing with large breed dogs. I look forward to seeing reserch in this area.

Not sure what you arte talking about, can you share more? He seems very busy to me. Seems to be knocking out study after study. I posted the pug faced study below but no one commented on it. 2012/13 will be the year it really begins I think.

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/VEctAR/Reports.cfm#Tail McGreevy's work in the UK on tracking dog health problems which is funded by the RSPCA, there are a few of the most recent reports listed, below is one that may be of interest. Injuries to dogs tails http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20581358 The RSPCA is also funding a student to do more work on breed related diseases. 'Dan will be taking up the RSPCA funded PhD studentship in collaboration with the University of Sydney, starting October 2010.' 17 June 2010 Dan will be taking up a PhD studentship within VEctAR looking at breed related disease in dogs and cats. Dan is currently completing the MSc in veterinary epidemiology at the RVC and will take up the PhD studentship on the 1st October 2010. The studentship (Online surveillance of inherited and acquired disease in dogs and cats) is funded by the RSPCA and is a collaboration between the RVC and the University of Sydney (Ass Professors Paul McGreevy and Peter Thomson).' Just a bit more PhD Projects RSPCA funded, online surveillance of inherited and acquired disorders in dogs and cats October 2010 - 2012 Mr D. O'Neill, Dr D. Brodbelt, Prof D. Church (RVC), Ass Profs P. Thomson and P. McGreevy (University of Sydney) Aims: To estimate the prevalence of inherited and acquired disorders in pure-bred dogs and cats in order to identify breeds at greatest risk of specific conditions. Relevance of project: With the publication of the Bateson report (2010) there is an acknowledged lack of data documenting the prevalence of major disease in pure breed animals. These data are increasingly required and this project will contribute to the long term monitoring of disease in practice attending animals in the UK. Bateson, P. 2010 Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding. University of Cambridge. 1-65.

Here is the overall process http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_f...ion-package.pdf You can do the import permit on line to save some time. Last time I did it, I called them to alert them I was in a hurry and did the online form, they approved it the next day. www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/application/forms I believe you can not book Quarantine until you have book the flight and have an arrival date, you can not book the flight until you have the import permit (If I recall correctly).

Benefit the breed? Not sure what that has to do with anything...LOL Look at the post about research (from Syd Uni) on the brains in pug faced breeds. Think that is going to be used to help breed better pug faced breeds? I think it is going to be used to put more nails in the coffin of all pug faced breeds and give everyone involved in the process a pay check.

Why not? Everyone is going to cash in on genetic disease in dogs. Your local vet, all the uni careers built on dog research, politicians winning votes, general medical labs and DNA labs (just think how much money they will make when all parents have to be DNA ID'd), even the kennel clubs with schemes like Accredited Breeders, mandatory training/testing of breeders, all adds up to more and more fees collected. Insurance and the associated EBV coming down the path...LOL It's a huge cash cow. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Makes me think of the Walrus and Carpenter and the dogs are the oysters! "O Oysters," said the Carpenter, "You've had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?' 'But answer came there none....And this was scarcely odd, because they'd eaten every one!' BTW it is not a very good book. They forgot HD and ED. Pems have almost a 20% rate of HD, just think of all the xrays, PENN and sugeries they missed ...LOL

Book vets can use to educate owners on the genetic diseases and vet care their breed of dog will need. This web site shows the book and video on how it can be used by the vet. http://www.breedriskprevention.com/ Here is an example Pembroke Welsh Corgi TESTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: 4 months of age - Genetic testing for Degenerative Myelopathy & von Willebrand disease - Ophthalmic Eye Exam – Retinal Dysplasia 6 months of age - Blood test prior to OVH or Castration - for Blood Clotting tests & Thyroid test - for von Willebrand Disease - recheck yearly - Urine Nitroprusside Test – for Cystinuria elimination testing 1 year of age - Eye exam – Progressive Retinal Atrophy - recheck yearly - Urine testing (if Nitroprusside test was not run)– Cystinuria– recheck every 6 mo. - Blood tests for von Willebrand Disease (unless genetic testing was done) recheck yearly 3 years of age - Teeth Cleaning & Dental X-ray – Repeat every 2-3 years - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma – Recheck yearly - Eye exam – Progressive Retinal Atrophy 4 years of age - Blood tests for von Willebrand Disease - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma - Eye exam – Progressive Retinal Atrophy 5 years of age - X-rays - of neck and back for Intervertebral Disc Disease - repeat at 8 & 11 years old - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma - Eye exam – Progressive Retinal Atrophy 6 years of age - Teeth Cleaning & Dental X-ray – Repeat every 2-3 years - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma - Eye exam – Cataracts & Progressive Retinal Atrophy 7 years of age - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma - Eye exam – Cataracts & Progressive Retinal Atrophy 8 years of age - X-rays - of neck and back for Intervertebral Disc Disease - repeat at 11 years old - Teeth Cleaning & Dental X-ray – Repeat every 2-3 years - Eye Pressure testing for Glaucoma - Eye exam – Cataracts & Progressive Retinal Atrophy UK Kennel Club may also be creating a like system. 'At the same meeting it was announced that the KC has compiled a ‘veterinary manual’ containing information about health tests for each breed, the KC’s work and the Accredited Breeder Scheme. Health and breeder manager Bill Lambert said the key objective of the manual was to provide a source of information which will help breeders and vets. It will tell veterinary practices about the services the KC offers, he said, and promote the Accredited Breeder Scheme and the KC in general. The manual will be delivered to 200 veterinary practices, probably by accredited breeder advisers. After that, copies will be delivered to surgeries as requested on an ad-hoc basis. There will also be an online resource and a CD format which would be updated periodically.' http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/33-Front-Cover

Breeding Is Changing Dog Brains, Scientists Find http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/...00802091205.htm Some highlights.. 'The brains of many short-snouted dog breeds have rotated forward as much as 15 degrees, while the brain region controlling smell has fundamentally relocated, researchers from the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney have found.' (McGreevy) "As a dog's head or skull shape becomes flatter -- more pug-like -- the brain rotates forward and the smell centre of the brain drifts further down to the lowest position in the skull," Dr Valenzuela said. Health impacts from breed specific disorders -- such as pug encephalitis and hip problems in German shepherds -- are well documented; however, until now little had been known about the effects of human intervention on dogs' brains. "The next obvious step is to try to find out if these changes in brain organisation are also linked to systematic differences in dogs' brain function," Dr Valenzuela said. Actual Paper Human Induced Rotation and Reorganization of the Brain of Domestic Dogs http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%...al.pone.0011946