Inbreeding on Belgian Shepherds |
In the very beginning of dog breeding, breeders connected alike to alike.
The social status, interest and ability to read and write on breeder of that time affected, how they kept book about their breeding stock. Pedigrees didn't mean much; no registration books existed as we know them today. New individual dogs could be taken into race whenever there was a need- if they just had qualities what breeders did want to conserve. Accidentally matings were accepted in the breed stock - if the puppies were found useful.
At 17th century a group of breeders of domestic animals started to show interest for obtaining pure bloodlines. |
|
They didn't have any idea of genetic sciences for even Mendel and Darwin had already made their points. Breeders at that time were mostly rich men (aristocrats) whose own family was much better afforded to common people. Inbreeding and catch the pedigree of the dogs in books was a natural effect to create a pure bloodline. Inbreeding has been the most used instruction in breeding dogs for a long time.
At first, inbreeding seemed very useful. Breeders learned quickly by connecting certain type and close related dogs together the homogeny of the race increased. Soon as people started to learn the basics of genetics late 18 th century, they intentionally focused into certain properties of dogs, and for improving those properties: the breed standard. With knowledge of inbreeding and genetic knowledge they mated relatives with same type to reach the prototype of the breed standard.
This progression happened very fast and before breeders had the finest idea about rules of genetic sciences.
|
Nature itself however has its own ways for avoiding change of inbreeding. Related individuals rarely mate in the wild to prevent genes leading to inherited diseases to generalize.
Wild animals have several methods of behaviour which eliminate possibilities for inbreeding. In a wolf pack only alfa male and alfa bitch will mate and the puppies will live in the pack for maybe an year. After this year they either have to accept lower position in pack or leave it to start their own family in territory. Those individuals who had chosen to stay cannot breed except when achieving the status of alfa. Mating with relatives inside a wolf pack is very unlikely.
Lately the Belgian Shepherd has suffered more and more about genetic diseases. The reasons for this suffering are the genetic load, lethal genes that are carried by every individual, genetic bottlenecks, closed gene pools, participated gene pool and genetic drift. This all occur because of inbreeding.
Closed studbooks caused narrow gene pool. Within narrow gene pool -no matter the versatility or variety of it- all gene pools have their own genetic load: the difference between the most appropriate genotype and the average genotype of the breed.
|
 |
Every Belgian Shepherd carries its own genetic load. The genetic load of four or five lethal genes makes the appearance of deadly disease or organic weakness. In most cases these genes aren't strong enough producing the disease of the individual Belgian Shepherd but while inbreeding coefficient raises, the possibilities of connecting two carriers of these genes does increase, as well the total amount of carriers of lethal genes in population. When the gene pool is closed and expansion of it prevented- the genetic variety decreases.
Social, political and environmental problems had its influence in breeding. During Word War 2 the Belgian Shepherd was drifted into genetic bottleneck. With the world on war, dog breeding wasn't one of the top priorities. Populations disappeared or plainly wore out. In case like this, breeders didn't have much choices left thus they had to get along with what was left: the genetic bottleneck.
The gene pool of Belgian Shepherd is divided into many smaller, even more concise parts by sharing it into different lines and variations. We have working lines, show lines and four variations inside the Belgian Shepherd breed. Mostly with common attitude is ordered, what can be combined with each others. Even how large the genetic variation might be: breeders have to produce inbred dogs because there is no other road to go.
One of the results from dividing the gene pool is lost of alleles. These alleles might exist in our breeds founder dogs, but externally not discovered. The drifting of the genes can lead into more serious deficit of genes. Those genetic properties that are not intentionally chosen to breeding are drifting away from gene pool. Many of these genetic properties are so minor that they necessarily don't get any breeders attention. Every dog has over 100 000 genes of which only a few are noticeable and measurable. Because every property is inherited among some other, by breeding some features -some genetic property has to be given up.
Every day it's getting clearer that short-term advantages of inbreeding are revoked by the long-term price of it. Breeders of today should re-consider their breeding plans. Breeding based by selection of less related individuals with same phenotype would offer breeders a chance for reaching their goals without loosing vital genes from existing gene pool. To achieve this, all breeders should need to have complete knowledge about their dogs pedigrees. Typical pedigree with three-five generations doesn't necessarily show any common ancestors, but if there are several in fifth or seventh -that is inbreeding.
All Belgian Shepherd Dogs are related at some level. There are founder dogs from whom all individual Belgian Shepherd of today descendent from. It would be very important to know these founders. If they are not related, there are more possibilities for genetic variation. Breeders should attempt to find those founder dogs and know the lines after them. Helpful would be to count inbreeding coefficients, that tell us, how inbred the offspring of the particular individual and it's assumed mating partner would be. The calculated inbreeding coefficient does give every breeder a possibility to broaden genetic variations by choices.
Another possible solution for inbreeding problems would be to set health to number one priority for selection. In future, DNA tests for finding carriers of diseases will be possible. Selection on health is possible. The research results as well information about health status of dogs should be easily and honestly available for all breeders. Anyone planning to use any dogs for their breed program should be aware of all actions needed for selection. Secondary health problems should be given some thoughts too. If any individual dog is generally weak from it's character, shows lack of drives, suffer from constant infections or allergies -it shouldn't be used for breeding. Individuals like this are most likely having several lethal genes that have minor influence to health but when gathered, they produce weakly surviving individuals.
Technical knowledge is also very important for breeders. Breeder should understand not only the methods he uses, but also something of the theory behind them. No mathematician or statistician is needed for breeding good dogs, but some certain fundamental knowledge would be nice. Breeders need to understand the idea of Mendelian inheritance (just to name one) before the proper understanding about methods of computing inbreeding and relationship does work. Another important thing to notice is that genetic inheritance is a random mechanism that presents both opportunities and limitations.
|
While patience appears next in the list, it is perhaps the most important characteristic of a breeder. Genetic change occurs more slow than many of us would like to see happen. The random nature of gene segregation makes much of inheritance unpredictable. The wise breeder will play the averages.
No breeding program can be successful if does not have the clearly considered and realistic goals. Breeders has to spend time thinking about his goals, his definition of the ideal dog, and the best way he can obtain dogs with desirable properties. The temptation to jump on the train and follow the lead of other breeders should be resisted. |
 |
The importance of good information cannot be pointed enough. Data about breeders material is the single most important knowledge than any breeder possesses and from that, everyone must look for the most meaningful available. While today the pedigrees are the basis for most decision-making, incomplete or suspect pedigrees should not be accepted. All breeders should learn to respect the open source principals and understand them because that will be the only way for saving our breed. Complete database of the Belgian Shepherd Dogs needs to be available for every breeder where no single file should be kept hidden. The nature of the information is also meaningful. Information like litter size, birth weights and body measures should be collected and saved to breed databases. It is no disadvantage for any breeders to share this information with others.
When good quality data is available to everyone, the whole breed benefits from it. Collecting and sharing information has already led for many discoveries like given line was a carrier for inherited disease. The recognition of more problems would lead breeders making more informed decisions about mating, particularly mating with relatives.
While the goals of breeding programs should reach the ideal as close as possible, it does not relieve breeders of the responsibility of considering our best friends welfare. I think not any Belgian Shepherd Dog owner or breeder would like to imagine a breed where every dog after another has to put to sleep due to inherited diseases.
Written by "Birdie"
|
 |
|
