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Kelliwic Border Collies

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Posts posted by Kelliwic Border Collies

  1. The only wording still under discussion is the prevalence rate, which we hope to have resolved soon.

     

    Hi Eileen,

     

    What info is being used to estimate the prevalence rate? It seems that few Border Collie breeders, especially working breeders, are testing for MDR1. Up till the beginning of this year, I believed--as do or did many others--that MDR1 did not seem to exist in Border Collies. Five of my dogs have been tested for it, only because it was part of a package deal; if I'd had to pay separately, I doubt that I'd have tested for it. They were all N/N, which simply reinforced what I already believed--up till a few months ago.

     

    Thanks!

     

  2. Thanks! That's the one I remember seeing for sure, though I thought there was one for CEA, TNS, etc. too. Maybe I'm mistaken...

     

    You're welcome.

     

    You may also be thinking of something like the one below, which is user-submitted and mostly KC dogs. There's a statistics chart on each page for CEA, NCL, and TNS, and if you click on the country for each disease's page, you'll get a list of the specific dogs. The page claims to be updated quarterly but I am not sure that's still true.

     

    http://bordercolliehealth.com/CEAdatabase.html

  3.  

    "Although we observed robust associations and replications, none of the candidate SNPs we identified tracked perfectly with adult-onset deafness. This discrepancy has several possible explanations: 1) adult-onset deafness in the Border Collie is a multigenic trait, 2) the risk locus shows incomplete penetrance, or 3) the variants we identified are in linkage disequilibrium with the true disease-causing mutation."

     

    Source:

     

    Variation in Genes Related to Cochlear Biology Is Strongly Associated with Adult-Onset Deafness in Border Collies

     

    Jennifer S. Yokoyama, Ernest T. Lam, Alison L. Ruhe, Carolyn A. Erdman, Kathryn R. Robertson, Aubrey A. Webb, D. Colette Williams, Melanie L. Chang, Marjo K. Hytönen, Hannes Lohi, Steven P. Hamilton, Mark W. Neff

     

    http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002898

     

     

     

    Published: September 13, 2012
    

     

     

    Mark, are you trying to say there has been no progress on this in the three-and-a-half, nearly four years since the above paper was published? Posting links without explanation or dialogue leave me kind of scratching my head as to what point you're trying to make. Plain speech is best for the the clearest understanding for most average folks like me, and then no one has to guess. Thanks!

  4. Hi Mark,

     

    It seems as though you are saying the results from the preliminary test will not be valid. Are you referring only to the "exceptional" outcome results?

     

    The projectDOG website says,

     

    Most Cases, Most Outcomes

     

    -The DNA test tracks 5 linked DNA variants.

    -These variants are usually co-inherited.

    -When that happens, the test result is definitive.

    -Even though the causal mutation is not known.

     

    Reliability & Validity -- Same as other DNA tests

     

    (Emphasis, and any typos, are mine.)

     

    The "Rare Cases, Exceptional Outcomes" are the ones reported on the page as "Results Uncertain, but Inform on Causal Mutation," and this is copied from the website (sorry about the formatting):

     

    "Discovery DNA Testing

    The candidate mutations are typically co-inherited, such that the DNA results are unequivocal for most dogs. The rarer instances when mutations have been reshuffled hold the key to excluding non-causal variants and pinpointing the single causal mutation."

     

    Could you please clarify what you are saying above? Are you simply saying that it it could be years before a FINAL test is available that will provide unequivocal results for ALL dogs? It seems to me from the above information that the current test will reliably identify the status of *most* dogs. Thanks!

  5. Early Adult Onset Deafness (EAOD) is an inherited deafness that strikes Border Collies in their prime (3-7 yrs). Dogs begin life with normal hearing, and go deaf in adulthood. Research attempting to isolate the gene(s) that cause this condition has been ongoing, and a preliminary DNA test is now available through projectDOG!

     

    Contained within the short sequence of DNA that causes EAOD are five mutations close to one another. Each could conceivably alter gene function and produce deafness. It is probable that only one of these mutations is the true cause of EAOD. The current preliminary test will give Normal, Carrier, or Affected results with a high degree of confidence and validity. A small percentage of dogs will have "Inconclusive" results, and those are the dogs needed to finalize the research for the specific target gene.

     

    The preliminary test is expensive to run as they are currently testing five suspect markers. The researchers need a significant population of dogs (approximately 1,000) to find the small group of Inconclusive dogs. Aggregate data from all dogs analyzed will help discern which of the candidate mutations is the actual cause of EAOD in Border Collies, to provide a financial sustainable model of testing the target marker (rather than five). In order to reach this goal, projectDOG expects to offer EAOD testing until September 30th, 2016. If, however, the demand for testing by the working Border Collie community is not strong, they may close testing sooner.

     

    Added value to encourage testing! Advances in DNA tech platforms have made it so that the cost of testing one or a few variants is the same as testing many variants. This means that without any additional cost, projectDOG can test and provide results for additional health risks in the working Border Collie breed. The tests included with EAOD are CEA, I-GS, and Mdr1.

     

    Most of this information has been mined from the projectDOG website, https://fidelis.projectdog.org/ and questions about the research and testing are best directed not to me, but to the projectDOG team, whose contact information can be found on the website. The site also has an FAQ page.

     

    I am sharing this information in the hope that it will personally benefit individuals and their dogs, as well as the Border Collie breed as a whole by reaching that research goal. I've ordered tests for all my dogs and am looking forward to the contribution they'll be making to this research. I hope many of you will join me!

     

     

  6. I have the Booster Bath as well, the version that came with a ramp and also pedestals that go under the legs of the tub if I wanted it to be higher (the pedestals I have look different than what's on the website now).


    When I first got it, I had some issues with the water pressure popping the sprayer completely off the end of the hose when I used the twisty on/off thing on the nozzle...replaced something or other with a part from the local hardware store, and don't have the issue any more.

    I have wished about a thousand times that the tub was deeper/sides were higher. There's a very good chance that I'm a complete spaz :) , but I seem unable to thoroughly rinse my dogs without water getting everywhere.


    Overall, it's great, especially for the price, and I love the fan nozzle sprayer.

  7. Megan, ABCA does not have "litter registrations" the way AKC does. Each pup is registered as an individual, and there is no requirement that all pups from a litter be registered at the same time or on the same application.

     

    I understand, and perhaps I didn't choose my words carefully. I suppose I meant, each submission of a list of pups born at a certain date, of a particular mating. But, since you reminded me that the pups aren't always registered at the same time or on the same application form, maybe it would be more complicated to identify "litters" versus individual pups than I expected.

     

    Thank you for answering the question!

     

    (PS, it's always baffled me how breeders put up with AKC getting money TWICE for the same dog; first in "litter" registration and again in individual dog registration...unless that process has changed recently.)

  8. I was thrilled to hear that this list was going to become a reality! But when I heard that the "trigger point" is 30 pups (which does seem a lot to me) I immediately wondered (somewhat like Mum24dog) how that might negatively impact the "right" breeders who happened to have three large litters of 10? While it wouldn't be usual or expected for three litters to all have 10 pups each, it doesn't seem that the odds are extraordinary, either. I re-read the thread and did not see this question answered: Is it known how the number of 30 pups was decided upon? I am not in favor of volume production, but neither am I offended at the idea of a good, responsible, working breeder producing three litters in one year. Could ABCA somehow consider number of pups *together* with number of litter registrations to come up with the "high volume" designation?

    Julie said:

    There is a way to find out what stud dogs are used the most in the UK.

     

    If you're referring to Teun's list http://www.bcdb.info/popdogs.htm , I believe it's compiled independently by Teun, based on the published ISDS studbooks. So such a list COULD be produced for ABCA dogs (even if by a non-affiliated individual), if ABCA would publish its studbooks. :)

     

    Julie said:

    I think people are asking simply because they don't know what can be provided/done. Asking questions about how it works and how it might be used to garner additional information shouldn't be seen as criticism of anyone or of the ABCA.

     

    I agree with what Julie said above. I am a curious person, and I tend to ask a LOT of questions. I often need to point out to people that asking questions is not the same as "questioning" (in doubt or disbelief) someone or something.

  9. Bumping this up to say that the large size Ruff Tough is currently on sale at Cabela's. They also have the most reasonable price that I've seen on the Intermediate size. With free shipping if you can pick up at a store!

     

    I didn't see this post right away, but I'm glad you mentioned it Maralynn!

     

    I noticed that the dimensions of same-style RTK crates varied depending on what webpage I was looking at, so I emailed Ruff Tough for clarity, and here is what one of the sales/customer service folks replied:

     

    "...it appears that the dimensions listed on our website are a bit off. Our apologies for that and we will get it corrected. I just measured the two [large] in my office and the large double door exterior is 35 x 22 x 26, interior is 31 1/4 x 22 x 25. The large exterior is 34 1/4 x 22 x 26, interior is 33 1/4 x 22 x 25. You lose some interior space on the double door units to accommodate the added door, but the rim adds about 1/2” to the exterior."

     

    My interest in the double door was strictly about ventilation, but since the single door has more room inside and takes up less space in the car, I decided to order one from Cabela's and simply have someone add vent holes for me. The total for my order of the Large at Cabela's with the current sale price plus the promo code discount added up to $207.99 (including an $18 handling surcharge because of size and weight).Just wanted to pass that along if anyone is thinking about ordering the RTK.

  10. In answer to Ruth's question in the other topic, I have three Midwest Day Tripper soft crates that I use for indoors when leaving the dogs crated in the car is unsafe due to weather or locale. They are pretty cheaply made but I love how flat they fold (about 1-1 1/2" wide), and am disappointed that they were discontinued. Midwest's "replacement" product, the Canine Camper Sportable, and any others with similar frames fold up at least twice as wide as the Day Tripper, and when I bought a Sportable to try, the frame got stuck on my very first test set up and bent as I tried to disengage it. Perhaps I just happened to get a poorly-assembled one, but it didn't make me keen to buy anything else with a similar design, especially knowing how much more space they take up when folded.

     

    I currently use Vari-Kennel Ultra models in the car and have often thought about replacing them with more durable crates, though steel crates are out of my price range. I feel as Diane does and though I understand the a dog may be somewhat safer in a smaller space, I also can't bring myself to squash my dog into a too-small crate for (more or less) the duration of a weekend if I expect him to be capable of working well. As it is, my cargo space is maxed with two 300/Intermediate sized Vari-Kennels and two 200/Mediums. My adult male (who is not large) really needs a 400 and has to be curled the whole time in a 300, as do the (retired) girls who have to ride in the 200s. The information on the Gunner kennels made them very tempting until Jovi posted the inside dimensions; I'm glad you did as I didn't catch that on the size chart! I was paying more attention to the outside dimensions and whether I could fit them in my car.

     

    The Ruff Tough are also a bit more narrow than the V-Ks, but don't appear to lose as much interior space as the Gunner does. I like that ventilation can be added, either by having them add more vent holes or by ordering one of the double-door models or both, but then I wonder whether there is any compromise to the structural integrity of the crate? If the solid-body construction is mainly what makes the crate strong, how is that impacted by an additional door and additional vent holes?

     

    Thanks, Chan, for posting the testing links.

  11. Gentle Lake, as previously mentioned, Gene Sheninger is in northern NJ (easy access from I-80) and Nancy Obernier is in southeast PA. Sally Molloy is in central NJ. Gene does take students; I can't speak for Nancy or Sally as to whether they take students at this time, but I believe they have both done so in the past. There are several folks in southeast PA so if you'd like to PM me with a little more specifics on the location, I can provide more names. :)

  12. Much ado about nothing!

     

    I received a reply from the breeder, and it is as Stella said: a laugh from the breeder at others who thrive on conflict.


    So that's that. I'll now redirect my energy towards hoping some of the more important DNA tests will be available soon, such as AOD, BCC, and epilepsy. :)

  13. Charlie, :lol::lol: !!

     

    Liz, she has MDR1 test results indicated separately from this "weak gene" thing, so it's not that.

     

    Stella, I could have just emailed the breeder but as I said earlier, I was hoping to find information from an unbiased source. :) However, since so far no one seems to know, I have sent an email. You might well be right in that it is some sort of personal dig at other breeders.

     

    I'll follow up when I get a reply.

  14. I will ask if no one has any answers. However, it seems to me that since the breeder found it important enough to post the status of their "DNA clear" dogs, that suggests to me they've already got a biased opinion on how frequently whatever-it-is shows up in Border Collies and how much this condition might impact an affected dog.

  15. I came across a Border Collie breeder website where the breeder indicated (along with other health tests) several dogs as "Weak Gene DNA Clear." I've never heard of the "weak gene." Although most of the other health test results were supported by scanned documents, this test was not, so no clues from the website.

     

    Google search results suggested several different conditions such as EIC, carpal subluxation, weak immune system, and degenerative myelopathy (which I am guessing as the most likely).

     

    Does anyone know what condition is caused by the "weak gene?" How frequently does it occur in Border Collies?

     

    Thanks,

  16. Some of the best advice I ever got was this from a rescue I contacted early on in my search

    They have to be weird by virtue of what they were created to do, so sound sensitivity, OCD, unsociability, prey drive, neuroses etc. are more common in the breed than they are not.

     

     

    Totally disagree with this portion of what Richard received from the rescue. They don't "have to be weird by virtue of what they were created to do," and it is completely untrue that the issues mentioned are "more common in the breed than they are not." The issues are probably more common in Border Collies than in many other breeds, but I disagree with the implication that most Border Collies have these issues.

     

     

    As of right now my farm has no farm animals on it. [snip] When I move there I plan to get some farm animals which is part of the reason why I am wanting a BC, but am also wanting one as a guardian and best friend to spend time with.

     

    If you intend to use your Border Collie to help out with the livestock it will be very important for you to do your homework to find a breeder who uses their own dogs to move and handle their own livestock, and who is known for producing good working dogs.

     

    Good luck with your research! :)

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