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Breeding and Hip Dysplasia
Musing about hips!
by
Neil Ewart FBIPDT
I have always believed that there are three reasonably equal elements associated with breeding any animals. The first has to be is a reasonable knowledge of genetics, hereditary problems, pedigrees, etc. The second is to have a good ‘eye’ for a dog and finally luck plays a very big part in the final outcome of a mating.
Returning to the former, genetics and hereditary problems remain a minefield and I guess they always will; tremendously complex and open to the rules of nature playing unexpected tricks !!
If readers were to pick just one problem which rears its ugly head over and over again I think it would be our ‘old friend’ hip dysplasia.
I have heard many theorists who actually believe it is possible to eliminate HD in a very short period of time. This really is cloud cuckoo land. However, this is not to say that we should all make every effort to keep the condition under control by every means possible.
Hip Scoring Schemes are not perfect but they are a means of monitoring the degree of the problem and should prevent dogs with suspect scores entering a breeding programme.
If this only keeps the condition at an acceptable level then it is far better than doing nothing...
So, what is an acceptable score that a dog or bitch should have which you could still consider breeding from? Any breeding plan HAS to be about using the ‘’BEST AVAILABLE DOGS’’
We live in the real world where nothing is absolutely perfect. Any potential breeder should look at the overall dog and then balance its good points with any obvious faults. If the scales come down heavily on its positive side then you may be OK to take a calculated chance. (Which, of course, every mating actually is!)
However, if the hips are causing you concern then certainly do not seriously consider a dog of either sex which is above the breed average.
Ideally, look for a dog or bitch that is already known to be one which is improving the breed and if one of the dogs involved has a score which may be a little higher than desirable then try to choose a mate with a much lower score. Also, look back over several generations for a pattern which shows relatively good hips.
Within Guide Dogs all breeding stock have their hips checked before being accepted as studs or broods. However, like you all it is vitally important to emphasise that they are also looking at eyes, elbows, etc. Also, and most important…TEMPERAMENT.
Checking the records at all their broods (250) and studs (50+) very few actually have a O/O score. But, the remainder are all below the breed average .
Any dog being kept solely for working as a Guide will not have an x ray as routine. Years of experience have proved that, provided a dog is showing no signs of discomfort, etc, during training, then it will almost certainly be capable of leading a normal life as a guide.
To routinely x ray would undoubtedly mean perfectly good dogs being ‘’rejected’’ because we would not want to take ‘’a chance’’ with a one which has been identified with mod/ poor hips.
This would be despite the fact that there are no obvious problems.
BUT, it would be totally wrong to breed from such dogs.
In conclusion, (& I quote Dr Malcolm Willis)
‘’Breeding Dogs is not just about good hips, but about a complete dog. Good hips are not enough if that is all the dog has got. Equally, moderate hips should not prevent a dog being used if has other virtues. The higher the score you want to use (relative to the breed average) the better the quality of the dog has to be. In all breeds there is a limit above which it is unwise to go’’
If a dog is suspected of problems then the only sure way to be certain is to have it x rayed. Visual diagnosis is fraught!! I had a GSD puppy returned to me as it was supposed to have real problems. Had it been x rayed?.. No!
I took it along to the vet and it got a score of 2/2!!! It simply had a rolling gait due to lack of proper exercise.
Remember that failure to hip score a sire or dam, or to breed from very high scores can land you in court if puppy buyers decide to jump up and down if their pride and joy is proved to have poor hips.
(I sometimes think they should be partially responsible for not doing their homework, but that’s another story!!)
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