Recomendations on the use of DNA tests

With the launch of two DNA tests for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, namely for L-2 Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2HGA) and Hereditary Juvenile Cataract (HC) breeders are faced with a decision either to breed or not to breed from carrier stock identified by these DNA tests.
Professional genetic advice has been sought from both the Kennel Club and the Animal Health Trust regarding the use of breeding stock identified by the DNA tests. We are advised that most benefit for a Breed is derived by using the DNA tests with a long term plan rather than a quick fix which might result in other long term problems. It is their view that DNA test results alone should not be the driving factor when planning matings, that the dog as a whole is taken into consideration, and that the long term health of the Breed is best served by using the DNA tests to avoid breeding affected dogs from a given mating not merely to exclude carriers from the breeding programme. It should be long term goal to reduce the number of carrier stock in the breeding population to either zero or negligible levels. The recommendations below have been compiled to reflect this advice.
It has been agreed by the Kennel Club Finance and General Purposes Committee that when dogs have been DNA tested their names will subsequently appear in the Kennel Club Breed Records Supplement, and on the Kennel Club website stating whether they are either clear or carrier or affected. In the future registration documents will include this information where applicable, and dogs bred from parents that are DNA tested clear will be identified as hereditarily clear. When dogs are identified as hereditarily clear for these two conditions further DNA testing is not required.
It is worth remembering that the genetic status of dogs that are not either DNA tested or bred from parents that are DNA tested (hereditarily clear), is unknown, unless of course they themselves are affected.

Recommendations
1) All breeding stock should be DNA tested for both L-2 Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2HGA) and Hereditary Juvenile Cataract (HC) before they are bred from, unless they are from parents shown to be hereditarily clear. (See note 1)..
2) Identified carriers should not be mated to an untested dog, or to another identified carrier or to an affected dog.
3) If identified carriers are mated, it should only be to a DNA tested clear dog or a dog that is proven to be hereditarily clear.(See note 1)
4) If breeders choose to mate a DNA tested carrier dog to a DNA tested clear or hereditarily clear dog (See note 1), then they must undertake to DNA test the resultant puppies to identify their genetic status. The breeder has two options here:

(a) All the puppies are DNA tested prior to re-homing, the identified carriers should then be endorsed by the breeder, “Progeny not eligible for registration”. (See note 2)
Or :
(b) All puppies from such a mating should be endorsed “Progeny not eligible for registration” until such time as they are DNA tested, after which time puppies identified DNA tested clear can have the endorsement lifted by the breeder. (See note 2)

Note1. Hereditarily clear means that a dog has been bred from parents that are either (a) both DNA tested clear, or (b) parents that are registered as hereditarily clear .

Currently the Kennel Club permits the use of two endorsements on registrations – Progeny Not Eligible for Registration and Export Pedigree Not Allowed. Neither of these endorsements prevents the dog from being bred from or sent abroad, but does prevent any litters being registered with the Kennel Club and the dog from being registered by an overseas kennel club. All endorsements are placed and removed free of charge.

The use of Kennel Club endorsements is undoubtedly beneficial to breeders as a measure to help in protecting stock which has been carefully and responsibly bred. It is generally assumed that breeders endorse their stock to safeguard the dog’s future, the breed and themselves. As certain breeds are known to suffer from particular health problems, the breeder may wish that any stock bred by them are examined under the official health schemes prior to being bred from. In some fields, there is also concern about sending dogs to certain overseas countries, and therefore using the Export endorsement may help to prevent the dog falling into the wrong hands.

To remove an endorsement, it is a simple matter for the person(s) who placed the endorsement to write in and request that this be carried out. However problems can arise when the new owner makes a request to the breeder for this to be done, only to be told by the breeder that they have no intention of doing so – this is when the Kennel Club tends to become involved. More often than not, the new owner will then apply to the Kennel Club to remove the endorsement believing that it has not been placed in accordance with our rules and Regulations.

To avoid disputes of this type, the Kennel Club strongly advises that all breeders draw up a private contract when selling puppies. If endorsements are being used, the contract should mention why these have been placed and under what conditions they would be removed (if at all). This contract should be signed and dated by both purchaser and vendor, showing that both have agreed to these terms.

However it is also an area where disputes arise particularly with purchasers claiming they were not aware that the newly purchased dog would be subject to certain restrictions. If an agreement is not reached, the Kennel Club is then prevailed upon to intervene in what sometimes can be a very difficult situation, especially when there are conflicting views on whether the breeder advised the purchaser of an endorsement at the time of sale.

Regulation B12 – Endorsements (effective from 14/01/03)

a. General. The registered owner of a dog may, whilst the dog is still in his physical possession, apply to place one or more endorsements in a dog’s records and to have the registration certificate annotated accordingly. The endorsements which may be placed as follows:-
(1) Progeny Not Eligible for Registration
(2) Not Eligible for the Issue of an Export Pedigree

b. Conditions. The following conditions shall apply to the placing and removal of endorsements.
(1) When a dog whose registration is endorsed is transferred to a new ownership, the endorsement(s) will be maintained. However, the person who placed the endorsement(s) must obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner(s), at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner(s) is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available. If requested, the person(s) who placed the endorsement must be able to produce a copy of such confirmation.
(2) If the endorsement is not drawn to the new registered owner’s notice, and an acknowledgement in writing of the endorsement, signed at the date of transfer by the new owner is not obtained, then any conflict regarding notice of the endorsement will be resolved in favour of the new registered owner. The endorsement will remain on the register, unless a successful application is made by the new owner of the dog under Regulation B12b.(3) below.
(3) If the new registered owner of a dog did not have notice of the endorsement, that person may apply to the General Committee of the Kennel Club who will resolve in their discretion whether or not the endorsement should lapse. Any endorsement may be lifted only with the permission in writing of the endorser or by resolution of the General Committee.
(4) Regulation B12b 1), 2) and 3) only apply where the registered owner who originally placed an endorsement on a dogs record, transfers the dog to a new ownership. If subsequent transfers take place, the endorsement becomes a matter between the parties involved. In such cases the registered owner placing the endorsement shall not be responsible if notification of the endorsement is not given to any new owner, and may exercise his right to decide whether the endorsement be maintained or removed subject to (5) below.
(5) The General Committee reserves the right to impose, remove or maintain any endorsement. In particular, the General Committee reserves the right to impose an additional endorsement “not eligible for entry in any event held under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations, nor any unlicensed event recognised by the Kennel Club”.
(6) The General Committee reserves the right to impose the additional endorsement “not eligible for entry at Kennel Club licensed Breed Shows or unlicensed Breed events recognised by the Kennel Club”.