It is not only that a breeder doesn't test for Fanconi, but that they don't test for anything. And that is great that the "gramps and grams" are old, but that doesn't mean that they are not carriers for Fanconi and been passing the gene in all the litters coming down from them, there have been a number of responsible breeders that "thought" they had clean lines, never had a Fanconi dog and have been in the breed for 20 to 30+ years. When they started testing, 99% of all their breeding dogs were Carriers and now some of the younger stock is testing as Affected. It was only by the luck of the genes that they didn't have Affecteds before that. By not testing when there is a test available all puppies are put at risk as are their owners and they are set up for heartache. There are other important test, as we have other health concerns, that should be done, hips for one, eyes for another. Again anyone can say "my" dogs are healthly for if you don't test you done know. Hip Dysplasia is a problem in our breed, a small one now, but that is because people test their dogs and keep track of offspring. PRA is a problem (Blindness) and is late onset like Fanconi.. and unless breeding dogs and their offspring are tested, you don't know that you are passing that gene. There are Thyroid problems plus others. And responsible breeders tell potential buyers about all the problems in the breed, have the health testing to show why they have bred "X" to "Y".
And in the big scheme there are all kinds of breeders, from the very worst that sell to pet stores to the responsible breeders that do the health testing, temperament test, and breed for conformation correct Basenjis and those inbetween. There is no excuse for not being a responsible breeder and testing dogs "before" breeding other then money. And if you don't have the money to test, then you should not be breeding.
