Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Breeder Talk
  3. Breeder not doing Fanconi testing?? Do I just walk away?

Breeder not doing Fanconi testing?? Do I just walk away?

Breeder Talk
  • I

    The Canine Health Foundation discussion of the original Fanconi test development is at http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/0801.html

    The OFA page on the Fanconi Syndrome test is at http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/fanconi.html

    The most recent update on Fanconi to BCOA is referenced at the annual meeting powerpoint at http://www.basenji.org/joomla/images/bcoa2010.pdf - note that it references the 2009 research update, the 2010 research update, and that inconsistent results thus far are 4 out of 1089 carriers, which currently is consistent with a high level of accuracy.

    I think that should make it VERY clear that Fanconi research has been continuously ongoing.

    The current advice from BCOA to puppy buyers, as given in the Basenji Health Pages on the BCOA web site, is as follows:

    "Owners should insist that at least one parent of any puppy they purchase be tested “Probable clear” for Fanconi, unless the pup itself has been individually tested and was not tested “Probable Affected.” While not a guarantee of health, studies to date indicate that dogs with one or both parents tested probable clear are very unlikely to develop the disorder."

    That is directly from the health pages on the BCOA web site and does accurately reflect the advice given to BCOA by experts. In fact, the statement above is a close paraphrase of the researchers.

    0
  • S

    Quality breeders do the fanconis test before they breed. Those that don't, well, I can only assume they are more "for profit" breeders.
    As I don't know this breeder, this is my thinking to share with others, who are looking for basenji puppies.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • Tayda_LennyT

    I have not read all the messages in this thread - but to answer the question in the subject line. Should you walk away from a breeder not doing Fanconi testing? No, you should not walk… you should... RUN

    I have a B with Fanconi - I love her to death, but would never EVER get another Basenji from a breeder that did not test.

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • curlytailsC

    Itzyu, that's great information. I like the house analogy.

    I don't think TwinPeaks or Northern Gurl are the breeder. I do take them at face value as having purchased (or about to purchase) dogs from the breeder, and loving their dogs very much. We've seen this before a couple times, where owners get defensive about their breeder perhaps because it can take a long time to find just the one and we feel some investment in our decisions.

    Yet, it does sadden me to see such incredible defensiveness around the practice of not testing – this should not be condoned. To this day, anyone can go to the OFA database and note that there is one single Fanconi test listing for this breeder's kenne (and no other tests publicly listed, whether or not she did them)l. That is what everyone is saying is not okay here, for all the reasons outlined by more experienced voices above.

    If the breeder has a change of heart and starts testing, I for one would be more than happy to commend her for her progressive actions. Better late than never.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

    0

Suggested Topics

  • J

    Find a Breeder

    Breeder Talk
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @cheryl-goodman - Have you talked to your girl's breeder? Have you completed all health testing and recorded it with www.offa.org as public record, especially DNA testing for Fanconi and PRA? Have you done any showing or performance events with your girl?
  • K

    Good breeder?

    Breeder Talk
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    3k Views
    No one has replied
  • sabaS

    Health Testing… Why Not ???

    Breeder Talk
    30
    0 Votes
    30 Posts
    14k Views
    I
    @sinbaje: The one that comes to mind - to the best of my knowledge - should not have had anything to do with the reliability of the results (it was done in 2009 - 2 years after the start of public testing in 2007 when most kinks should have long been worked out). Of course being 2 years after public testing began, I can not think of any legitimate reason for the need for research nor the need to keep it private, but then I am oftentimes guilty of giving too much information vs not enough. ;) I'll see if I can find the reference I am thinking of and if so, will ask - assuming I did not already. Will have to look. Hi Linda - Not sure exactly what kind of situation you're talking about - so will give a general summary. Fanconi research is continuing and we are still using research samples, and gather new samples. Work is primarily to develop a direct test (the current test is a linkage marker test for multiple markers) but also to keep an eye on performance and accuracy of the current test. So getting new research samples in 2009, 2010, and 2011 is expected and needed. Research uses validated dogs that are anomalous and verified affected dogs, usually using new testing technologies. Goal is to develop a direct test and, in the interim, if needed, to improve the existing test. OFA is not funding the research and is not doing the research testing, so they can't tell you anything. OFA handles payment, reporting, and publication of results for the production test. Samples ordered for research are handled separately from OFA samples and are not paid for. They are often blood samples, in some cases fresh blood only, but not always. If you pay OFA to have your dog tested and sign a release form, his results will go into OFA's open database. If a research sample is tested, it will not. For research samples, most I know of were either for known affecteds, to be used to refine the test, or retests to verify a test was of the right dog, or tests of a cluster of relatives to verify parentage where a parent is deceased and DNA is not on file. I can't offhand think of cases where the production test would be done for research for anything except retesting a dog with an anomalous result. In that case, if the result was different, it would be corrected; if not, nothing would happen on the OFA side. For Fanconi, in general, at this point, if Gary is testing a sample or samples for research, he is either using testing methodologies that are not in production (mostly working on getting a direct test) such as whole genome mapping or improved SNP chips, or he is verifying parentage, or he is retesting an anomalous sample to make sure the right dog was tested. A fair bit of that is in the Health Committee report which is on the front page of www.basenji.org, click on annual meeting powerpoint and scroll down to the HC part. I don't know if this answers your questions or not because I don't really have enough info to figure out the specific situation. I can pretty much tell you, if it's a research sample, OFA probably knows absolutely nothing about it. They are not part of the research process right now for Fanconi. They are in the pay/test/report process for the validated Fanconi test already in production. FYI, the Health Committee email list is open to any BCOA member and you can ask questions there at any time. Lisa
  • K

    Breeders in TN

    Breeder Talk
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    12k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Nemo: Here's the link. http://www.basenji.org/learn/ Go to "screening breeders" at the top. That is a great list…and great explanations of why those questions are important.
  • nomrbddgsN

    Breeders-Why and What?

    Breeder Talk
    34
    0 Votes
    34 Posts
    19k Views
    tanzaT
    Yes, Arlene, you do need at some point to take a stand and trust what you see and what you like… Breeding comes down to that in the end.... And with a bitch that is only 1 1/2 yrs looking down from the top is not a very good judge... IMO... reason?... They are not mature yet... and they shouldn't be.... their ribs have not even "sprung" at this age.. again IMO.... I would be hard pushed to say a dog is "wider" in the front then the rear at this age by just looking down on them.... again IMO.... Here is a link to 3 pictures of Kobey, 6wks, 3 months and 5 1/2 months... everything I saw on this pup at 6 wks that I liked (and that is a bit early then the 8 wks usually used for evaluating pups) I still see... but there are differences while growing... Now granted this pup is one of the few that has yet to really fall apart with a growing spurt... And also the faults that I saw at 6wks are still there too..... www.tanzabasenjis.net/kobeygrowing.html
  • S

    Good Breeders vs Bad Breeders

    Breeder Talk
    29
    0 Votes
    29 Posts
    20k Views
    susanhayekS
    @khanis: Not polished ??? Sorry, but that is one of the silliest things that I have heard in ages. **I'm sorry; to what is this referring? :confused: I have seen dogs that are uglier than sin.. in the show ring no less! People that can't breed a decent looking domestic basenji aren't going to be able to breed a decent looking African basenji! **Uglier than sin? Really? I really prefer health and temperament and function as breeding goals. IMHO. How is that for a bunch of African beauties??? **Your dogs are quite lovely. So are my two Jasiri-Sukari B's. But neither would win in a show. We think they're beautiful, too. And they both have sweet temperaments. Lucky us. :) s.