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Genetic Information and Articles We are active in reporting all our health clearances/health problems to the White Shepherd Genetics Project. All information is made public for the purpose of education and co-ordination with other owners and breeders world-wide. We all want to see dogs healthy, fit and living long lives! An Open Registry of health within a breed is a fairly new practice within the dog world and we are proud that the White Shepherd breed has been a pioneer in this. In the early days of the White Shepherd Genetics Project, due to my keen interest in the subjects, I was nominated as the Australian Representative for the collection and submission of health data on all Australian whites. Though as time went on, no titles were given for those keen to see the Project evolve, (no egos here!) though we continue to support the Project. The most important goal of the Genetics Project, is to reduce genetic disease. Whether the dog is called a Berger Blanc Suisse/White Swiss Shepherd Dog, the White German Shepherd Dog, or the White Shepherd, these dogs share the same genetic origin and share the gene for the colour white. They also share the same diseases. The Genetics Project believes that the best way to prevent disease, is to know where the diseases are in each dogs pedigree. This information can then be used to prevent the duplication of disease when planning a new breeding. Q. How can we know where the diseases are in a pedigree? A. By reporting the diseases each dog is affected with and making that information available to anyone planning a new litter of puppies. Q. How will this help? A. If two dogs carrying the genes for the same diseases are bred together, the opportunity of that disease occurring in the next generation increases. However, if two dogs can be bred together that do NOT have the same disease, the risk to the puppies of developing any of the diseases the parents carry, is greatly reduced or eliminated. Q. Why is it important to track and report everything? A. Genetics is a science in its infancy and can only mature by tracking all data and researching it. Just as we are not always sure which diseases are inherited, we are not always sure which diseases are not inherited. The only way we will know for sure, is to track the movement of each disease, down our pedigrees, to each new generation of dogs. Q. Can pet owners submit the health information of their dogs? A. YES! It is very important to collect the health data on every dog! Every breeder of animals takes risks when breeding. Though, we do it in the best way where we can calculate it and know what to expect (if anything). If by any chance, a puppy we breed develops a problem (which touch wood, has NEVER been the case) we would partly or fully refund the purchase price of the puppy or offer them another puppy. This is supported by our Puppy Sale Agreement & Guarantee. When we have taken risks in breeding and undertaken progeny testing (not risks we consider ‘serious’), we have been very successful in our evaluations, not producing any puppy with any serious genetic disease. Our breeding program is ranked number one in the country for producing the hip scores for the number of dogs x-rayed/produced! This has lasted for generations and we are very proud. Without taking risks in breeding, we would not be where we are now. We have improved generations and moved forward in our breeding program and goal to take the breed to new levels of improvement. Hundreds of owners from dogs we have bred and dogs descending from our lines have been provided with excellent quality, healthy life-companions! At times, public education about ethical breeding has brought unjustified negative attention and even slander to my own breeding program from ‘competitors’. In the dog world, instead of working together, some choose to work against you. In happens in every dog breed, and is something we have come to accept and completely ignore. Every involvement we have had, has always been because we want to protect breed and the lines we have poured so much of our heart and soul into. Not many breeders keep in contact with all their puppy buyers and require health testing of ALL their pups! That’s what makes Neigepearl so unique from any other breeder in the country. We care about the health of every puppy we produce. We are not afraid to speak openly about our breeding program, health issues and genetic disease. We will always use our experience and extensive knowledge to do the very best we can for breed improvement. We continue to keep health a priority within our breeding program and keep up to date with the latest genetic reports so we can continue to breed the healthiest dogs possible! Articles Courtesy of the White Shepherd Genetics Project Link to Genetics Health Survey Report and great information articles with Dr George A Padget DVM Breeding Strategies for the Management of Genetic Disorders Developing a Healthy Breeding Program Planned Breeding

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