Jeanie, one of the reasons that you hear of more defects in the U.S. is the way that the gene pool is restricted (due to groupthink, the politics between clubs, the intense competitiveness between breeders, etc.). This incourages much inbreeding and inbreeding tends to bring out whatever recessives are lurking in the background. It has certainly been to the detriment of the breed.
In other countries, the gene pool is more open--- more as it is in other AKC breeds in this country. When I was breeding American Cockers in the 1970s, I could call up any breeder and ask to use their stud and 95% of the time, be welcomed. That is not true for a large percentage of Cavalier breeders in the U.S. Here, breeders tend to form small cliques and use each others dogs. This makes small breeding units and encourages genetic recessives because eventually inbreeding takes place much too often. Any unknown person asking for stud service is treated with suspicion. I could go on and on, but I think that you get the picture. All the best, Susan Cochran ----- Original Message ----- From: "JEANIE MONTFORD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2002 11:24 PM Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] vets > Cris writes <<<I haven't even heard of half the health things coming up on > this list never mind experienced them>>>> > > Me too Chris! Makes me wonder what I have been doing all these years - > perhaps I'm blind, deaf and stupid not to have noticed what's going on with > my dogs?! > What makes me wonder somewhat, is that these things only seem to come to the > fore in America??????? Or have I missed lots of posts from breeders in the > rest of the world relating horror stories of their bad experiences? Maybe I > should be worrying about my half American dog (for the first couple of > generations then English) and go and get him tested? He seems quite healthy > to me, leaping over fences with gay abandon and screaming for girls (nothing > wrong with his libido!) Maybe I should rush my nearly 12 year old with > the bad heart down to the vet and get big supply of pills although he seems > to be managing perfectly well without any medications........... > I have no doubt whatsoever that this post is going to "seriously" offend > some people but I talking with tongue in cheek folks in case you don't > realise.......and no, I'm NOT anti American ( I love the place!) > For goodness sake, the breed has some health problems but every breed does. > Most Cavaliers are fine - instead of scrounging around for more information > on problems, why don't you go our and play with your dogs - that's why we > have them after all. > Now didn't someone ask about the different colours????????? I will find > that post and give some thought to a reply. > Cheers from Down Under > Jeanie > > ========================================================= > "Magic Commands": > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL > to start it up gain click here: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. > Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author. ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
