> The best way to explain it would be to describe the U.S. gene pool as > similar to the gene pools of many small isolated islands. Although the small > islands make up one large group, there is very little exchange of genetic > makeup between the islands. The gene pool diversity of each island is > already greatly reduced by availability before you ever begin to inbreed.
I wish I had an example of this to refer to. I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out what you mean as I see absolutely no sign of what you are talking about at the shows I go to and the breeders I know. I do find that Cavaliers are not bred as closely as the majority of breeds and on one hand I agree with Peggy that this is not so good for consistent type and/or to establish a recognizable line. There is no doubt that there is more variability amongst Cavaliers than breeders of many other breeds are used to. Considering that, Cavaliers could most indeed benefit greatly from closer breeding--WHEN we consider type ONLY. But now is not the time to do so. 99% of our dogs develop MVD and I don't care whether some of them live 12-14 years without any real problems--99% OF OUR DOGS DEVELOP MVD! That is a major cause for not breeding all that closely for now--unless one is very, very, VERY careful. By being careful I'm talking about closely breeding only OLDER dogs (over 7 years of age) who have proven conclusively that they and their relatives are quite healthy and vigorous--all 4 grandparents lived past 12 years of age (barring accidents and weird situations) and were healthy, and more than 50% of all related dogs and offspring were cardiologist tested yearly and the vast majority found to be MVD clear past 7 years of age. To do otherwise would not benefit Cavaliers healthwise at all, and is very likely to negatively affect the health of those Cavaliers involved. I feel at this point in time that longevity in this breed suffers with close breeding--that seems to be what I'm seeing in most--but not all--cases. I just cannot see sacrificing Cavalier health even more so for better type--especially when even the most experienced, most knowledgeable breeders can't always agree on what proper Cavalier type is!! Type is not all that cut and dried--there is still some variability amongst even the most knowledgeable breeders with the best eye. We all know it is POOR when a dog develops MVD at age 3 and GOOD when a dog doesn't develop MVD until age 10. But ask 10 top breeders to pick out what they consider a POOR head and a GOOD head and you will find some variation. So maybe, just maybe, we are getting too ridiculous in our expectations of type. I know I am guilty of this at times and I fight it because I realize that what I consider good type is just an OPINION--it is not a fact! There is room for some difference in interpretation of type, even more so in light of MVD. For now I don't mind breeders who breed to good, typey dogs but do not linebreed or closely breed. And that is how I think most breeders in the U.S. today are breeding with only some exceptions. Laura Lang Roycroft Cavaliers ========================================================= "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.
