To illustrate my meaning I will ask one question. I want every U.S. Cavalier breeder to think this question over and then answer it honestly (don't have to post the answer, just come to a conclusion on your own).
If a stranger called you, said that they had seen your ad in Royal Spaniels, and asked to use one of your studs, would you refuse? All the best, Susan Cochran ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laura Trunk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 7:18 PM Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] vets > > 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. ========================================================= "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.
