I'm curious for what reason, how and where one would get their dog DNA tested. I'm assuming someone serious about breeding would have their dogs dna'd beforehand, so that everyone who purchases pups from them can rest assured that they are getting what the pedigree says they are getting. No?

That being said... I'm guessing the parents must have been DNA'd as well to prove it's validity?

How accurate are these tests?

Thanks

The short answer is very accurate and easily read by most people in the current format provided. I personally DNA test all my intact animals including bitches which is not required by AKC. I also offer to pay for for DNA profiling on studs I send my bitches to if they aren't already done. My hope is that one day that this will be a practice other breeders do as well with all their dogs.

For me the question of why is simple. With all the variables involved with breeding it seems to me a very basic test to provide one's puppy buyers with the assurance that you have bred the animals you said you did. At $35 a test prepaid it's very inexpensive and seems to me as basic as OFA and Cerf numbers.

Lately with DNA profiling a good number of formerly very reputable breeders have had oops litters identified as such which has messed up the registrations of two or three generations down the line in some cases. Can you imagine being the person down the line receiving that notice from AKC that your breeding program is comprimised because someone two or three generations ago that daddy or mommy (in some cases) wasn't who they said it was? If I recall right there were several hundred dog owners that received this kind of notice this year. How much easier is this to nip in the bud in generation 1 when all the dogs involved are still most likely at the breeder or stud owner's house?

We keep the DNA profile of a stud because we've collected and frozen semen for AI. I can't remember if it's a requirement for AI, but it's something we would do regardless, just in case there was ever any question.

It is required for AI after 98' for AKC reg.

http://www.akc.org/dna/frozen_semen.cfm

hehe Krystel I thought A.I. was Al. I'm thinking why are you saving semen for Al? What's he gonna do with it? Haha.

This is interesting. I have heard of DNA testing mutts to find out their breed (the shelter I foster for does this). It seems like a responsible thing to do now that it is mentioned for pure breeds.


As far as accuracy goes: how accurate is it? I have heard it can test for a certain number of breeds (common ones) but not for all.

Testing for breed and testing for parentage/identifying individuals are entirely different tests. Paternity and identity testing are 99.999% accurate and have been around for a relatively long time, just as in humans.

Identifying breeds in the mix: well, its mostly fun and new. It may be useful, but its not very credible. I wouldn't take the results too seriously.

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

hehe Krystel I thought A.I. was Al. I'm thinking why are you saving semen for Al? What's he gonna do with it? Haha.

Poor Al. Perhaps I should have used some punctuation .

That's very interesting and very inexpensive as well (only $35).

Is there like an International Data Center for GSD's dogs/pups which are imported to verify the parents are in fact who they are said to be.

Very inexpensive indeed, considering the price one pays to add these bloodlines to there breeding program.

Where do you have your animals DNA Tested? Could your regular vet provide this service?

Thanks

I use the AKC dna program. Dogs imported into AKC reg are required to have DNA profiles now before being used in a breeding program, however it only helps if parents are profiled as well which is unlikely with imported dogs.

It's very cheap and just is a cheek swab anyone can do at home.

I did a dual sired litter last year and then did DNA testing on all the pups. I posted the results on my website http://www.dantero.com/qr.php

The codes in bold/black are the ones that indicate which markers definitively identify the sire. For example on the first marker Havok is BD, Mac is DD and Flip is DD So any pup who has a BD on the first marker would be Havok x Flip since the only combination a Mac x Flip pup can have on that marker is DD. But if a pup has DD that doesn't exclude Havok since the Havok x Flip pups could have either BD or DD on that marker.

The two pups who were interesting were Yoodle and Fancy. Yoodle had a combination on one marker that indicated she was Havok x Flip, but on 3 other markers she had a code that indicated she could only be Mac x Flip. When there is only one marker with a "mismatch" AKC chalks it up to mutation event, I talked to a couple people who work in genetics they said it's probably more likely a lab mistake. Fancy had on marker which had a code that isn't possible according to the DNA of Mac, Havok and Flip. Chalk that one up to another "oops".

Each pup is matched up to it's sire via the color coding in the table.