Facts and Fiction about DNA profiling
The ABBA strongly encourages DNA profiling of ABBA registered dogs and this article explains why and how DNA profiling is so important to our community. Adding DNA profiling to your program will take your breeding program (and our entire breed) to the next level of respect, recognition and appreciation with minimal investment of time or money but if that isn’t reason enough, there are others……
Q. Why should bully breeders care about DNA Certified Pedigrees?
A. The public has a very low opinion of us as responsible breeders and here is the perfect opportunity to prove them wrong. By taking a stand on DNA profiling, we send the message that we care about doing what’s important for our breed. By not DNA profiling, it looks like we have something to hide…….
Q. What does DNA profiling prove? Can’t it be faked too?
A. The answer is yes and no. Yes, it is possible for someone to send a sample that is not from a different dog but question is WHY?I Think about it, you are a breeder and you are paying good hard earned money to certify your dog’s parentage, why would you submit a phony DNA sample?
Think this all the way through…..say a breeder did a breeding with one stud but submitted a DNA sample from a different stud for parentage. UNLESS that breeder never intends on breeding either of those studs again, what he did will come to light as soon as someone else profiles a dog from a litter from either stud since THE PROFILES WON’T MATCH. And…if the breeder never intends on breeding either stud….WHY SWITCH THE SAMPLE?
I think the confusion comes because people don’t understand how DNA profiling works. Once a dog is profiled once, that’s it. When you certify puppies, you don’t send in another sample for the parents, the puppies DNA is compared to the DNA already in the database. Either it matches or it doesn’t. There is no swapping, no “DNA hanging” possible.
That’s the awesome thing about DNA profiling…..it is a comparison. And as more and more dogs are profiled, it will make paper hanging virtually impossible. The end result of anyone submitting false DNA samples is the breeder loses all credibility, will be unable to register puppies and will more than likely have his dogs registrations revoked by any reputable registry (including the ABBA and the UKC) who will refuse to register any more dogs from that breeder in the future.
So, the answer is “Yes, DNA samples are not supervised and therefore can be fraudulently submitted but WHO IS STUPID ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? Certainly no legitimate breeder would ever entertain the idea of doing something so self destructive as switching DNA samples because NOTHING IS GAINED. Nothing! There is no financial benefit and even if there was, would it justify risking what you could lose? WHAT CAN YOU LOSE? Everything, your future breeding operation, your reputation, integrity and all your dog’s registrations……
So if all these if that still isn’t enough, DNA profiling also provides the following valuable benefits:
- Independent verification of out-of-sight mating and artificial insemination to eliminate parentage concerns
- A permanent and tamperproof record of identity
The DNA profile is the ultimate in individual identification and offers a ‘tamper-proof’ means of identity. Identification could be essential in a number of instances. For example, the availability of a DNA profile could be used to identify an animal that may have been lost or stolen, and subsequently recovered.
- Enhance value of your dogs through the highest possible standard of documenting pedigrees
- Establish DNA pedigrees for use in long-term genetic improvement programs(American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)/American Bully DNA profiles currently do not give information on the disease status but once a comprehensive DNA database for the APBT/American Bully is established, scientists can begin to examine the APBT/American Bully genome to attempt to identify the genes associated with faults such as hip dysplasia or unstable dispositions.)
Q. Does anyone really DNA profile their dogs?
A. The owners/breeders of the Top Ten Producing American Pit Bull Terriers for 2009 ALL DNA profile (see list below). Even though APBT integrity is not being called into question, they do it because it’s important, it’s the right thing for a professional breeder to do and it is where all breeders and registries are headed.
One day soon, the ABBA will produce a list like this for the bully style American Pit Bull Terrier and American Bullies because we are keeping equally accurate records in our database but we as a community must make the decision to participate.
1. UWP GRCH ‘PR’ Larum’s Daredevil Dakota Of Luna DNA-VIP
(GRCH ‘PR’ Gaff’s Strick’s Smokin Gun DNA-P x GRCH ‘PR’ Atlas Larum’s Cinnamon Crunch DNA-VIP)
2. GRCH ‘PR’ Calderon’s Sundance Kid DNA-VIP
(GRCH ‘PR’ Marauder’s Mighty Mercury DNA-VIP x GRCH ‘PR’ Calderons Dynasty’s Sable DNA-VIP)
3. GRCH Legacy’s I’am A Rouge DNA-P
(CH Crystal Rocks Breakin The Mold DNA-VIP x GRCH ‘PR’ Marauder’s Sweetest Peach)
4. GRCH ‘PR’ Harris’ Second Chance To Kisme DNA-P
(CH ‘PR’ Lar-Sans Kisme By Chance DNA-VIP x CH ‘PR’ Navarros Ca Aurora)
5. UWPCH GRCH ‘PR’ Luna’s Iron Mike Of Blue Rock DNA-VIP
(GRCH Legacy’s I’am A Rouge DNA-P x GRCH Luna’s Gaff Luscious Sable DNA-P)
6. CH Crystal Rocks Breakin The Mold DNA-VIP
(CH Gaff-Sierra Titanium Tank DNA-P x CH Wunderhund’s Majestic Gabrielle DNA-P)
7. UWPO UWPCHX GRCH Brytess Strick’s Go 4 Your Guns DNA-P
(GRCH ‘PR’ Gaff’s Strick’s Smokin Gun DNA-P x Brytess Lil Bit O’ Pebbles)
8. GRCH ‘PR’ Powerhouse Stone Cold D-N-D
(GRCH ‘PR’ Gaff’s Ca. Primetime DNA-P x GRCH ‘PR’ Powerhouse’s Second Chance DNA-P)
9. UWPO UWPCHX GRCH ‘PR’ Larum’s Jabbin Jake DNA-VIP
(GRCH ‘PR’ Gaff’s Strick’s Smokin GUN DNA-P x GRCH ‘PR’ Atlas Larum’s Cinnamon Crunch DNA-VIP)
10. CH ‘PR’ Powerhouse’s Young Gun DNA-VIP
(GRCH ‘PR’ Gaff’s Strick’s Smokin Gun DNA-P x CH ‘PR’ Powerhouse’s Brk Angel DNA-P)
Still need more reasons? How about this?
Widespread DNA profiling is the first step to creating an American Bully DNA database which can do several very important things for our breed (American Pit Bull Terrier/American Bully):
- Ensure accuracy of breeding records, confirm and guarantee pedigrees and protect breed integrity.
- Establish a legitimate American Bully stud book which is an important step toward getting a breed recognized by other nationally and internationally recognized registries.
- Answer once and for all if other dog breeds have been used to create the American Bully. (Currently there is not enough genetic information collected on the American Pit Bull Terrier to identify the breed strains it contains, primarily because not enough breeders DNA profile. That is why by doing our part and DNA profiling our breeding stock, we contribute to the future of our breed in a positive way.)
- DNA profiling can prove pedigree in the absence of paperwork! eliminate the need for registration paperwork to prove the pedigree of (Registration paperwork will still be needed to prove ownership but if you don’t have papers on your dog, it can still be verified as purebred by DNA profile.)
Bully family if we will spend $85 for a spiked collar that does absolutely nothing of value for our breeding program or our breed, why won’t we spend $25 (ABBA) or $50 (UKC/AKC) to DNA profile our dogs? If we don’t start profiling, are we really “down for the breed”?
Money may be a concern so you don’t need to profile the entire yard all at once. Start by profiling your breeding dogs, especially studs open to the public. DNA profile your females before they whelp another litter.
Profile main stud dog $25
Profile pregnant female $25
Benefit to your yard Priceless
Benefit to the breed Priceless
