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The SV Says...© The Breed Strategy against Hip Dysplasia in the German Shepherd Dog © Translation by Fred Lanting from the Sept. 1998 Zeitung, e by Bobbie Impellizzeri

Breed Value Assessment (Zuchtwert Schätzung) is the attempt to describe, from all currently available knowledge, how an animal passes characteristics to its progeny and/or how it would probably do so. The heredity transmission (whether improving or weakening), is described to breeders as "value or breed worthiness," and in the form of a number. An animal bequeathing an "average" value (neither improving nor worsening) has a value of 100. Animals that improve upon this average in the breeding scheme are given value numbers under 100; animals that worsen the feature will have values over 100.

The SV has introduced the Breed Valuation for HD and will disclose these Zuchtwert numbers in the future. With this system, the breeders need no longer focus on whether a particular dog is free of HD, or what degree of hip dysplasia it has, but in the future he can look with this scheme whether a reduced risk of HD (small Zuchtwert number) or an increased risk (high number) is to be expected.

The fight against hip dysplasia is a large concern of the German Shepherd Dog breed. As the most populous breed, its name is brought up again and again in connection with hereditary diseases and breed faults. One may mourn that as being unjust, because in other, smaller-population breeds there are much higher percentages, although the absolute numbers are less conspicuous. Whining complaints and verbal justifications are of little use in such an instance. There is an old maxim: the larger and more striking a picture of oneself one presents to the public, so much inherently better must he be!

The second and most important aspect is care for the health of the dog. It is a question of animal protection: the animal protection law, section 11-b, forbids breeding animals, if in the procedure, pain or grief is expected because of a faulty part or organ shape. Breeders have invested 30 years in the HD fight. This has annually cost the breeder communities between one and two million Marks (up to about a million dollars). Of course although a long-term improvement can be shown, the amount of success is nevertheless unsatisfactory. In addition, in the last several years the progress has stagnated, so that more effective methods of breeding are long overdue.

First, each of our breeders should select more strictly. One should exclude not only the animals with medium and severe HD, but also stay away from breeding the dogs with mild and borderline cases of HD.

Oh, yes, objections will immediately come up here!

We should not base our selection only on what the individuals themselves are like but, since it deals with the selection of breeding animals, we must pay attention to how the animals produce. Therefore it must also be possible to weed out some HD-free individuals from the breed if they produce badly, and we must give good producers from good lines a chance, even if their own radiographic evaluations have shown HD in a borderline or mild case.

The concept that is really new and lacking from previous education in our thinking, is that now, for the purpose of breeding, the inherited traits, that is to say the puppies' quality, moves into the forefront. Instructions should concentrate no more on the individual breeding animal, but on the pairing, the combination! Both partners in the breeding pair jointly determine the hereditary factors (genes) in the puppies.

The SV would like to reach, in the state of the breed, that condition in which certain bitches are striven for, whose matings produce only puppies with below average HD risk. Each breeder now can know about the Zuchtwert HD-production risk of his bitch. The Zuchtwert numbers of all (SV) stud dogs are likewise disclosed. From both sides arises knowledge of the HD risk of the breeding animals.

Breeders are aware that the procedure in the breed is regulated through clear, unmistakable guidelines. The breeding rules finally comprise regulatory action which all breeders have agreed upon after a democratic procedure, and must jointly accept. In modern breeding programs, one is eager to define individual characteristics in particular breeding programs. That makes the breed's direction more clear.

The SV has itself worked out an inclusive breeding program for the HD fight. It is a component of the breeding rules (Zuchtordnung). It was already printed in a previous issue of the SV Zeitung. In the following paragraphs, I would like to comment on the individual items.

1. General
The German Shepherd is one of the breeds in which hip dysplasia appears. A hereditary predisposition can be responsible for it in the individual case. Therefore, the subsequent measures were formulated to serve the genetic improvement of the breed. In addition is advice for the breed's suitable nourishment and necessary care in infancy.

From this introduction it becomes clear that HD can occur in the German Shepherd. It is also presented that in the individual case inheritance is responsible for it. However, there are also other factors in HD. Scientific investigations have shown that for HD around 20% of the (phenotype) DIFFERENCES from one animal to another depends on predicting differences in the genes. This low heritability shows that other factors (in the individual) must also be considered. Among those especially belong optimized nourishment and expert, cautious raising and training. The breeding program therefore can be concerned with and solve only a part of the problem. Beyond that, it is the duty of the SV to wage the HD fight via nourishment advice and enlightened training and upbringing/maintenance practices.

2. Determination of Genetic Risks
The SV employs an estimate, in its attention to genes, by means of an acknowledged Zuchtwert evaluation. Presently the process is determined by MMP (Mixed Model Prediction) and MME (Mixed Model Estimate) as the best available procedure, one that includes information on all relationships. The breed worthiness is expressed as relative breed values with the median value being 100 (representing a breed cross-section) and having a standard deviation of 10 points.

In the breeding program it must be determined how best to make use of the Zuchtwert numbers and information. Since it is a complex mathematical process, what is presented here is only a summary of this scientifically studied and accepted method. The door is left open for changing the process for a more effective one if it became available. Presently, however, it is the technology of the Mixed Linear Models that is the optimal process:
· (Mixed Model Estimates for the determination of any gross false clutter or interference with the evaluation, and
· Mixed Model Prediction for the forecasting of the inherited transmission by the animals). The process some perhaps know as "BLUP" belongs to this methodology.

3. Information
The HD classifications ("a" stamp rating) serve as information for the Zuchtwert evaluation according to the guidelines of the FCI. Further knowledge (from an earlier radiograph, for example) is handled according to its relevance and importance.

If one wants to calculate breed worthiness from currently available information, it must be regulated and defined just what information that would be. It should be clear that current radiography remains unchanged at present. It was determined that the current HD classifications suffice to define the inherited distinctions. The disadvantages of a shift in policy, direction, and judgment (of the classification) would also always lead to too large a change, and would result in a loss of all current knowledge, which would be no longer comparable.  Nevertheless: The situation anticipates that further knowledge, e.g., from the previous X-ray, can be included. We will work on such possibilities.

4. Present calculation and information responsibility
The Zuchtwert assessment is updated at least quarterly. The current numbers are made accessible to the breeder in a suitable manner. At the beginning of each quarter the Zuchtwert numbers are made available to the members, breeders, and local clubs over the Internet. In addition, the Zuchtwert in specific breeds is updated on "information software" (CDs), which are obtainable from the SV headquarters. These numbers are required to be published in the mating notice bulletins (Nachrichten, etc.) which are produced for the breeding program.

Landesgruppen (regional groups) designate delegates for the breed value assessments, who are provided with access to the Internet. The Landesgruppen are responsible to the members and breeders for this information.  The breed value index of the dogs evaluated will be published as well in the monthly "Nachrichten" (stud service or mating news) and other documentary proof. Current breed values can be inquired about at SV headquarters for a fee.

If the latest X-ray results are to be made available to the breeders quickly, they must be advised promptly.  Every 3 months a new average is drawn up. Perhaps it does not strike the reader; in the first part a new tone is suggested: in the breeding program the rights of the breeder remains. The breed values must be made accessible to the breeder. The SV has the duty, and the breeder has the right, to this information, so he can fulfill his tasks in the breeding of healthy dogs.

This obligation is resolved by the EDP (electronic data) department at the SV headquarters through the news media, through PC (computer) support, and through the Internet, but naturally also by direct inquiries to the headquarters. Advice on this was given in a separate article in the last issue. (Info on postcard inquiries, etc.)
A representative in each Landesgruppe (region) with access to the Internet thereby supports the local breed warden, too.

5. Progress
Animals with medium and severe HD are excluded from the gene pool - forbidden to breed (according to § 4, paragraph 1.3 of the breeding rules of the VDH).

Dogs that, in regard to other features, are allowed to breed according to the Zuchtordnung (the breeding rules of the SV), may be so included only in regard to their partners' scores; which is to say, if the HD risk for the puppy itself as averaged from the ZW numbers of the parents, does not exceed a certain limit. The limit is obtained through the average breed value of both dogs in the breeding pair. At this time, a limit of 100 is determined to be an upper boundary. It is recommended that you strive for lower values.

The breeder must be informed in a suitable way about the documentation on the dogs and the admissibility of the pairing. The respective breed value, as published in the quarter in which the date of mating falls, is the figure that counts as the Zuchtwert of the breeding pair. If the mating should  occur within a maximum of 2 weeks after publication of the Zuchtwert numbers, you could also use the numbers given in the prior quarter as the bases for the average.

This section is now the essential part of the breeding program. Without restrictions and/or selection, no progress can be expected. The peculiarity here, however, lies in the distinctive form of the restrictions.

One could spare himself the first step. To a certain extent it is contradictory to the idea of the master plan, if these breeding restrictions were to be based on the owner's judgment of the animals and he wants to loosen them. The VDH breeding rules framework, in which the Zuchtwert assessment is not yet anchored, only requires the breeding prohibition of animals with medium and severe HD. The passage of this new program is necessary. Nothing is disturbed, however, if animals that are themselves intensely affected by HD, are left with no potential partners with far-enough below average ZW numbers to breed to, anyhow. Their Zuchtwert numbers are too high.

However, for other animals additional issues now take effect. In the breed scene the breeder now has the duty to look for such studs for his bitch who prove to be the good genetic producers, those which are expected to produce puppies with below average risk.

It is important, therefore, that a bitch remains in the gene pool as long as the breeder is successful in finding dogs that are good enough for that bitch.

Let us play through the example: A bitch has a breed value (ZW) number of 102, i.e., she ranks slightly higher than the medium risk. The breeder must be sure his first choice dogs (for performance, beauty, character, type, etc.) have ZWs of 98 or lower. Let us assume he chooses a dog with the breed value of 96, then the expectation for the puppies is 99, which is acceptable for the breeding program. No one prevents him from taking her to perhaps an "89 dog". Both studs are acceptable, but the conclusion is that the 96 is not as good!

Now, a ZW assessment is no guarantee. It certainly can happen that bad results can arise from this combination. If the father already had many x-rayed progeny and one knows his breed value with a high degree of confidence, this mostly affects the bitch. Let us say her breed value amounts to 107 and that of the dog is 97, so a repeat mating would be not permitted. The breeder must choose for the next breeding a dog with a maximum of 93.

The breed progress regulations thus allow for a range that permits much freedom in the choice of dogs, if the bitch produces well. This always puts greater limits on choices, and forces the use of good genetic producers, in proportion to how badly the bitch produces. Also, in this standard range young animals from good producing lines have the best chances.  The principle of this Zuchtwert-oriented breeding is called "strategic pairing" and will be illuminated more closely in later articles.

Now, there is still the problem in the practical routine, that after a cutoff date, breed values might lose their validity and new numbers take their place. A mating planned and arranged today can be inadmissible tomorrow. In the discussion leading to the establishment of this breeding scheme, this failing was revealed and disarmed. In the first 14 days after validating a new Zuchtwert figure, the numbers of the preceding quarter can also be put on the application. If the new is better than the old, then the new of course is valid. If the new number no longer meets the averaging requirements, but all is arranged, the mating still is possible, insofar as the (week) time limit is observed.

6. Matings in foreign countries
Dogs from the foreign countries may be used only if:
· they are found in the database of the SV with at least 3 generations,
· an HD evaluation comparable with the German method exists, and
· a calculated breed value was used in the breeding.

Then dogs from foreign countries are also welcomed. Good genes are thoroughly desired for the enrichment of the breed. Since for such animals the HD risk (Zuchtwert) is also useful, special regulation is needed. In the delegates' meeting this section was probably not formulated clearly enough, thus it was exempted from the resolution passed. In the present non-compulsory transition period, that is also without significance, but it will be important for the future.

Up to now, qualified dogs in the foreign countries could also be used at stud to the breeding of SV bitches. After the mating these animals became stored by the SV in the EDP, with 3 generations accepted (important for the pedigree), if they were not already. Proof of the "a"-stamp for HD was also necessary. In the passage of the breeding program, differing from the former way, it was now anticipated that the owners of dogs certified in the foreign country are permitted a similar registration by applying to the SV and submitting the HD evaluation result. After that first step, it is put "into the German market."

If the dog is initially integrated into the EDP of the SV, and the SV has a studbook (SZ) number for him, then he is automatically included in the breed value procedure. The Zuchtwert number, based on his own HD evaluation and those of all registered relatives, stays as it is until the next cutoff date. He is subject to as much quality control as the others are. His progeny in Germany then determine his future image. Without this regulation we would have bitches for which the suitable partner is simply difficult to find in Germany, but is licensed in foreign countries. But that can not be in the best interest of the breed.

7. Violations
Offenses against the promotion of this breeding program become punished as violations against the Zuchtordnung (breeding rules).

Each regulatory action, if it involves expense, costs and restrictions, must also always protect the preservation of fairness for persons. The breeding program is so liberal toward the breeders and state of the breed, that loyalty to the accomplishment of the goal should be no real problem.

8. Validity
This breeding plan takes full effect on 1.7.1999.
The breeding program will be given a year without obligatory adherence. However, one must also use this time to gain experience, to "move the points" (implement the changes) for the breed strategy in his own kennel.