Hereditary Diseases and the Lancashire Heeler

The Lancashire Heeler is a healthy little dog, which with proper care and attention will be your faithful companion for many years.

The Herditary diseases mentioned on this website are for guidance only and it is in no way intended to suppose that the puppy you buy will be affected with any or all of these, as the breed is fairly small in number it is fair to say that something, somewhere could be lying dormant in the genes.

Responsible breeders are already voluntarily having their puppies eyes examined, (there is no ruling at the present time to have this done) the examination is usually carried out at 6 weeks of age by a recognised canine eye specialist.

At this point I would like to add an article I have received from Dick Koster about the eye problems within the breed. I have always maintained that my website is totally unbiased and all information given relating to the well being of the Lancashire Heeler will be published, I have no reason to gloss over or colour facts to suit myself I am a Lancashire Heeler owner and as a lover of the breed I give any true and informative information available. It is up to you as a breeder or puppy purchaser to form your own conclusions about any of the information given though like it or not the facts speak for themselves. I do not currently have any lists available, but as soon as these are compiled, and with the Authors permission they will be published here.

RTR© and the Lancashire Heeler by Dick Koster

Starting points
As I noticed already on some mail that was passed on to me, it is emphasized that no one can be blamed for PLL in a dog. However, the dogs in the past form an important genetic burden for the dogs at present. It was my intention to construct a formula which objectifies this burden, and hence objectifies the risk that a dog has for one or two PLL-genes. Basis for this calculation was the fact that known affected dogs have two affected genes and parents and offspring automatically one. It must be emphasized that in this situation potential carriers are NOT included. For example: offspring from a combination of a carrier and a clear dog have a 50% chance of having the gene. However, as none of the offspring can be identified for sure for being a carrier, this is NOT taken into account. All these offspring dogs are considered to be clear as long as there is no other proof (i.e. affected offspring from themselves). Please note that the value only says something about the burden from the ancestry, and nothing whether the dog is actually a carrier or even affected. If there is enough data, there might in the end emerge a correlation between the RTR value and the genotype.

The calculation
Having said that, it shall be clear that a greatgreatgrandparent as carrier (in the 4th generation) has a completely different impact on the genetic constitution than the direct parents. In the formula every generation is corrected for this effect, the highest weight being applied on the first, the lowest on the 4th generation. My database can, with these parameters, calculate a value for the dog in consideration. This is recalculated now (I changed this recently) into a percentage of the maximum genetic burden from 4 generations. So a value 30 means 30% of the maximum burden The maximum burden consists of all dogs in 4 generations ancestry being affected.

Possibilities and limitations
The resulting value has been named Relative Transmission Risk© or RTR©. It says exactly what it is: it is a risk, a chance, so no certainty nor guarantee. In addition it is relative so you can only compare dogs to each other. It means that a dog with an RTR© of 5 is at a lower risk than a dog with an RTR© 50, however, with bad luck this RTR© 5 dog can still be a carrier or an affected dog in the end. One limitation is, that it only takes into account known carriers and affected dogs. But apparently this knowledge will be extended by the growing notion that this information is vital to be able to preserve the breed and the subsequent submission of names to the register. Another limitation is that it doesn't say anything about the distribution in a pedigree. A value of 50% can mean for example that all affected dogs are cumulated in one branch of the pedigrees. The advantages of the system however outweigh the limitations.

• It offers an objectified value.

• It takes away all emotions one can feel about a certain dog (or owner/breeder).

• Furthermore, it is anonymous. It is not important which dogs in the pedigree produce the resulting value.

• This means (and it already happened) that also information is offered that is not yet public. So using this system on this database gives everyone equal information on the risk of a certain dog.

• A major advantage that it offers is that with this tool you can try to find a low risk dog for for example a high risk bitch. Or if you consider two further equivalent studs for your bitch, this value can help you to decide in a rational way. For example you can say that you try not to exceed a certain value of the RTR©-sum of the parents or to minimize the resulting RTR© of the puppies.

One should realise, that focussing on one feature almost automatically leads to a certain loss in an other aspect. So, if a breeder focuses on PLL, he could lose a bit on show quality, or on another health issue like CEA. This illustrates the enormous responsibility our breeders have for the existence of the breed. However, I think this system will buy us time to accept certain losses in this regard, till the moment that there is a DNA-test. This seems, despite my initial scepticism, nearer by than ever.

In conclusion, the system uses every piece of information available to project the risk forwardly. It is also dynamic, which means that one affected dog can change the RTR© values of a whole series of dogs and every value is therefore time dependent. In fact, data like the LHC and the SKK are offering are extremely important but relatively static and not easy to interprete for the individual breeder.

Essential preconditions
If the RTR©-system is going to be used more widely, it is essential that the formula is applied to only one database, to ensure reliability and consistency of the generated values. The data from the LHC and Swedish Kennel Club should form the backbone of it. However maintenance is very important and the values produced for dogs should probably be certified or something like that. Maybe a kind of clearing house is needed.

I hope, that this information is enough for people to consider the situation and decide whether the system is something that they want to use or not. I strongly believe that every breeder should carefully consider whether this system offers him/her the guidance that he/she needs. It's up to them. I think this system MIGHT help us through the next few years and might limit the damage. The breed suffered enough from PLL till now and can't have a lot more.

The data has been compiled to the best of my ability and knowledge, based on information received from numerous sources. However, one should bear in mind that although checked and cross-checked, this information could be incomplete, outdated or untrue. No rights or claims should ever be based on RTR values: a low RTR value gives absolutely no guarantee against PLL, nor, in reverse, does a high RTR value indicate a certain onset of PLL. The application of RTR values is subject to one's own risk alone, and consequently no claims pertaining to RTR can be made against the author.

Please note: Never use an RTR value without simultaneously giving the date when it was generated.

Dick Koster
Kuvasz and Lancashire Heeler
+31-6-45330521
+31-345-6425137
sukelyas@wxs.nl
http://home.wxs.nl/~sukelyas

I believe it is better to know the facts than to hear the fiction.

The Lancashire Heeler has recently been classified as an Endangered Breed by the British Kennel Club this is not good and should never by used as a selling point by breeders for their puppies.

I believe that anything that can be done to help secure the future of these wonderful little dogs should be given the fullest cooperation of all concerned. Both breeders and owners have a large part to play in securing the future of the Lancashire Heeler, that many future generations can have their companionship and love. The future does not look bright for the breed at the present time, but with honesty and the help of people willing to give their time and expertise. I am hopeful that the breed will pull through.

At this point I would personally like to thank Dick Koster for all his research, along with all the Veterinary Professionals who are working towards DNA testing for the breed, they are putting so much hard work into their research, that hopefully with more people like them, along with honest breeders and owners who put the breed before profit and/or beauty, the breed will pull through .

The further sections relating to the eye problems within the breed contain information from veterinarians about the various causes and symptoms of each disease that have been found within the Lancashire Heeler breed.

Obviously your veterinarian knows your Lancashire Heeler best, if anything worries you visit him/her if only to put your mind at rest.