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Welcome
W
elcome everyone to
our inaugural edi-
t i on o f Best In
Show Daily Magazine. For the
last four years, Best In Show
Daily has grown from a community in single digits to now
the largest multi-channel, multimedia, online-only publication
covering the world of purebred
dogs with in-depth coverage of shows, performance events, health, politics, and essays
from much loved writers, like Laura Reeves & Rhoda Springer.
This month’s debut includes several exciting articles, starting with interviews with
Jennifer Kofron and Amanda & Vito Ciaravino. Jennifer Kofron, known for her Sun Devil Curlies,
shares her interests, mentors and guiding princi-
ples for breeding dogs that can hit all the marks
whether in a show ring, performance events, hunting or as a much loved pet. Amanda and
I’ll be here championing the cause of purebred dogs as I have for most of my career.
Vito share one of their career highlights. If you love to keep up on health topics, have a Newfoundland and worry about the PICALM gene or own a breed that’s susceptible to
SAS, you’ll want to read this month’s health article to learn about the current competing research studies that are creating some controversy. Finally, one of our community’s
most loved editors, Rhoda Springer, writes up with great warmth and passion why we go to the Nationals.
Best In Show Daily Magazine will publish monthly, joining the other Best In Show
Daily products: BISDfresh, Best In Show Daily Newsletters, our lively social media channels, and our website. However you want to keep informed, we have the online
solution for you.
I’ll be here championing the cause of purebred dogs as I have for most of my career. If
we haven’t met, I’ll share a bit of my background: I have over 70 champions in beagles, foxhounds, and cocker spaniels. My home is full of dogs, birds, adult kids, and outside
there is a collection of chickens and turkeys. I hope you find our articles engaging, enjoy
our selection of beautiful dogs for this month. Drop us a note, we’d love to hear from you.
Sincerely, Leah Bertagnolli Editor
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Best In Show Daily
In this issue
WHO’S WHO
Editor’s Welcome
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In this issue
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Rates and Upcoming Issues
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Why Do We Go to Nationals? by Rhoda Springer Breeder Bulletin by Jess Pearson
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Handler Interview: Amanda & Vito Ciaravino by Jess Pearson 22 The Newfoundland, the PICALM gene, and the SAS Controversy by Casey Carl
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Next Issues
November -- Morris & Essex Winners -- Montgomery Winners -- National Dog Show Preview December- The Annual Edition -- National Dog Show Winners -- Eukanuba Preview -- Handler’s Edition
Publisher Richard F. Goldman Editor-in-Chief Leah Bertagnolli Associate editors Laura Reeves, Rhoda Springer and Casey Carl Art & Photography Director Megan Cloudman Sales Jess Pearson Website Editor Ruben Alanakyan Magazine Design Nicki Dobson Social Media Maven Jen Smith Intern Michelle Suez Founder Kayla L. Kurucz Special thanks to Celia Suez, Truett Petty, Corinne
Minzer, Kayla Bertagnolli, Chaundra
Concepcion Gomez, Debbie Cole,
Danny Sayers, Christie McDonald, Susan Chaney, Billy Wheeler; our European Team Garegin
Chookaszian, Edgar Teroyan, Tsovi
Chookaszian, Babken Chookaszian,
Areg Hovhannisyan; our New York
Team Lance Bell, Kristin Kernan, Tyler Bray.
This month’s Cover Dog
Rates Regular Page.........................................................$200 Regular Spread.....................................................$400 Front Cover (includes a 2 pg spread................$800 Inside Front Cover Spread.................................$750 Preferred pages (pg 3-10)...................................$350 Inside Back Cover................................................$400 Inside Back Cover Spread..................................$800
GCH W-Haven’s Shades of Pemberley, CGC bestinshowdaily.com
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Owner Handlers:
Why Do We Go to Nationals? by Rhoda Springer
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hen talking to regular (ie not dog show) people, I always have a difficult time relaying just how big our National Specialty is. I’ve tried sports analogies like the US Open (golf or tennis, take your pick); or, the Olympics (but every year). That is usually met with a polite smile. I have tried entertainment – the Oscars for instance, but you don’t have to go through a nomination process. I get another set of polite smiles. The truth is, you have to be in the sport of dog showing to really understand the enormity of each parent clubs’ national specialty. It is something that exists in the bones, a deep seeded excitement that usually invol ves asking f or those vac ation days a year in advance and looking down at new puppies and wondering which ones you will be taking. But let’s face it, for the owner handler, the national is a daunting prospect. And if you are competing in Best of Breed with a dog that you have gotten ranked, it can be terribly frustrating. A whole year is distilled down to a single day’s competition during a weeklong marathon with the opinion of a single judge (in most cases). And all the ‘big dogs’ from all over the country are there – with their professional handlers. So why do we do it to ourselves?
and snickering; but here at the National, it’s like we just stepped off a Paris runway. You Get to See (and Be Seen) For many of us, this is the heart of the thing. It is not just a chance to connect with our fellow breed enthusiasts, but to see what they are doing in their breeding programs. You will be able to have those side discussions that won’t be on Facebook or on blogs and stand around evaluating what they have in their ex-pens. And as always, you get to shop for the elusive ‘perfect stud dog.’ I’m pretty sure that last one’s a unicorn, but if it does exist, your chances of actually seeing one should improve at a National. As a breeder, and an owner-handler, I find it very beneficial to see these dogs from other parts of the country. Most of us slog away in our backyards, and we can lose perspective on what the judges are seeing – since those judges are usually moving around the country every weekend. Perhaps your entry lacks bone or has a completely different look than the majority of the country. So when you walk into your neighborhood show, you are actually walking in as the odd man out but never realized it. And you can watch other owner handlers. Some owner handlers (and professionals for that matter) will catch your eye over and over again. What are they doing that makes that happen? Are their dogs simply superior? Is it something they are wearing? Is it a good thing that is making me look? If that handler is winning or placing in class after class, maybe you should be adding their skill sets to your own. And you will be seen. Make it count! And consider ordering the DVD if your club does that. Video can be the single most helpful tool in reviewing and/or improving your handling skills. It can point out nervous ticks you have when you are showing. Everyone has them but are they detracting from your entry? You can see if you are swinging your arm wildly while gaiting or fussing too much during the stack. The camera is impartial and very informative!
It is more than winning (although winning a National is absolutely fantastic!). It is reconnecting to the core of my chosen breed for one week of the year and refueling my passion for the next 12 months.
All Our Friends Will Be There A tragic admission on my part, but any time I have been naughty in some fashion I have lamented that I am going straight to Hell. That observation has always been closely followed by the statement, ‘At least, I will be among friends!’ Is the National Specialty a form of Hell? Well, depends on your perspective I suppose, but you will definitely be among friends! Almost everyone will be there. Old friends, new Facebook friends, friends you only get to see once a year at this thing, and friends you are really glad you only see once a year at this thing. There will also be some absolute strangers and a few people you would be quite happy to never see again. But, they will all understand and share your insane passion for the sport and your chosen breed. There will be no need to explain why you are taking at least a week’s worth of vacation for a dog show to these people. They will get it. They may have even driven across the country staying in cheap motels (that accept dogs) along the way to get to the event. And when we are all united in our insanity, we are a mighty force to contend with. In my breed and in my area, most regular dog show weekends put me in the minority as an Owner Handler. At the National though, we are in much greater numbers. It has been my experience that most judges will look at the dogs more when we are in the majority and at our Nationals, they usually have more time per dog. I call that a plus.
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You Can Go Wild with Fashion I know there are some of you that shop for the National all year long. For this one event, we scour the clearance racks for ‘breed themed apparel.’ Sure, that’s not something they probably cover in a fashion merchandising class, but if they knew us, they probably would. Since my breed is Rhodesian Ridgebacks, anything safari or African themed is sought out. So if is zebra, leopard, or giraffe printed, or has a lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe, ibex or any other African animal on it, it is snapped up like a half priced Kate Spade bag. We will wear that leopard printed sequin studded suit with our dangly, lion headed earrings (with the rhinestone eyes) along with our giraffe printed bracelet with pride! Sure, if we wore that in to work one day it would be met with some pointing Best In Show Daily
Because It’s There Famed English mountaineer, George Mallory, has been credited with saying that he wanted to climb Everest ‘Because it’s there.’ There is some controversy about whether these were his actual words but the meaning is plain enough. And I think it also sums up why we all head to our Nationals every year – or at least, every year we are able. It is pretty much at the core of our being. You go because it’s the Nationals. My own National is set for the week of September 21 this year, and I really don’t have any illusions that I will be coming home with a van jammed packed with trophies and big ribbons. This year’s judge usually doesn’t like my dogs. But so be it! I will still be there. Because there is always an opportunity to learn. So I vow this year to take at least one step outside my comfort zone and spend time with a fellow Ridgeback enthusiast that I don’t know that well. I will see what they have to teach me (even if the lesson is to not do what they are doing!). I will try to make it as fun as possible for my 9 month old puppies who are my future (besides, they are blissfully removed from the drama that sometimes surrounds these events). And if I take home a single ribbon, I will be very happy. No matter my chances, I will be present. Because that is who I am. It is more than winning (although winning a National is absolutely fantastic!). It is reconnecting to the core of my chosen breed for one week of the year and refueling my passion for the next 12 months. I go because it is there. And I might see a unicorn . . .
Author Rhoda Springer got her first Rhodesian Ridgeback (and first show dog) in 1993 and has been addicted to the sport ever since despite numerous intervention attempts by family and friends. Since coming home from the National in 2014 with a very large ribbon, the family has come to the conclusion that she is in it for life and has thus given up. When not in the show ring, she lives and earns a living at a real job in southeastern Pennsylvania.
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Meet Jennifer Kofron of Sun Devil Curly Coated Retrievers
by Jess Pearson
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est in Show Daily’s Jess Pearson interviews Jennifer Kofron of Sun Devil Curlies. Jennifer talks about her success in the breed; how form form follows function is key, and her recent trip to Australia.
a name for Curlies. They’ve made people understand that correct and beautiful Curlies can also be great field dogs. But, they have also gone on to produce Ch/ Master hunters themselves. We are also proud to have bred one of the few Best in Show Curlies, Stewart, who is also an Australian CH, and multiple Where are you located? group winner in Australia! Stewart has produced We are located in Brighton, Wisconsin. A small, offspring in Australia and in the United States. He rural town in Western Kenosha County. is Westminster Best of Breed 2015, and is currently being campaigned by Grace. He is the number one What is your kennel’s slogan/motto/goal? all-breed Curly in the country. I always believe that form follows function. The correctly built, bred to standard Curly is both beauti- A s a bre e der, what has b e en yo ur ful and able to to do what it was originally bred to do, largest accomplishment? and do it well. There should be no distinction or split. It’s so hard to pinpoint just one accomplishment. I believe one of my biggest accomplishments as a How long have you been breeding and breeder is to say I’m proud to we are the only breeder showing Curlies? in the U.S. to have proudced three bitches to each I got my first Curly, Ptarmigan Sun Devil, in 1988 earn both AKC CH and AKC Master hunter titles. from Ptarmigan Curlies in Cadott Wisconsin. He We also have bred dogs that have won the Curly was an AKC CH, earned his CD, JH and WCX all Coated Retriever Club of America’s Annual Field with me. He became my foundation sire and I bred Trophy and we have also been awarded the CCRCA my first litter in 1997. I have been actively showing Breeder of the Year 4 times. We have consistently and breeding since then. And, my daughter, Grace, won different awards at most specialties in the last 26 became my partner - sharing my love of this won- years, from puppy sweeps winners, Best of Winners, derful breed, exhibiting and helping with breeding Award Of Merits, best opposite sex awards, Gundog plans, whelping and puppy raising. sweeps winners, high in trials, Field trophy recipients, and working test titles. How did you get started in the breed or breeding? What were Curlies originally bred for and are I’ve always loved dogs, and grew up with a they used for that original purpose today?
U.S. soil! Both Samba and Stewart have offspring in the Australian bred class, the entries could be both those countries. Isaac, CH Sun Devil Take Me On Champion exhibits and non champions competing CD UWC RAE HOF, has a daughter in Sweden against each other for placements. that continues to make an impact with her offspring! Stewart also has a daughter in Norway. Once Best of Breed is awarded, whatever class that exhibit came from, the second place award will come Tell us about your most recent trip to Australia. back in to compete for runner up best of breed. So I went to Australia and spent 7 weeks with my BOB and RU BOB can be the same sex or different breeder friend of 20 years, Tony Eales, of Cudyncae sex. The judge also awards best minor puppy, best gundogs, who lives outside of Brisbane, in a town puppy, best junior, intermediate , open and AUS bred called Willawong. He is the person we exported along the way. To gain a CH, dogs need 100 points. Stewart to and where he lived for 4 years! I went These points can be either from winning dog or bitch during the country’s winter. Winter in Queensland challenge and points are based on numbers defeated is certainly not like winter in Wisconsin! Daytime in that sex, or if there is only one of that breed, it gets temps from 60-75 F mostly sunny, nighttime can 6 points automatically for walking in the ring. There get cold...mid thirties to low 40s. No central heat in are no major sin requirements for a CH. houses but some wall heaters to help take the chill off! Hoodies, ( jumpers), scarves and Ugg boots help Any main differences in show preparations, take the chill off late night and early morning! Eating professional handlers, etc? breakfast on the veranda with Palm trees in view and One of the biggest differences I noticed was the cockatoos and Kookaburras making noise is such a owner handler dominates the show scene in Australia. hardship! Our trip to Sydney mid July, for a three There are very few “ professional “ handlers. Grooming day show called North of the Harbor shows, we froze, styles are also different in the coated breeds. It seems with low temps, frost, rain and some snow! What the grooming is not as “ fancy” or perfect. Golden an adventure staying in a caravan on show grounds! Retrievers, setters, spaniels, were not as sculpted or Thank goodness for heated blankets and woollies! blown out or trimmed as tight as what we see here. I spent my 7 weeks doing some touring, dog show- Also, most people transport their dogs to shows in ing every weekend, both around Brisbane and in dog trailers that are pulled behind vehicles. People Sydney, sampling their culture and meeting great camp at show venues either in “caravans” what we people and dogs. I also was able to take a side trip call RVs, or set up sides on their gazebos and have to Adelaide Australia to spend 4 days with a Curly cots and sleeping bags.
Yorkie and Irish Setter. My aunt showed Standard Schnauzers and I used to go to shows with her. After graduating college at University of Wisconsin - Madison, I had a co-worker at my first job ask me if I would like to house sit and dog sit for her. She had two Curly Coated Retrievers and that is where my love affair started. Several years later, when my husband and I decided to get a dog, we knew it was going to be a Curly. We got connected with Janean Marti of Ptarmigan and managed to get the pick male if I wanted to show him. The rest is history!
Coated Retriever breeder, Helen Jones of Dizzyki Curlies, seeing all sorts of Curlies including offspring of my Stewart, touring the city of Adelaide and wine tasting in the famous Barossa Valley vineyards. I also was able to spend time with another Curly breeder near Sydney in the Southern Highlands, , Kerryne Belbin of Miamba Curlies, seeing and loving on dogs of my breed I’ve only seen pictures. I came home with ideas for semen imports and a puppy shipment next year! I met so many exceptional people, so welcoming and kind. The food, absolutely amazing, the country is just beautiful, the climate just lovely, birds, kangaroos, wombats and koalas! The trip of a lifetime! I can’t wait to go back! Grace had the opportunity to spend 2 months in Australia in the summer of 2014! She also lived with Tony Eales during this time but had the great fun of showing Stewart while she was there, earning many great wins over the summer and meeting a lot of great people!
For those not familiar with Curlies, whare are a few breed specific traits or qualities? The Curly Coated Retriever is unique in it’s coat appearance and outline. Tight, crisp. close-to-theskin curls cover the body, except for the face and legs where the coat is smooth. Quite upstanding in appearance, the tallest of the retrievers, and a confident attitude with a beautiful unique mixture of strength and grace in their movement. Black and liver are the accepted colors, liver being recessive. Curlies can be aloof with strangers but fiercely loyal family Do you breed for conformation, performance, dogs. They are great with kids and live to be someor both? one’s best friend. Non-stop, retrieving fools, and can We breed to produce a Curly that can compete in keep themselves occupied in a lake or pond for hours the show ring, obedience, agility, in the field, and be on end! a beloved pet. We feel a well-bred Curly should be able to do any and all of these things. What is/was your biggest or most memorable win (conformation, performance or both)? How many champions (conformation or There are so many of my wins that are special to performance) does your kennel have? me. Some of my favorites: winning Best in Puppy To date we have bred 11 litters. We have produced Sweeps, and then Best of Winners from the bred 25 breed champions and over 30 field titles includ- -by class at the 2010 national specialty, with my 6 ing: JH, SH, and MH, as well as WC, WCX and month 18 day old puppy boy! Another watching my WCQ, and Upland Working titles. We’ve also pro- daughter Grace win Best of Breed at Westminster duced NAHRA and UKC field titles. And, we’ve also in 2015 with Stewart, as a breeder/ owner / handler! produced OTCH and obedience titles, agility trial The other, watching Grace and Stewart win their champions and numerous Rally titles. first all breed Best in Show this past May! In the field, watching my owners of my CH/ Master hunter Tell me about any dog(s) of importance both bitches receive awards for these girls at our National in the field and show ring. Specialty Awards ceremonies! Dogs of importance... Again, it’s hard to pinpoint just a few since so many had so much impact on my Do you have dogs in any other countries? program and for the people I mentored. Of course, Currently I have a dog, Samba, Sun Devil Samba quality bitches in a program is of utmost importance. in Bohemia, living in the UK! He is a stud puppy I’m very proud of my bitch line as they have con- from frozen semen I imported from the UK. Stewart, sistently produced generation-after-generation of BIS Am GCH/ AUS CH Sun Devil I’ve Got a beautiful and talented Curlies. My three Ch/Master Feeling for Cudyncae, spent 4 years in Australia hunter bitches (Chant, Bebe and Qwik) have made a with breeder friend, Tony Eales, then returned to us huge impact in the breed not only by helping to make here at Sun Devil in 2014 to continue his career on Who were/are your mentors? My mentor was, and still is Janean Marti. We’ve been friends for 27 years and have traveled to countless Specialties and shows and hunt tests together over the years. We’ve co-bred litters, given each other dogs, shared information, ideas, dreams and vision. She’s an incredible person with a wealth of knowledge and experience with whom I never would be where I’m at without.
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Curlies were originated in England in the early 1800’s and bred to be the King’s gamekeepers dogs used for cleanup after a Royal hunt. They were also prized as poachers hunting dogs, hence the correct coat being matte, not shiny, so as to not be reflective in the moonlight. Their tight curls provide a very protective covering in harsh conditions and cold water. Curlies are still used as hunting dogs in both upland and water fowl work. They have a keen nose and independent and brave spirit.
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How do Curlies in Australia compare to those in the U.S and how are they different? I have not found a huge difference between Curlies in the US and Australia, except for a slightly larger size that is more accepting there than in the US. Grooming practices seem to be similar as does showing style. Curlies are a bit more popular in Australia. Did you show any dogs during your trip? I was lucky enough to be able to show many different breeds of dogs while in Australia. Pointers, German Wirehair Pointers, Whippets, Field Spaniels, and Pugs! My highlights showing dogs, were winning the group with one of the Chesterhope Pointers, winning several bitch challenges with Pointers, grooming and showing Field Spaniels in Sydney and at the Brisbane Royal! How do shows differ in Australia vs the U.S.? The shows in Australia are very different than here in the US. The first big difference is there is no class where all the Champions go in together, like our BOB class. Champions always compete against non champions for the challenge certificate. The classes are minor puppy, puppy, junior, intermediate, Australian bred and open. The winners of each of these classes compete for dog and bitch challenge. The winner of the dog and bitch challenge then go on to compete for Best of Breed. So for instance in
Do they host Curly specialties or mostly just all breed shows? There were many different kind of shows. Larger ones at designated dog show venues, and smaller “ Ag” shows at fair parks in conjunction with county fairs etc. Some shows start at 8:30 am and go to 2 or 3 pm. There are dog shows that begin at 5 pm and end at 11 pm to 1 am. Mostly because of the day time heat. However a few I exhibited at in July and August got pretty cold by 10 pm, we were bundled up in jackets and scarves! Nothing that an “Esky” filled with libations didn’t help Each state also holds a big “ Royal” show that is in conjunction with their state fair type event. They are at different times of the year. Usually judges are hired from all over the world and the show lasts for 10 days with different breeds being judged each day. The last day are the groups and best in show competition and they benched shows. I attended the Brisbane Royal show in August of this year, and it was just a great time, with an entry of about 1900 dogs. It was very fun, exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. I was there 7 of the 10 days with different breeds and had the privilege of showing Field Spaniels with a breeder, John Robertson of Meadowbriar Field Spaniels, I have gotten to know through Facebook. It was so much fun and an honor to show one of his fields to Runner up Best of Breed! Are there any cultural differenes that affect showing/performance events? Everyone has “gazebos” what we call pop-ups, that they set up all around the rings and set up their “ camps” for the weekend. There are virtually no indoor shows. Another great thing are their trolleys. Basically crates on wheels, and people are seen wheeling their dogs from their gazebos to the rings and back again. Does Australia host performance events also or just conformation? I only attended conformation shows that had no obedience or agility with them. I never saw any obedience competitions while I was there. Would you visit Australia again? I fell in love with Australia and it’s people, it’s culture. I’m looking forward to continuing my friendships with so many good people I met over there and hope to add a Curly or two from Oz in the future! I do want to go back again!
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Professional Handlers: Amanda & Vito Ciaravino
by Jess Pearson
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est In Show Daily’s Jess Pearson interviews professional handlers Amanda and Vito Ciaravino. They discuss the proudest moments in their career, maintaining active hobbies in their down time, and the importance of family.
Any family members who currently handle with you? While we don’t have any other family members who handle with us, our assistant Sabrina Rundle has been with us long enough to consider her part of our “adopted family.”
How long have you been handling? What breeds do you specialize in? Vito has been handling for over 25 years, and Although we handle all breeds, we specialize in Amanda has been handling for over 15 years. Working and Sporting breeds, more specifically English Setters and Great Danes. Who is your assistant(s) and how does she/ he/they impact your team? W hat is your big gest win/proudSabrina Rundle has been with us for 5 years now, est moment? and she has become family. She has been a part We have been fortunate enough to have many of so many wonderful wins and memories and memorable moments throughout our career, but we love having her as apart of our team. our most recent that “stand out” are as follows: We have a few girls that rotate through on occa- VC: English Setter National and Best of Breed sion and we appreciate their help and we really at the Garden with “Kiki” our blue English enjoy having them around. (Sydney Essebaggers, Setter Bitch, GCH Aerden’s Pretty In Pink JH Grace Szczurek & Nicole Szczurek).
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AC: Winning the futurity In 2012 with my English setter bitch Bobbie and then returning to win the 2014 Maturity, to then find out that Bobbie is the first English setter to do so!
If you were not handling professionally, what would your career be? VC: Anything dealing with planes AC: Counseling and helping families of military service men and women and/ or being actively What breeds are you currently showing? involved with the Wounded Warrior Project, We have a very diverse string of dogs, as we helping our service men and women and their are handling a variety of breeds at the moment. families when they return home from serving Some include English Setters, German their country. Shorthairs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Great Danes, Boston Terrier, Irish Setter, Gordon What songs keep playing on your iPod? Setter, Clumbers, Pug, and Shar Pei. AC: We have music on almost all day long but if I had to narrow it down: What are your hobbies when you are not - American Kids (Kenny Chesney) showing dogs? - House Party (Sam Hunt) When we are not showing dogs, we spend time - Happy (Pharrell Williams) golfing, water skiing, snow skiing, and spending - Uptown Funk (Featuring Bruno Mars) time with family when we can! VC: Classic Rock
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The Newfoundland, the PICALM gene, and the SAS Controversy
*Photo courtesy of Bearskin Lodge via Flickr Creative Commons license*
by Casey Carl
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ubvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), one of the most common inherited cardiac diseases in dogs, is a major concern for many owners of large breed dogs including the Newfoundland, golden retriever, American Staffordshire terrier and Rottweiler. SAS is caused by an abnormal ring or ridge of tissue in the left ventricle of the heart resulting in a partial obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract; the pathway that allows blood to flow from the left ventricle, through the aortic valve and into the aorta which carries oxygenated blood to the body. In mild cases, dogs live a normal life, free of clinical signs related to the vessel narrowing. However, in moderate to severe cases of SAS, the increased strain placed upon the heart to pump blood through the partially obstructed aortic valve can result in structural changes of the heart muscle, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden death. SAS also predisposes dogs to development of potentially lethal bacterial infections of the aortic valve. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict the severity of disease in puppies by examining the hearts of affected parents. Mildly affected parents can have severely affected puppies and vice versa. On average, SAS-affected dogs only live to about 4.5 years of age, though lifespan of affected dogs is variable between breeds and depends upon severity of O t h e r B r e e d s a n d t h e P I C A L M disease. In one study, the average age of death gene mutation from “severe” SAS was 19 months. After becoming aware of the reported SASassociated PICALM mutation reported by The Newfoundland and a test for SAS Stern, the scientific team at Paw Print Genetics In June 2014, a study conducted by Joshua developed a test to identify dogs carrying this Stern and colleagues was published describ- mutation. As we began testing dogs, we also ing a genetic mutation in the PICALM discovered the same PICALM mutation in sevgene significantly associated with SAS in eral dog breeds including the Newfoundland, the Newfoundland. This study described Golden retriever and American Staffordshire Newfoundland SAS as an inherited disease that terrier. While many of these breeds were known displayed incomplete penetrance, meaning that to develop SAS, Paw Print Genetics began to not every dog that inherited the mutation would uncover apparent heterogeneity among the develop the condition. However, it was reported breeds, with some affected dogs showing the in this study that dogs with the mutation were mutation, while other affected dogs did not. This 14.5 times more likely to develop SAS than a pattern could be consistent with the reported Newfoundland that did not inherit a copy of incomplete penetrance, may indicate that there the mutation. To the delight of Newfoundland is more than one mutation in a breed that causes breeders, the discovery of a mutation associ- SAS, or could indicate no correlation between ated with SAS meant that genetic tests could the known mutation and SAS. be developed to screen breeding dogs and eliminate dogs with an increased risk of disease from A New Publication and Controversy their breeding programs. That study also found As is true with any inherited disease displaythe mutation in other breeds, including one dog ing incomplete penetrance, correlation between each in German shepherds, golden retrievers mutation and disease becomes more difficult and American Staffordshire terriers. than if a mutation resulted in disease 100% of the time. Because dogs don’t always have clinical signs of diseases displaying incomplete Best In Show Daily
colleagues also screened 399 Newfoundlands and 500 dogs from 64 other breeds for the PICALM mutation. After finding mutations in affected and unaffected dogs in many breeds, it was concluded that the mutation was not the cause of SAS, but was instead a benign gene variant that occurred in high frequency in the Newfoundland and less so in other breeds.
penetrance even when they inherit the mutation, large numbers of dogs must be evaluated to identify whether dogs inheriting the mutation truly have a statistically increased risk of disease. In addition, it is important for these dogs to be unrelated because related dogs will not only share the mutation in question, they also share many other genes and could share other inherited causes for the disease. Thus, using related dogs complicates the important statistical analysis required to define a causal relationship between a mutation and a disease. A new study by Michaela Drögemüller and colleagues published online November 13, 2014, disputes the findings of the Stern publication. In this new study, Drögemüller and coworkers provide evidence that excludes thePICALM mutation as the causative gene in SAS. Drögemüller’s conclusions are based on a number of facts. First, in a 2012 study, the medical histories and pedigree of over 200,000 Newfoundlands were examined and a dominant lethal mode of inheritance was concluded. Other concerns expressed by Drögemüller included inadequate use of control subjects in the Stern publication (dogs without SAS) and that a single family of 45 dogs was used in identifying the associated SAS mutation. Drögemüller and
Paw Print Genetics Commitment After swift, but careful consideration of the data in both publications and the potential impact to our clients, Paw Print Genetics decided to discontinue offering the test for the mutation in the PICALM gene reportedly associated with SAS by Stern. The paper by Drögemüller and colleagues has created enough concern for our team to question the utility of the test at this time. Until further research is published, we feel that this decision to discontinue the test is in the best interest of our clients and their dogs. Paw Print Genetics understands the potential ramifications that inaccurate genetic testing can have due to the unnecessary removal of dogs from breeding programs and the subsequent decrease of genetic diversity in a breed that may result. Paw Print Genetics relies on the peer-reviewed, published medical literature to make important decisions about the development of new tests. As more canine mutations are discovered and reported, it is possible that some of these will be disproven by other teams of scientists attempting to replicate the findings. We will continue to stay up to date on the latest publications and work to make our test offerings useful and the results meaningful to help you take the best care possible for your dogs. If you have questions about SAS or the PICALM gene mutation, please contact us via email atAskUs@pawprintgenetics.com or call us at 509-483-5950.
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