ARITAUR DOBERMANNS HEALTH RESULTS

We will never compromise on DCM or knowingly breed a VWd Affected dog.

Aritaur are the only UK Dobermann kennel to publish health results for all our tested dogs - not just current show dogs. We publish all our results, good and bad, and do not hide the bad ones. This is a work in progress and I hope to get Martin's time to help me put up all certificates over each result, but that may be some time!

With the exception of one - Ch Aritaur A Little More Soba, now at 10 years old who is VWd affected (pre DNA testing), all Aritaur dogs are either Clear or Carrier. We use Finnzymes DNA testing service and our dogs are either tested or are clear by parentage.

When we use an overseas dog, we pay for the test to be done as we did for Ger VDH Ch Ramonburg's Valdo, Int, Multi, Russ Ch Tamerlan iz Slavnoi Stai, Int, Multi, Fr Ch F'Hiram Abif Royal Bell and the last overseas sire we used - Int, Hung Ch Tom Dober Hagi.

NB We would, however, have no hesitation in using an Affected male to a Clear female. Offspring would be 100% Carrier, who in turn would later be put only to a Clear.

As with other health issues, if breeders only used Clear dogs and bitches, an estimated* 60% of the gene pool would be lost which in turn would bring even worse problems to the breed in terms of the results of inevitable in-breeding. *from US suggested estimates 1998

Aritaur dogs are tested for their clinical status of Thyroid firstly by T4, then if that is inconclusive but we still suspect there may be an issue, then the further tests of Baseline TSH,(Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and/or Free T4.

Dogs and bitches from whom we breed, are also regularly tested for their hereditary status by TgAA (Thyroid Auto-immune Antibodies). This is equally vital from the breeding perspective to ensure dogs are not passing on their own clinical status aswell as their hereditary status to their offfspring. Out of curiousity a friend noticed we hadn't put dates against when the dogs were tested. That is for no other reason than I have a million other things to do, and am not that organised. I haven't put the dates the dogs were thyroid tested for clinical hypothyroidism either. I'm told Dawn has made comment on their website about this. I'm too busy to visit their site, glad they enjoy ours and suggest that they actually get their dogs tested for the very things they infer might be an issue with ours. For heavens sake, we're meant to be encouraging health testing, not whining about when someone doesn't put results on. Go do something constructive.

The breed average in the Aritaur kennel from the dogs tested to date is 15. To put scoring in perspective, that is out of a total possible score of 106. Our results are averaged on the basis of dogs scores 4, (2:2) to 64 (32:32). The dog with 64 moves just as well as the dog with 2:2. Genetics, nutrition and early exercise are all contributory factors on hips. Whilst it can’t of course alter the shape of the socket, the degree of laxity could be altered. The Americans work on a system of Penn Hip Scoring which does measure exactly that, the degree of laxity. There are at least two UK vets now offering the PennHip.

Therefore why test if you are not going to stand by results? Well we do very much stand by the results because we know what we have. Unlike those who don't test, at least we know what we're dealing with and can make informed decisions about breeding combinations. We will continue to breed from dogs both below and above the breed average because whilst we do not wish to produce a dysplastic dog;.....

a) we can find no statistic or research to determine that we would produce a dysplastic dog from using a dog in eg the mid 30’s to a bitch with a low score. Using dogs with low scores produces reduces averages. High scores are still thrown up from low scoring parents.
b) we test for our own information, for those who use our dogs and those who buy puppies from us; not for others with no interest and who do not test anyway. We ARE prepared to publish our results. How many breeders who do test (pitifully few) and score with poor results would? Who can blame them? They are afraid of witch hunts. Health testing is not a competition and if you mock others less desirable results, you will people off health testing entirely.
c) we test to ensure we do not put two sets of poor hips together (a risk posed by those breeders who don’t test at all). Beware of that when you would consider using a dog who hasn’t been tested. You could find it a great deal worse than the dog who you know is higher than ‘average’, but who at least excels in other aspects.
d) we test in order to take a total view of the dog. We would not breed from a dog who had a poor hip score, was badly PHPV affected, had poor character, poor thyroid and suspected DCM. We will breed from a dog with a poorer than average hip score if it excelled in every other respect. Do not throw the baby out with the bath water.

e) with fewer than 1% of the population being hip tested each year is that really the breed average? It is well known that breeders don't send off 'poor' results. Also pre 1984, the BVA form stated "I give my permission (as the owner) to allow the KC to publish the results if they are under a total score of 8!". Now that's not ad verbatim, but all the poor pre 1984 results are not included in the statistics. Lies, damn lies and statistics are why we are not slaves to health testing!

A dog who moves correctly does not have a clinical problem. If it is not moving correctly it is compensating for either an injury or a clinical abnormality. Until every dog in every litter bred is tested we will not know what the true state of the breed is.

One of the best indications of health of a dog is the longevity of the relatives. Pedigrees of our dogs can be found on each dogs page on our site. Relatives of our dogs who have died, are:

Ch Holtzburg Mayhem - died aged 9

Ch Sallate Ferris - died aged 10

Ch Tamerlan iz Slavnoi Stai (Tamer) died June 2005 aged 8 (stomach cancer).

Crislea Centrefold of Aritaur (Juno) - died in January 08 aged 12 (DCM tested clear on 27 Dec 06 age 11). Just got old but always stayed beautiful throughout. The most gentle of ladies - still makes us smile thinking about her and how she was with her babies. They wouldn't dare not toe the line but she never had to even lift a lip to them.

Holtzburg Dior From Crislea (Freya) - Juno's Mum - died in June 06 aged nearly 13. A huge loss to us all, especially her 'mum' Pat.

Holtzburg I'm a Hooligan Too (Lucy) Litter sister to Freya above - died in August 06 aged nearly 13, owned by Toni & Ian Norman.

Aritaur Flip Fantasia JW (Java) died April 2006, aged 8 (liver failure/possible tumour). Still missing Java Binks every day.

Aritaur Sweetest Taboo (Kenya), died January 2009, aged 11 (possible stomach tumour). As with all our dogs when they die, we have their ashes box. Kenya is for once quiet - her Baskerville type scream - instead of a bark - made us all jump out of our skins! I half expect her box to start jumping when someone comes down the drive!

Aritaur Giovanna (Paige) died aged 5 (possible kidney failure). Too young and badly missed.

Aritaur Cavera Cobra (Edmund), died 12th June 2008 aged 7 (copper toxicosis). PTS on the same day as his friend Lucy. Very much missed.

Ch Aritaur A Little More Soba (Riva), died Sunday 8th November 2009 (aged 10). Riva developed pregnancy induced (or hormone related) diabetes during her last litter. She had thick cataracts, but still charged around the fields chasing down moles. Following sickness she went into a diabetic crisis and we lost her over a weekend. Maybe she did finally get that mole and he had his revenge! We miss you very much Riva.

Aritaur Midnight Rave (Caius) put to sleep aged 12 on 12th January 2010. He had an aggressive lymphosarcoma that despite our best efforts couldn't be controlled. He was munching happily on cheese with us both at his side when he went.

From our first litter December 26th 1997 - 12 years ago, 5 have died aged 8,11, 9, 10 & 12. The remaining few are still going - slightly more doddery but still very much enjoying life:-)