The Australian Labradoodle Association

DNA PROGRAM

prcd-PRA Breeding Strategies

read about early spay and neuter
DOWNLOAD prcd-PRA BREEDING STRATEGIES

Our DNA program with Genetic Science Services in Melbourne, is up and running. All Breeding Stock is required to have DNA profiles with Genetic Science Services of Melbourne, by the time they sire or whelp any labradoodle litters.

To access their services, click here.

Click on “Order a test”
click on “Canine ACPAP dog or puppy”
Fill in the form and in Collection Point check “VET”
In the comments section, request that the test be sent to your vet and provide their name and address.
The cost is around A$80

The main focus
of the prcd-PRA DNA Test and Breeding Strategies below are to ensure that we never produce any prcd-PRA affected puppies, while at the same time ultimately take our breed to a “Free of prcd-PRA” Status.

For most of our parent breeds this (prcd) is the only form of PRA disease
known to affect them. If you suspect other eye problems with your dog/s please see your veterinary ophthalmologist for further assessment.

In summary All of our breeding stock regardless of results may continue to be used for breeding, thus maintaining genetic diversity within our breed. Armed with this new information we can ensure that no mating from this point forward will result in a puppy that will be affected with the disease as it ages.

Production of affected dogs can be prevented by ensuring at least one parent is clear in mating of current breeding stock. The disease-causing gene can be eliminated completely by selection of future breeding stock from clear tested puppies.

Prcd-PRA DNA TEST

CLEAR
any dog tested as Clear or Normal (also known as A) will never develop the progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd) form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).

CARRIER
any dog tested as a Carrier (also known as B) will never develop the progressive rod cone degeneration (prcd) form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).

AFFECTED
any dog tested as Affected (also known as C) will develop prcd-PRA. The age at which the PRA develops varies between breeds - in some breeds there is early onset and in others late onset. Known cases of extremely late onset of PRA can indicate that some Affected dogs may not be diagnosed with PRA in their lifetime

BREEDING STRATEGIES

CLEAR
Breeding - Normal or Clear dogs can be mated to any dog and will never produce prcd-PRA affected pups.

Note: Offspring from ALL Clear to Clear mating may be given Clear status “Clear by Parentage” when DNA Profiled with Genetic Science Services. No disease testing is necessary from this point onwards so long as Clear to Clear matings are maintained. See GSS web site for more information.

CARRIER
Breeding - a Carrier can be used for breeding but should only be mated to a Clear as this will always avoid producing any prcd-PRA affected pups. As resulting pups will be a mix of both Clear and Carriers, resulting pups can be tested with Clear pups kept thus eliminating the disease being inherited further. Or Carrier pups can also be kept and in turn only bred to Clear if they are superior in other Health areas, Temperament and or in Conformation to their Clear siblings.

Delaying the Clear status for another generation or more if needed while never producing any prcd-PRA affected pups.
While maintaining Genetic Diversity and possibly better overall breeding quality puppies for the betterment of the future of our breed.

AFFECTED
Breeding - Affected dogs should only be bred to a Normal/Clear dog to avoid producing any Affected pups (Puppies will NEVER Present the Disease and will never go blind). All puppies produced from an Affected to Clear mating will have the Carrier genotype. These pups need to be bred according to the Carrier Breeding Strategies above.