Experience and History with ZW

The current expressions of opinion are generally positive in outlook, supported substantially by two basic principles:

1. The application is very simple for the breeder. For his bitch, whose HD breed value he knows, the breeder can select from a broad offering of dogs that are qualified to breed suitable stud dogs that also complement his wishes in reference to form and performance.

2. The breeding program is formulated comprehensively and unmistakably. Otherwise-suitable puppies under 100, (therefore with below-average HD risk), should be bred.

This most modern Breed Value Assessment of the dog undertaking the inclusion of are relatives was begun in 1983 for HD in the German Spaniel. Later, German Jagdterriers followed with breed values that would describe the risk for transmission of lens luxation (LL). This ocular disorder typical in terriers had in this breed a frequency of approximately 2%. Simultaneously there was offered to the breeders the ZW for size inheritance and for four hunting features: “nose”, bay (tracking sound), working body construction, and enjoyment of water. The number of breeds in which the Zuchtwert evalution is routinely used rose constantly after that. The Cynology (canine science) computer center of the TG publishing house in GioeBen, serving the enterprises for breeding animals and stud book management, has already made it possible to have taken care of over 60 breeds with this ZW option. With the availability of the breed value assessment, uncertainly quickly arose over the application and conversion of the knowledge. Since Zuchtwert numbers are only an “estimate” and thus greatly depend on the current standard of knowledge, selection by means of general breed warnings or prohibition for animals with an inherited predisposition is not meaningful. It would not be good that a bitch locked today, then readmitted, would again be blocked with the next evaluation. The relation therefore had to become more flexible. The thought of not hindering breeding animals (parents) by requirements on their individual admission or traits, but on the admissibility of a pairing, was absolutely new in the breeding of animals. The principle of “strategic pairing” was born. Each good animal is suitable for breeding, if it with a suitable breeding partner produces puppies with below-average Zuchtwert numbers.

The principle of this breed palnning was agreed upon for Golden Retrievers by the German Retriever Club (DRC), and adopted at once by the speciality breed club for the Hovawart (RZV) as a breed strategy. While the Retriever breeders, after the first successful breeding years, changed it from being obligatory to a “recommendation for mature breeders” (in order to sell dogs), the Hovawart breeders have continued to utilize this breeding program until the present day. The attractive principle fell on fertile soil in the RZV, for although only “HD-free” dogs were still being bred, the by-then positive trend was again diminishing after 1984… things were actually getting worse with the number of HD-free animals steadily declining. With introduction of the Zuchtwert Evaluation in 1989, and with attention to the HD-free dogs from those more tainted by this hereditary the better-producing, HD-free dogs from those more tainted by this hereditary disease. The flexible breeding program, with its principles of leaving untouched all bitches in the breed so that the breed’s potential and the breed untouched all bitches in the breed continuity is protected in the kennels, turned back immediately the trend. Today, thanks to this daring step, the 90% mark is surpassed for HD-free animals, with a radiograph quota (percent of animals X-rayed) around 70%. [The Hovawart is a large “yard-guard” breed with an uncanny resemblance to the Golden Retriever but perhaps more closely related to the GSD’s ancestors.]

The Jagdterrier breeders on the other hand had it difficult. Lens luxation appears between the 3rd and 5th year of life on, and had often been concealed. The honest people felt cheated and the diagnoses had not always been made by competent ophtalmolgists. So it came about that a breeding program had to be formulated that contained, beside the Zuchtwert assessment, also the basic conditions in reference to data gathering and reliablility: a veterinary consulting board was set up, to offer those particular owners competent advice and help. A fund jointly held was arranged in which each breeder would pay 10 DM per puppy. From this treasury could come an assistance of up to 500 DM paid to soothe the buyers, around the costs one perhaps might pay for necessary eye surgery. DNA investigations were imposed for proof, so that the wrong parents are not charged with the defective descendant. Altogether a campaign of instruction with magazine articles and breeder seminars has led to the fact that how, any association with hereditary disease is taken more responsibly and less emotionally. The breeders now feel greatly obligated toward the breed goal. As the breed values would be published, and the principle of strategic pairing began to be grasped (limit for pairings being no higher than 105 average), the year’s averages sank for the lens luxation risk from year to year. The breed average, which at the beginning had a heigh level of approximately 112, sank until today it stands at 95. The frequency of the affected animals lies in the less-than-1% range, although the reporting of it has climbed, obviously because of the guarantee certificate that accompanies each pedigree.

One now has, through the Breed Values, a tangible criterion of quality and can document thereby the efforts in a breed scheme in reference to health. Successful breeding in reference to form and performance were honored up to now with Siegert titles, championships and sports-dog awards. Surely, it now also becomes attractive to reward the genetically healthy dog. How important is a breeding program like that of the SV, and how important also should be the transformation, are demonstrated by the Club for the Pyrenees Dogs (Berger des Pyrenees, Great Pyrenees), which as a young club in 1989 introduced the “Zuchtwert with strategic pairing” (limit of 102). The first radiograph series yielded no rosy picture, with less than 10% “HD-free” animals. The Zuchtwert evaluation, however, immediately put the finger on the “sources of the evil” and in the following year there was shown a rise in the numbers of HD-free animals. After 1992, the breed strategy of the program was no longer obligatory, but though the breeders’ convention of “only recommended” was decided upon, the number of HD-free animals declined again in 1995. Thereafter they saw again a rapid rise following that decision. Today HD in the Berger des Pyrenees is for practical purposes, not a serious problem. A relatively “safe” level in this breed is considered to be when 60 to 70% HD-free is reached. For almost every bitch, there can be found sufficient breeding partners that are assured to be within the limits for the pairing.

Additional breeds will be named, their successful breed work supported through breed value numbers. The SV will take stock of its own success as the radiographs and statistics for the years 1999, 2000, and later are developed. Until then, the breeders must trust the experiences of other clubs and to observe how the breeders receive the offer and use it. The public respect for the club will profit from the fact that show-dog and working-dog breeding will be practiced not at the expense of, but in harmony with, health.

Additional Comments by Fred and Others

In January of 1999, Bill Miller noted that while the SV had begun the “Breed Value Assessment”. USA had not even placed the matter on the table. The real question for American breeders will be: What will info on progeny produced in the US, under less than standard guidelines, mean? I submit that USA has the opportunity to scoop the AKC and the GSDCA, and be a light in their darkness, if the organization can find some way to adopt the ZW system, with SV help. To start, those with Internet access might want to “bone up”, to use a pun, on the subjects, by looking into such websites as: Zuchtwertschatzung HD; Real GSD; and The Shepherd’s Staff. If you want to find the current rating on a SV-registered dog then go here: Der HD-Zuchtwert; you can either enter the SZ seven digit number or the dog’s name and kennel name, I’ve been told (I don’t know personally, as I don’t have Internet). Then hit “Suchen HD Zuchwert” and the rating should come up on the next screen. Laurie Tollifson recommended buying the CD, but you need frequent updates. According to SV it is a little more than a tool. You can call it a tool if you like, she says, but for those breeders whose dogs have high scores it will become a direct factor in breeding. But then again, Fumi Cummins reminded us, USA had not been implementing this requirements. The breeders will have to decide if they will comply with SV standards or USA’s lesser standards. By the time this is printed, perhaps the USA organization will have formulated and implemented a plan.

Also about a year ago, another fancier had just completed a study of the HD-ZW ratings on the 10 VA dogs from the 1997 German Sieger Show and the Top ten dogs from the Bundessiegerprufung, which sould be of interest even to the Working-only readership of this magazine. Very interesting results, indeed:

Average for 10 Vas = 89.8 (High 118, Low 69); Average for Top 10 Trial dogs: 86.3 (High 112, Low 74). Taking Rikkor out of the equation, the average for VA “showdogs” would have been 86.7.

Not a Significant difference in the two columns or average; I find many low scores in the monthly listings with “working” Kennel names, but I also find some horribly high ZWs as well. Bobbie Impelizzeri, noting that the SV allows “slightly dysplastic” dogs to be bred, took that opportunity to urge continued reliance on OFA evaluation of hips and elbows at 2 years. As you all know, I agree with that, but recommend adding PennHIP info, especially at younger ages, for the ultimate in diagnostic accuracy; I also laud the preferential use of dogs with low ZW numbers whenever possible.

Veterinarian Requirements and Preliminary Check List of the HD Procedure [in Germany] Decisively involved with the success of the battle are the SV-certified HD radiologists and HD veterinarians. Nearly 3,000 veterinarians have become authorized by the SV as acknowledged HD veterinarians. Not every owner of a German Shepherd Dog is allowed to participate in the SV’s HD program. To be able to quickly ascertain whether the admission requirements are fulfilled, we have developed the following checklist for you:

Minimum age: 12 months. Verifty the whelping date on the Ahnentafel [pedigree/registration certificate].

Is the document an SV Ahnentafel? For foreign dogs, the exhibitor must be a member of an FCI club.