The genepool of the Flatcoated Retriever is not the best compared to other pure breds and recent studies (eg Wageningen University) have pointed to the fact that we as breeders need to stop using males frequently and allowing more individual males to breed (source: result of the study shared with breeders in breed meeting of the FRC).
The reality is that we have the tendency to choose studs that have proven themselves to mate and also show champion titles seem to play a large role in popularity.
Using studs from abroad or buying puppies abroad is also no garanty for genetic diversity- it all depends on the COI and how often the founding fathers in the generations far behind are being repeated.
The history of the Flatcoated retriever club is large but during Workd War II many breeders were at war and breeding suffered a stagnation. The breed more or less had to be rebuild.
What can you do as a puppy buyers?
-Ask your breeder about how related the parents are. -Ask to the COI if minimum 5 generations but preferably 10. – do not buy a puppy out of a combination where the stud has been over used (more than 5 litters)
Linebreeding has been done a lot in the past and is still being executed. I think the pro’s for linebreeding has run out against the loss of genetic diversity. If you are concerned about longevity of the breed – one is advised to stay away from linebreeding.
This includes buyers aswell as breeders, breed clubs and pedigree issuing authorities.
We have a long way to go still if we choose to preserve the genepool and stop the narrowing down of it. If we want to improve it – there must come a plan to outcross.
Personally I would prefer that to be in joined efforts with breed clubs around the world, if we decide to do so.As everything all change starts with spreading knowledge and sharing information.
I am modest in my expectations of people and trying to take the speed out of the narrowing of the genepool would be a great start. Improving the genepool within our breed is not even possible anymore.
Are you a stud owner of a healthy Flatcoated with a respectable pedigree? Please do allow him to go into breeding. Maybe not for your own sake – but for the breed’s sake.
The Flatcoated Retriever Club (FRC) in the Netherlands have worked together with the University of Wageningen on a study of the relationship between health and genepool, they have worked together with Prof Mandigers to develop the DNA test for cerebellar ataxia. See the links for more info.
https://www.frc-nl.com/neonatale-cerebellaire-ataxie/https://survey.uu.nl/jfe/form/SV_cND4DtJfJVlZKDAhttps://www.veterinair-neuroloog.nl/media/pages/publicaties/project-c/13585c40c8-1722263481/genetische-oorzaak-hersenaandoening-flatcoated-retriever-gevonden-nieuws-universiteit-utrecht.pdf
As a puppy buyer you can also check that the males who has sired the litter you are interested in, is not used excessively. Unfortunately there are not any limits to how many offspring a male may have in his life time at this point. This includes the Netherlands but also many other European countries. The information of how many puppies a sire has produced is in the Netherlands (Dutch Dog Data via Raad van Beheer homepage), Sweden (via Rasdata.nu) and Germany (via DRC deckrüden list at the homepage of DRC) freely accessible online.
Of course there are many factors beyond what I have mentioned above to slow down the speed of narrowing the genepool – but for now I hope to have provided a bit more useful information. My sources on the genepool issue are primarily the two lectures kindly provided by the FRC from Pieter Oliehoek and Wageningen University (results of the research is available at FRC).
Flatastic flatcoated retrievers 