The genepool of the Flatcoated Retriever is not the best 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.
Besides the above mentioned, one can think of more ways to slow down the narrowing of the genepool but that will be up to Breedlove and their member to design.
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 of minimum 5 generations but preferably 10. Choose a COI that is closer to 0 than 4 in 5 generations. -do not buy a puppy out of a combination where the stud has been over used (more than 5 litters is a good thumb rule). – keep your money away from breeders with poor genepool ethics (allowing their studs to overbreed and using their females multiple (more than two) times/ up to old age).
In the end puppy buyers are determining the market. Often breed clubs are dominated by breeders themselves – as we often put a lot of our volunteering time into the breed clubs, making it hard not to design politics that somewhat favors personal interests. That is inevitable. Even when done democratically and collectively, it is a difficult edge between own interests versus interest of future for the breed. As a puppy buyer you can determine which quality you buy and which breeder and breeding ethics you will support. Please consider this carefully. Even in the case that your breeder is a member of respected breed club(s).
Linebreeding has been done a lot in the past and is still being executed. I think the pro’s for linebreeding are running out against the loss of genetic diversity. Even when considering the plus sides of line breeding. If you are concerned about the longevity of the breed – one is advised to stay away from heavy linebreeding (defined by repetition(s) of dog(s) in recent generations).
This includes buyers as well as breeders, breed clubs and pedigree issuing authorities.
We have a long way to go still if we choose to stop or slowing down narrowing of it. If we want to improve it – there must come a plan to outcross – is that how far we are willing to take it? At this point the Dutch population is narrowing down in a speed of 0,62 % a year. When that rises to 1 % we are at a point of no return and the general health will get an upsides downfall that can not recover. Serious business that none of us really would like to acknowledge, to be honest.
Personally I would prefer an outcross programmer to be in joined efforts with breed clubs around the world, when we hit that point of no return. As everything all change starts with spreading knowledge and sharing information. So I really hope breeders will stop using their males frequently and stop the severe line breeding. I also hope all puppy buyers start to challenge their breeders – especially the ones who have bred for many years and are stuck in old ways of thinking.
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, sadly enough.
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. If you need help ask your breeder or contact me, I will help you regardless of heritage if your male.
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).
https://research.wur.nl/en/activities/omgaan-met-inteelt-en-verwantschap-flat-coated-retriever/
My writing is done in an attempt to educate everyone about the alarming state that our genepool is in – a poor genepool results in poor health – sooner or later. It will affect all of us in the future if not responded to now.
Please do not kill the messenger – but instead do get into action when decision making. The first option you have is the 12th of March if you are a FRC member – the meeting will be important in decision making for new breeding regulations attempting to slow down the genepool extortion:
Flatastic flatcoated retrievers 