Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkiekist  Genetics of Deafness in Dogs -- George M. Strain, PhD
So what should breeders do when deafness crops up? The most conservative approach would be to not breed the affected animal and not repeat the breeding that produced deafness. It is frequently recommended (i.e. Dalmatian Club of America) that bilaterally deaf puppies should be euthanatized, since they make poor pets, are prone to biting, frequently die from misadventure (cars), and require excessive care. There is considerable controversy on this point (see The Deaf Dogs Web Page), and there is no question that many people have successfully raised deaf dogs. For every horror story of a problem deaf dog there seems to be a story of one that was successfully raised. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how a deaf puppy will turn out. Unilaterally deaf dogs can make good pets but should not be bred. When deafness is uncommon in a breed, affected dogs should not be bred, but this does not mean that all related dogs are a risk and must be retired from breeding. An understanding of simple autosomal recessive and dominant patterns, as explained above, can allow the breeder to make informed decisions and likely avoid future deaf animals without sacrificing a breeding line that has been shaped over many years. However, extreme caution must be used when line breeding of dogs related to deaf dogs, whether the deafness is unilateral or bilateral. To make these decisions in an informed manner for breeds with known deafness, it is important that advantage be taken of hearing testing facilities at veterinary schools. Unilaterally deaf dogs cannot be detected by other means, and these dogs will pass on their deafness genes.
Not to keep kicking a live horse, but this last sentence is very informative also.  |
Very good advice, for people with breeds with known deafness.
If ever I start getting deaf dogs, I will look into the testing, I will definitely not repeat the breeding, and I will spay/neuter the faulty puppy.
I appreciate your concern, I reallt do. but I do not plan to scrap my breeding program for something that may never happen.
I have no intention of breeding to produce an all white yorkie. I like the color on the ears, and that is the look I will strive for.
My breeder has been breeding partis for many years and many generations and is not producing deaf puppies.