Hiccup and Kristoff

Anna

Merida

Here are the rest of our guys

Jack

Rapunzel

Neuter/spay

It seems in our attempt to control dog populations we are created other problems for our dogs:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0055937

What is the difference between North America and Europe and why do they seem to be able to cope with this while we in North America can not?

UCDavis Genetic Project

Havanese and Autoimmune Problems

Common autoimmune conditions include autoimmune hemolytic anemia, sebaceous adenitis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and the most common of all, autoimmune thyroiditis to name just a few.  Anyone who has been on the pet Havanese lists has heard of all of these and more in our breed.  If there is one case we know about, there are probably many, many more.  So, is this something we should be concerned about as breeders?  And, if so, what do we do about it? 

First, let’s look at other breeds that have similar problems including the Standard Poodle, and the Italian Greyhounds.   What have they done?  The department of genetics at UCDavis under the guidance of Dr. Niels C. Pedersen has developed a genome wide genetic diversity test geared specifically for the standard poodles and the Greyhounds:

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog/GeneticDiversityInStandardPoodles.php

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog/GeneticDiversityInItalianGreyhounds.php

How  this works and what is different to the other services that have been offered is that while the UCDavis study looks at the entire genome, it also pays particular attention to the MHC (major histocompatibility complex) which contains many of the genes that protect our dogs from external assaults such as viruses.   

But sometimes an immune system goes crazy and can’t tell a foreign body like a virus, from the animal’s own cells.  The result may be an auto (self) immune condition like those mentioned above. 

Why this is most challenging for breeders is twofold.  We may see different conditions in different litters or even in the same litter and not realize that what causes them may be related.  While one dog may have thyroiditis, another may suffer from SA (sebaceous adenitis). The second problem is that many of these conditions tend to occur in the more mature dogs and most need to have some type of trigger.   So even in two genetically identical clones, one may experience thyroiditis and the other not.

So what can we do about it?  Many geneticists generally accept that most autoimmune problems are a result of a general lack of genetic diversity, especially in the MHC.  So how do we maintain a diverse immune system in our dogs and still maintain the characteristics we want, the beautiful structure, coat and personality of our breed?  One way is to build a picture of the Havanese genome to see what genes we actually have across the entire genome and in the MHC area. Once we know that, then by testing all potential mating pairs, we can ensure that while maintaining the quality and structure we want for our dogs,  we can also ensure that each new breeding brings us as much diversity as possible. But aren’t we doing that using COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) to guide us?  COI simply shows us the probability that any two dogs are genetically similar or dissimilar.  With genetic testing we have a much more accurate idea of the diversity level of any mating pair.

First, however, we need to find just what set of genes exist within our particular breed and  to do that we can take advantage of the program at UCDavis developed in conjunction with   the Standard Poodle breeders, and the Italian Greyhound breeders. Akita, Black Russian Terrier, Golden Retriever, and Alaskan Klee Kai breeders have also started studies through UCDavis.

There is a group of people who have already joined together to try to see this accomplished. You can find out more about them through the Facebook group “HavaneseGeneticsUCDavis”, whose members are from almost every country where Havanese can be found.  You may also contact me as coordinator for North America or Senija Hodzic in Holland who is responsible for the European segment of the Havanese population.

The goal is to find every unique gene so that we know what we have to work with.    To get started we need as diverse a sample population as possible which includes Havanese from all countries where they exist, and from all the unique lines within those countries. Many dogs from the same breeder or family is not the goal in this initial step.  We need at the very minimum 100 dogs, but 400 would be better.  The initial cost will be $50 per dog and some volunteers are already working on gaining financial assistance where needed.  The goal is to find every unique gene that exists within the world-wide family of Havanese.  Once that is achieved then genetic analysis will be made available so that each breeder with be able to judge the diversity level between possible breeding pairs and hopefully choose the dogs found to be the most diverse. 

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog/GeneticDiversityEnrollment.php

Hiccup today outside with Kristoff

George and Flynn

Sonrisas Sawyer a Little Star

Doesn't he look like his mom - Lusa?

Merci

Merci

This is a puppy from our Thanksgiving litter of several years ago.   The pups all had "thank you" names so there was Dunka, Gracias, Merci and so on.

Why my house is never tidy;

Anna

Flynn

Jack

Kristoff

Merida

Rapunzel or Merida

Rapunzel

First time in water

The Boys

Sorry, they didn't turn out very well, but we taking the dogs out to the pool right now.

Flynn

Hiccup

Jack

Kristoff

Liver information

Liver information

This is extremely important to understand that the liver is a reactive organ.  There are times when liver values are higher than normal, but this can be normal ESPECIALLY IN A PUPPY.   Read the above article and don't automatically sign up for many, many tests just because one of the values is high.  Worm medication, vaccines, bacterial or viral infections and even eating something the puppy shouldn't  be eating,  can send liver enzymes up.  I check to make sure that the puppy livers are working properly before they leave here so please do not spend lots of money on liver tests or, heaven forbid, biopsies as has happened in several cases.

Xochi from last years litter

Xochi or Sochi  has started performance sports and since he lives close by I hope to see him often.

Rapunzel

Four weeks today. Will add the boys some time today.

 Anna

Elsa

 Merida

From lasts Sunday

I'll try to get a video of them tonight so you can see how much they change in less than a week.

Auntie Charo loves the puppies

Lusa wan't too sure about Charo going into the whelping box, but Charo persisted and is now helping Lusa take care of the pups.  Good girl Charo.

ALL EIGHT PUPPIES - THREE WEEKS

They all got their nails cut today for the first time. 

What a weekend!

First George finished his intermediate Jumpers with Weaves title in agility and then his daughter, Parti,  earned a group three.  Parti was bred by Liz Barry and is owned by Brian Scott.

Three weeks today - Flynn

Favorite times with the pups -Merida

Merida

Puppies are three weeks today

Now this is the really fun stage.  The pups are seeing us and responding and seeing the world for the first time.  They also will begin to hear when their ears open.

Kristoff

Jack below

Puppies are beginning to respond to us and to each other

The two active puppies are Flynn (the brown one ) and Jack (the black and white one).

Two weeks today and all eyes are open

All eight have doubled their weight and Anna has one eye open this morning.

another picture

Here you can see Elsa's head with the little diamond,next to her on the right with the sable head is Kristoff and on the left with just his hips showing  is Flynn.

Puppies nine days old

The two black ones are Anna and Merida, and the black/white is Hiccup

 The sable dog on the left is Flynn, the black and white on the left is Elsa, you can see her better in a different  picture.  The dog on the right is Kristoff and the middle one is Jack Frost