A Word about health screening Tests . . .

As with nearly every other subject matter connected with Breeding--any dog breed, there is controversy surrounding best breeding and testing practices.  For example, some Breeders believe that there is nothing wrong with a high COI% (Co-efficient Of Inbreeding).  I disagree.  I believe that it is best to look for a lower COI% and breed into diversity rather than sameness.  Here's my reasoning:

While Show Dogs (for example) can have the "looks" that impress judges, and which Show Dog Breeders want to duplicate by 'close breeding' (in-breeding), they can also be duplicating disease markers, physical problems, and temperament problems, that may not show up for generations.  Therefore, while one may get the "looks", or a proclivity for certain abilities or behaviours the Breeder wants, they may also get disease markers--that no one wants!  This is why genetic testing is vital, in my opinion.  And, this is why it is a good idea, regardless of the Breed or the Breeder's "focus" to pay attention to COI percentages!

By the way:  True COI% Can be determined by Genetic Testing.  Relying on a Pedigree does not show the True COI%, as it does not show all of the generations in the breed for that particular dog.  

It is hard to find a Popular American Purebred Dog Breed that has not, largely as a result of inbreeding, picked up a variety of diseases and genetic disease "markers" over the years.  

Currently, the Belgian Malinois has maintained relatively good Genetic Health.  A Belgian Malinois is currently tested for only 4 Breed-Specific Disease Markers.  By contrast, (as examples) the American German Shepherd Dog is subject to 11 Diseases/Markers, and the Labrador Retriever should be tested for 19 Breed-Specific Disease Markers.   

I will, no doubt, get into hot water for saying this, but . . . in my opinion, breeding ANY Working Breed for Show is a mistake!  It almost always results in a higher COI% and the genetic defects that go with a high COI%.  Furthermore, the positive behavioural (working) aspects of the Breed are ignored or reduced, whilst the physical beauty of the Breed is enhanced.  

Breeding a dog who is a "Carrier" of a disease marker to a dog who is "Clear" of the same disease marker will produce puppies who are unlikely to develop the particular disease(s) in question.  Still, a mating of a "Carrier" to a "Clear" has a 50/50 chance of producing more Carrier pups!  This is an issue of which the Buyer should be made aware!  A "Carrier" is unlikely to develop symptoms of the disease itself, but if mated to another dog who is also a Carrier of the Marker in question, disease-affected puppies will result.  

Thus, Breeders should screen Buyers for the intended purpose of a puppy, and "Carrier" pups, whilst certainly remaining healthy throughout their lives and capable of performing in any sphere of endeavor (all else being equal), should NOT be sold to those intending to breed.  

CERF.  Some Belgian Malinois Breeders will have their dogs eyes 'certified'.  I consider this a superfluous test for Malis, for three reasons:  1.  Some breeds (for example Goldens and Labs) are (possibly) subject to diseases of the eye, but, so far, the Belgian Malinois is not; 2.  As a youngster, nearly any dog will test negative for eye problems.  With age, however, many dogs with otherwise good eyesight will develop cataracts--just as humans do.  This is not thought to be a heritable condition; 3.  To remain at all meaningful, the CERF must be done every year!  Very few Breeders can afford the time, money and energy to load up their entire kennel full of adult canines and drive them to a testing center (which are few and far between) every year.  If a CERF test is important to you, ask the Breeder WHEN the last test was conducted.  Few, if any, will have a recent CERF.  

To Avoid Eye Problems.  Examine the dog or breeding pair.  Belgian Malinois should have brown eyes, clear of infection and not set too deeply (third eyelid should not be obviously showing), and eyes should not protrude.  (See AKC for all information regarding the proper conformation standards for the Belgian Malinois).  

WARNING!!!  Some Belgian Malinois Breeders publish CLEAR genetic test results for Disease Markers---that the Belgian Malinois is NOT even subject to inherit in the first place!  Others omit some or all of the testing relevant to the Belgian Malinois Breed, and/or publish only those test results that show their dogs are Cleared in!  Thus, they make it appear that they are doing "due diligence"--when, in fact, they are NOT!  BEWARE!  

I test the dogs I breed for all 215 possible genetic heritable conditions.  I publish FULL information pertinent to the FOUR disease markers relevant to the Belgian Malinois Breed.  (See Embark information on each Dog or Bitch's individual pages).  

Hip and Elbow Displaysia.  As a baseline, all dogs (particularly large breeds) intended for breeding should be tested at age 24 months.  Before this age, the puppy's bones are still growing and the joints are not "set".  The Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) evaluates and rates radiographs submitted by the Breeder's veterinarian to determine the quality of the joint's "fit".  As an example, the OFA Elbow and Hip Certificates for J'Ice Ot Vitosha look like this:

A more accurate test for hips is called PennHip.  This test measures "laxity" in the hip joint and can be performed at a much earlier age than the OFA test.  The test assigns values from 0 to 1, with 0 meaning no laxity (the best),  A score less than .30 is passing--meaning less susceptible to hip dysplasia, whereas scores over .30 indicate more susceptibility to hip dysplasia.  

The difficulties with the PennHip test is that it is very expensive $300-$400; it is not (yet) accepted by AKC; and the test is not widely available across the USA.   Thus, for now, the OFA tests remain the 'gold standard'.

Dogs who test OFA "Fair" or less, should not be bred.

Although one's breeding stock may test well with OFA, this is not an absolute guarantee that all of the puppies will test the same as the parents when they reach adulthood.  Once the puppy is sold, the Breeder has no control over environmental factors that may affect the puppy's hip/elbow joints.  For example, the new owner my not provide sufficient nutrition, may over-exercise the puppy, or may over-feed.  All of these factors can lead to joint problems and osteoarthritis.