Daisy gave my a scare! I didn't expect her to continue to bleeding following her mating. But, turns out, females finish their heat cycle even if they mated. So I have a few more days to go til she's out of heat. JR was so strung up he kept her clean and I saw very little blood this heat. Once he got his head back on, he stopped, so that's how I noticed bleeding. I must say, JR is such a lover boy and I missed his snuggling while he was so wild for Daisy!
For those interested, both mom and dad will be on the premises when you come to see the pups. JR joined our family as a 3 year old last year and he and Daisy have been inseparable since! I did a bunch of genetic testing on both of them so I know quite a bit about the litter already which I will share with you as I blab along...
Topic 1. Both Daisy and JR each have 1 low uric acid gene. What that means is each pup has a 75% chance of getting at least 1 and a 25 % chance at getting 2 low uric acid genes. The benefit of at least 1 low uric acid gene is that the pup will not suffer from forming uric acid stones in the bladder which, over the years, has caused a lot of disease among the breed. Back in 1973 a geneticist did 1 outcross with an English pointer who had 2 normal genes. All the subsequent pups recieved 1 gene and then he carefully breed the gene back into the Dalmatian population. It was only recently that the AKC allowed the Dalmatians with this gene back into "the club". They were allowed in the United Kennel Club and were widely shown with wonderful results and inumerable wins. I beleive Daisy is 7th generation from the original out cross and JR is 9th generation. JR is a full UKC champion. I have considered showing him in AKC, but the pups are my first project. Daisy spots weren't quite right for showing, but since she had the normal gene, I felt improving health was a big priority to me and she is the most gorgeous gal in my eyes! Both she and JR are members of both the AKC and UKC.
To find out more about this incredible project you can google "LUA Dalmatian Project" and learn more!
The downside to knowing that Daisy and JR each have 1 gene is the 25% possibility of each pup receiving 2 High Uric Acid genes and will therefore not have that health benefit.
All pups in this litter will be DNA tested for the prescence or absence of these genes.
I will continue on Topic 2, Aren't Dalmatians deaf? in my next blog. (and I am tired from typing, it's been a long day!)
Daisy and JR lounging!
No comments:
Post a Comment