[Nerodia]

Hey, any professional breeders:

I am the proud owner (or ownee? :-) of a deaf Australian Shepherd. I know that deafness tends to run in white or blue merle dogs, especially the blue-eyed ones, and tends to be more common in some breeds than others. I also know that there's never any absolute guarantee of ANYTHING in nature. But are there breeding practices that minimize the occurrence of deafness? Would, say, making sure to always breed a blue merle to a tricolor or some other color minimize deafness?

Thanks!

Catie

[nikki22]

Its not always blue merles that are deaf or blue eyed dogs, it happens mostly when both parents are merle. Most of the time it will be a mostly white dog that is deaf. Also if you breed a merle to a dog that looks tri but maybe had merle markings on the tail (then the tail was docked) you can get deaf puppies. I think they call that a ghost merle. Irresponsible and uneducated breeders cause this, in my area you see it quite often. You also see dogs that do not fit the breed standard, like mostly white or body splashes yet somehow they are registered and a breeder thinks just because they are registered they should be bred.. I have australian shepherds, I think they are great But when I started my search for my dogs I found lots of "breeders" who thought it was ok to breed merle to merle. They just dont do their research.. Good for you for taking in one with special needs! They are great dogs even when they are handicapped.

[Nerodia]

Originally Posted by nikki22

<snipped>...Irresponsible and uneducated breeders cause this, in my area you see it quite often. You also see dogs that do not fit the breed standard, like mostly white or body splashes yet somehow they are registered and a breeder thinks just because they are registered they should be bred. I have australian shepherds, I think they are great But when I started my search for my dogs I found lots of "breeders" who thought it was ok to breed merle to merle. They just don't do their research...

Oh, don't get me started on irresponsible breeding! When we got Mirren--and she's a really nice looking little dog--we were almost immediately propositioned by one of of the local "breeders" (many of whose progeny end up wandering the streets of our town, mating with each other and spreading parvo and distemper and God-knows-what.)

Us: "No, we're not breeding her. She's deaf, and we're getting her spayed to take her out of the gene pool."

The "breeder": "Oh, is deafness hereditary?"

I've never been so close to actually bitch-slapping someone in my life...

[skyline1241]

Originally Posted by nikki22

Its not always blue merles that are deaf or blue eyed dogs, it happens mostly when both parents are merle. Most of the time it will be a mostly white dog that is deaf. Also if you breed a merle to a dog that looks tri but maybe had merle markings on the tail (then the tail was docked) you can get deaf puppies. I think they call that a ghost merle. Irresponsible and uneducated breeders cause this, in my area you see it quite often. You also see dogs that do not fit the breed standard, like mostly white or body splashes yet somehow they are registered and a breeder thinks just because they are registered they should be bred.. I have australian shepherds, I think they are great But when I started my search for my dogs I found lots of "breeders" who thought it was ok to breed merle to merle. They just dont do their research.. Good for you for taking in one with special needs! They are great dogs even when they are handicapped.

I also think so.

[Deafdogsrule]

I have 3 deaf dogs, two of which are double Merles (well, Double Dapples as they are Dachshunds, but same thing) The deafness, and often blindness is caused when some yahoo breeds merle to merle. The blue eyes have nothing to do with deafness, but often merles have blue eyes, so it's common for deaf dogs to have blue eyes (confused?) The deafness and blindness is caused by a mutation gene that is attached to the dilution gene that causes Merle When the dilution gene doubles up on the ears or eyes is when the mutation gene can cause the issues. Apparently there is a genetic test that can be done on Merle dogs to determine if the mutation gene is present (A Sheltie breeder told me this), and if it's not present on either parent, they can be safely bred together.

On a side note, dont think of your dog as disabled. I belong to a Yahoo Group for deaf dog owners, and our mantra is this: A deaf dog is first and formost a DOG, second it is a BREED, third, it's own PERSONALITY and last and way at the bottom of the list, DEAF. Basically this means that the dog has no idea it's deaf, doesn't know it's any different and needs to be treated like any other DOG of it's BREED and PERSONALITY... The only consideration made to the dog's deafness is the fact that we talk to them with our hands and body, instead of our voice. A Deaf dog can do anything a hearing dog can do, except hear.

Here's my first deaf dog, Scout, 10 weeks after I adopted her... she knew 2 signs before I adopted her...
YouTube - Scout's demo on Deaf Dogs
I prefer Deaf Dogs, and so do many others... we have a saying "Deaf dogs are like the chips... bet you cant have just one!"

[CorkyMax]

Just watched Scout's demo. Scout sure is smart and quick! I take it that you are the one with her in the video--Did it take a long time to get her to do all those things? Guess it wouldn't be much different than a non-deaf dog learning as long as you hold her attention. Forgot, but think she is a poodle and poodles are suppose to be very smart dogs too. Am thinking that maybe in a way deaf dogs would prob. pay more attention--keeping their eyes on you to communicate better?

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Just watched Scout's demo. Scout sure is smart and quick! I take it that you are the one with her in the video--Did it take a long time to get her to do all those things? Guess it wouldn't be much different than a non-deaf dog learning as long as you hold her attention. Forgot, but think she is a poodle and poodles are suppose to be very smart dogs too. Am thinking that maybe in a way deaf dogs would prob. pay more attention--keeping their eyes on you to communicate better?

Scout is amazing! She was 4 years old when I adopted her, she knew 2 signs... this video was taken 10 weeks after I adopted her. All her tricks and behaviours were taught using clicker training techniques (with a thumbs-up instead of a click) Scout is a Terrier x she was origonally bought from a BYB as a Terrier Bichon mix, but I highly suspect that she's a Parsons Russel Terrier, or a Wire Fox Terrier crossed with a Spaniel. The deafness is inherant in JRT/PRT and Fox Terriers... I doubt there's any Poodle in her.

Yes, I def. find that I get more focus from my deaf dogs, they are less destracted by what's going on around them... I find deaf dogs easier to train, and live with, and do honestly like them better than hearing dogs

[lange]

Really great work, Sara!!