The SMCNA is undertaking the building and maintenance of a database that compiles information on the health problems of the breed and permits analysis on a pedigree basis. The basic health information in this registry, called the Genetic Health Project (GHP), will be available to Club members in the members section of the SMCNA web site as an open registry or as hard copy on request, and, in addition, all members may order reports and analyses generated from the database that will assist them in making purchasing or breeding decisions that will further the health of their Small Munsterlanders.
Central to making this registry a valuable resource will be the compliance of our dog owners and breeders in reporting the health problems they observe in their dogs. With this end in mind, the Club is establishing a category of Cooperating Breeders who will agree to support the collection of data for the GHP. These Cooperating Breeders will receive special recognition in the Club's publications and on the SMCNA web site. They will be given one free litter or stud dog advertisement on the web site for three months per year and they will be able to extend that ad time for a modest fee.
Terms of Agreement: We, as Cooperating Breeders, agree to report the health problems of our Small Munsterlanders and those of dogs that were produced by us to the Director of the GHP for inclusion in the GHP database. We will strongly encourage owners of dogs from our kennel to report health problems to us and to the GHP. We will provide a written documentation or statement in a letter or e-mail for each condition reported. A veterinary report is desirable for its greater accuracy for the diagnosis, but will not be required. If we use a sales contract, we will state in the contract that we require all purchasers to report to the SMCNA GHP and to their breeder health problems with their dog. If a Cooperating Breeder is found to be in noncompliance with this agreement without an adequate explanation, their cooperator status will be revoked.
Please note that the following are reasons an open health registry is of value:
- To document disease status in individual dogs.
- To assist breeding decisions that will further the breed’s health.
- To provide historic records.
- To show incidence of disease in a breed.
- To provide peer pressure for testing for disease
- To publicly reward those who value testing and have a commitment to better the breed.
- To assure buyers of decreased risk of disease.
- To provide data researchers need.
- To locate affected dogs and their families when researchers need DNA.
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