Ethical Breeding
Join us in the fight to eradicate this disorder from our breed by encouraging ethical breeding practices.
The whole point of sharing information about idiopathic seizures in our Rottweilers is so that responsible and ethical breeding decisions can be made. Even if we can't be 100% sure that this seizure disorder is hereditary, we can be 100% sure that the chance isn't even passed to future generations if we stop breeding affected dogs. Before Savvy developed seizures, I had planned on breeding both her and her littermate. Together, they were the future of my own breeding program. They were the link between every dog I had previously bred, and the future. To make matters worse, two of Savvy's surviving littermates also developed seizures. In the face of all that, I knew that the only responsible thing to do was to pause all of my breeding plans - at least until I knew more.
Once I learned that it was possible that Savvy's only seizure-free littermate could possibly pass on a genetic predisposition for seizures, I then had to make another hard choice. I knew that the only ethical choice to be made was NOT to breed any other dog out of that litter, or directly out of that line. As hard as that choice was, the last thing I wanted to do was to set someone else up to go through the pain I had experienced (and the pain that the owners of Savvy's littermates are experiencing). I knew it had to stop, and I was the one who had to make that choice. After over 30 years, my breeding program could no longer continue in the same direction. I would have to do something else.
Through Project SAV, I want to encourage other breeders and owners to make the same responsible choice NOT to breed certain dogs, and NOT to breed to certain dogs. Again, this isn't about punishing a breeder or owner of dogs that have had seizures. After all, I had no desire to punish myself. Like others, I had invested an enormous amount of money, and over 30 years of my blood, sweat, and tears into developing my own bloodline. As I see it, however, this is bigger than any one breeder's dogs or breeding program. This is about the very future of this breed that I love. If we don't talk about this problem openly, and identify affected dogs (and lines), and then choose to do the right thing by refusing to even take the chance of passing on the genetic predisposition for seizures, I fear we run the very real risk of harming our breed beyond repair..
We are hopeful that the current genetic studies WILL identify the genetic mutation associated with idiopathic seizures in Rottweilers. According to an American Kennel Club publication on the study of canine seizures, this has already been done in other breeds, allowing for the identification of certain animals that are at particularly high risk of seizure development. Gary Johnson, DVM, PhD. (the former Director of UM's Canine Genetics Laboratory) noted in 2019 that, "We see pockets of epilepsy in certain bloodlines, and some breeders have successfully bred away from it." Indeed, once we can identify the mutation in Rottweilers, the decision NOT to continue breeding certain dogs should become an easy one.
However, until that happens, we believe that the safest course of action is to err on the side of caution, and STOP breeding dogs that have either had seizures, or have produced dogs that have had seizures. We also believe that decision is in line with the following ethical recommendations of both the American Rottweiler Club and the American Kennel Club:
Study and strive to conserve and improve the breed in structure, health, temperament and working ability, never sacrificing one for the other. (ARC Mandatory Practices, § 1.4)
Plan all litters with the goal of improving the Rottweiler breed, giving consideration to individual health benefits and concerns. (ARC Mandatory Practices, § 1.6)
Encourage participation in health studies which are listed by the Rottweiler Health Foundation. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.1)
Encourage all Rottweilers, even those not being used for breeding, to be tested for the various health clearances, signing authorization to release abnormal result, in order to provide better statistical results. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.3)
It is strongly recommended that Stud dog owners should disclose any health and potential Standard disqualification problems in the dog’s pedigree, which are known to them, to any bitch owner requesting stud service. It is also strongly recommended that bitch owners should disclose any health and potential Standard disqualification problems in the bitch’s pedigree, which are known to them, to any stud dog owner from whom they are requesting stud service. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.5)
It is strongly recommended that any known health and potential Standard disqualification problems in the pedigree be disclosed to a puppy/adult Buyer. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.6)
It is strongly recommended that when breeding decisions are made, consideration be given to disorders that may have a genetic component. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.8)
It is strongly recommended that prospective breeding candidates and their immediate relatives be tested for any hereditary disease. (ARC Recommended Practices, § 2.9)
To be an effective and responsible dog breeder, you should have a basic understanding of the science of genetics. Everything about your prospective puppies’ health, soundness, looks, and temperament will be determined by the genes passed on by their parents, and by their parents before them. Therefore, the selection of a mating pair should not be made solely on the basis of the dog’s or bitch’s looks (or temperament or soundness, etc.), but should be based on an understanding of how the animal’s genes contributed to its looks and of how those genes are passed on and expressed. That is why it is essential to study the pedigrees of your mating pair. The more knowledge you have as you make your selection, the more likely you are to produce a litter with the qualities you desire. You should also be well-versed in the genetic problems that affect your breed. Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Some genetic diseases may occur in many breeds; others occur in only one or a few breeds. (AKC Guide, Step Five)
Contact Us
Reach out to us for inquiries about idiopathic seizures in Rottweilers, how you can participate in or support the genetic research, or with questions about ethical breeding aimed at eradicating this disorder. You can also join a public Facebook discussion group that addresses this topic by clicking the Facebook symbol below.