The British gundog scene is fixated about using CH and FTCH as studs and labradors went through a very sticky patch when the optigen test for GPRA was introduced. One of the most popular sires used in the 80's was found to be a carrier. You can find him and his offspring in the pedigrees of most working labradors. The situation is not helped by stud dog owners having their dogs dna tested but not revealing the results. I know of at least one FTCH lab who has been very, very successful, but is a carrier for GPRA and yet until very recently was being advertised as being clear of PRA. This is not hearsay, you can find the evidence on the KC website, but how many people actually research their choices, either of dogs or puppies?
Just having a few super studs would certainly limit the choice and narrow the gene pool as only the traits of the studs would be passed on. When I was looking for a new lab pup I was looking for certain qualities, those of you who have seen Cassie work will know what I mean. There must be at least 50 FTCH stud labradors in this country, but only a handful met my requirements. I'm not sure if there was less choice I would have been able to find a suitable litter.
Like many others I'm not sure if the Field Trial system we currently have shows HPR work in its best light and this was one of the reasons that the HPR Championship was discontinued. As to the versatile gundog test I don't think the KC would allow its monoply to be undermined, IMHO.
Researching hereditary diseases was one the the things I did when I was looking for a stud for my friend's black lab bitch. I looked for carriers names on the internet and by a process of elimination I found a stud for Caley that was fairly local, healthy, not carrying anything untoward - but he had only won a few low level awards. However, she had a good litter and I persuaded my sister ta have one - just so happens I picked him at birth when we were whelping Caley. Sue kept a daughter and she is shaping up very nicely at 2 years old! _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
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but then it won't have to as there is no demand for such a test 
