Post by RealPitBull on Jun 6, 2008 8:25:57 GMT -5
Ok, so I wanted to let some of my thoughts meander out of my head on this whole DNA breed test thing. I just read this article, and it got me thinking:
So, I'm still skepitcal about the potential benefit of these DNA tests, and I'm not really sure where all this is going.
Right now, it seems these tests are producing false results. (Does anyone think Dawn Capp's Savvy is ACTUALLY a Border Collie ) As per the above article, legislators might be more hesitant to support BSL because apparently what you think you see isn't actually what you get. We've all been saying that for ages, that you cannot judge based on looks. These tests seem to be 'proving' that point for us.
Well, my problem is they aren't proving that some of these dogs of unknown ancestry are actually Boxer or Lab mixes, or Bullmastiffs or Cane Corsos - they are telling us that real live APBTs are actually Border Collies and Basset Hounds. As someone who's never supported the whole "call them a terrier or Lab mix" mentality, you bet I'm squeamish about something like a DNA test 'proving' that your APBT is actually an Afghan Hound. And then waving those results in the faces of landlords, legislators, and your neighbors, "Hah! My dog's not one of those mean ol' Pit Bulls anyway, see?!?" (Maybe that's why he's so nice?)
Right now some favorable consequences might be coming out of these DNA tests, but what's in store for the future? What happens when the media catches on that there are some 400+ breeds and presently DNA tests only can ID about 130 or so? What happens when the legislators catch on that APBTs aren't even a breed that the tests look for? When registered, ch., pedigreed dogs are getting results that say they are some other breed entirely?
What happens if we begin to use this DNA crutch extensively, and when science finally catches up, we'll be in over our heads because we've been denying the breed of our dogs, and now we're 'caught'
Can DNA tests meant for public consumption eventually become so advanced as to be able to accurately ID ANY breed? I'm not a geneticist but I'm assuming eventually science will get there. And then what? Will BSL demand DNA tests on all dogs that look like Pit Bulls?
I hope more people with papered, champion dogs continue to take these tests to prove how innaccurate they are. (I know Dawn will make good use of the results and I'm so glad she did this little experiment!) If anything, maybe all this will help the cause - hey, if even DNA can't accurately detect breed, how the heck can the cop on the street? But I hope people do not start denying their breed - I hope owners will stand tall and proud and fight for their BREED, not stand behind a false test.
Pit-bull fans cite DNA test
Mixed ancestry shows ban on breed unfair, unscientific
By Jocelyn Berkhahn • Wausau Daily Herald • June 6, 2008
Looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to dogs.
That's the message a Madison man wants to share with people who want pit bulls banned from municipalities.
"From the standpoint of identifying dogs, there never has been a human on the face of the Earth who can look at a dog and tell its ancestors," said Peter Anderson, founder of Midwest Area Pit Stop, a nonprofit pit bull terrier rescue operation in Madison.
The city of Mosinee recently sought to ban pit bulls -- a generic label applied to three dog breeds, American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers -- but council members tabled the proposal May 12. It's not known when the council again will consider the ban.
Misty Frick, 25, of Wausau has owned her 2-year-old pit bull, Dakota Raye, since she was a pup.
"They have a bad reputation because of their potential to be bred for fighting," Frick said. "But she's loving and friendly. She's also curious and energetic."
Anderson said a recently developed test, called the Wisdom Panel Mixed Breed DNA test, proves his point.
Developed by Mars Veterinary, a division of Mars Inc., the test is given by veterinarians, who take blood samples and compare the DNA from the blood to that of 134 dog breeds. Kronenwetter Veterinary Care offers the test.
"They've identified 68 different breeds within dogs that were supposed to be pit bulls," Anderson said. Some of the supposed pit bulls actually had large amounts of basset hound, beagle, Dalmatian and collie in them, he said.
The findings are groundbreaking, Anderson said, and prove to the public that it isn't fair to single out one dog breed, because it's impossible to determine a dog's breed just by looking at it.
Frick said she has read about the study and finds it interesting.
"I'd love to see what she is," Frick said of Dakota.
Mixed ancestry shows ban on breed unfair, unscientific
By Jocelyn Berkhahn • Wausau Daily Herald • June 6, 2008
Looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to dogs.
That's the message a Madison man wants to share with people who want pit bulls banned from municipalities.
"From the standpoint of identifying dogs, there never has been a human on the face of the Earth who can look at a dog and tell its ancestors," said Peter Anderson, founder of Midwest Area Pit Stop, a nonprofit pit bull terrier rescue operation in Madison.
The city of Mosinee recently sought to ban pit bulls -- a generic label applied to three dog breeds, American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers -- but council members tabled the proposal May 12. It's not known when the council again will consider the ban.
Misty Frick, 25, of Wausau has owned her 2-year-old pit bull, Dakota Raye, since she was a pup.
"They have a bad reputation because of their potential to be bred for fighting," Frick said. "But she's loving and friendly. She's also curious and energetic."
Anderson said a recently developed test, called the Wisdom Panel Mixed Breed DNA test, proves his point.
Developed by Mars Veterinary, a division of Mars Inc., the test is given by veterinarians, who take blood samples and compare the DNA from the blood to that of 134 dog breeds. Kronenwetter Veterinary Care offers the test.
"They've identified 68 different breeds within dogs that were supposed to be pit bulls," Anderson said. Some of the supposed pit bulls actually had large amounts of basset hound, beagle, Dalmatian and collie in them, he said.
The findings are groundbreaking, Anderson said, and prove to the public that it isn't fair to single out one dog breed, because it's impossible to determine a dog's breed just by looking at it.
Frick said she has read about the study and finds it interesting.
"I'd love to see what she is," Frick said of Dakota.
So, I'm still skepitcal about the potential benefit of these DNA tests, and I'm not really sure where all this is going.
Right now, it seems these tests are producing false results. (Does anyone think Dawn Capp's Savvy is ACTUALLY a Border Collie ) As per the above article, legislators might be more hesitant to support BSL because apparently what you think you see isn't actually what you get. We've all been saying that for ages, that you cannot judge based on looks. These tests seem to be 'proving' that point for us.
Well, my problem is they aren't proving that some of these dogs of unknown ancestry are actually Boxer or Lab mixes, or Bullmastiffs or Cane Corsos - they are telling us that real live APBTs are actually Border Collies and Basset Hounds. As someone who's never supported the whole "call them a terrier or Lab mix" mentality, you bet I'm squeamish about something like a DNA test 'proving' that your APBT is actually an Afghan Hound. And then waving those results in the faces of landlords, legislators, and your neighbors, "Hah! My dog's not one of those mean ol' Pit Bulls anyway, see?!?" (Maybe that's why he's so nice?)
Right now some favorable consequences might be coming out of these DNA tests, but what's in store for the future? What happens when the media catches on that there are some 400+ breeds and presently DNA tests only can ID about 130 or so? What happens when the legislators catch on that APBTs aren't even a breed that the tests look for? When registered, ch., pedigreed dogs are getting results that say they are some other breed entirely?
What happens if we begin to use this DNA crutch extensively, and when science finally catches up, we'll be in over our heads because we've been denying the breed of our dogs, and now we're 'caught'
Can DNA tests meant for public consumption eventually become so advanced as to be able to accurately ID ANY breed? I'm not a geneticist but I'm assuming eventually science will get there. And then what? Will BSL demand DNA tests on all dogs that look like Pit Bulls?
I hope more people with papered, champion dogs continue to take these tests to prove how innaccurate they are. (I know Dawn will make good use of the results and I'm so glad she did this little experiment!) If anything, maybe all this will help the cause - hey, if even DNA can't accurately detect breed, how the heck can the cop on the street? But I hope people do not start denying their breed - I hope owners will stand tall and proud and fight for their BREED, not stand behind a false test.