[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Canine DNA testing is often misunderstood” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”43px” title_letter_spacing=”3px” background_image=”https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/dna-testing-lhasa-apso-dog-breeding.jpg” custom_padding=”493px||76px|||” title_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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I\u2019ve been involved with canine DNA testing since the late 1990s, back when the first test for copper toxicosis became available for Bedlington Terriers. It was a groundbreaking moment: suddenly, we had a tool to identify carriers of a devastating liver disease before symptoms ever appeared. Not long after, a genetic test for prcd-PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) was introduced for Poodles. It was expensive\u2014no doubt about that\u2014but responsible breeders saw it as their duty to test their breeding dogs.<\/p>\n
I still remember what Jouko Leivisk\u00e4, then chairman of the Finnish Poodle Club, said: \u201cIf you can\u2019t afford the necessary health tests as a breeder, you can\u2019t afford to breed dogs.\u201d<\/em> That stuck with me. Because the cost of not testing can be far greater\u2014not just financially, but ethically.<\/p>\n DNA testing in dogs involves analyzing their genetic material to identify mutations linked to inherited diseases or traits. It\u2019s especially useful for detecting recessive conditions, where a dog can carry a faulty gene without showing any symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Understanding recessive inheritance is key:<\/p>\n Each dog inherits two copies of every gene\u2014one from the sire and one from the dam\u2014forming a gene pair for each trait or condition. These copies are passed down randomly, meaning that if neither parent carries a specific mutation, they cannot pass it on to their offspring. However, if one or both parents are carriers, it is a matter of chance which gene copy is inherited by each puppy.<\/p>\n As a result, not all offspring will necessarily carry the mutation. Even when both parents are carriers, they can still produce genetically clear puppies. Statistically, when two carriers are bred together, 25% of the offspring are expected to inherit two copies of the mutation (M\/M) and be affected, 50% will inherit one copy and be carriers (N\/M), and 25% will inherit no copies and be genetically clear (N\/N).<\/p>\n With this knowledge, breeders can make informed decisions to avoid producing affected puppies\u2014without excluding carriers from breeding altogether.<\/p>\n For Lhasa Apsos, several DNA tests are available today, covering both health and physical traits:<\/p>\n Health-related tests<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Trait-related tests<\/strong>:<\/p>\n These tests give breeders a clearer picture of what their dogs carry\u2014not just in terms of disease risk, but also appearance and structure.<\/p>\n One of the biggest advantages of DNA testing is that it allows us to use carriers\u2014and even affected dogs\u2014in breeding programs, as long as they\u2019re paired with genetically clear mates. This way, none of the offspring will be affected, and we preserve valuable genetic diversity.<\/p>\n In my view, the worst mistake would be to exclude all carriers from breeding. That narrows the gene pool unnecessarily and increases the risk of inbreeding-related issues. Genetic testing is a powerful tool, but it should never be the sole criterion for selecting breeding dogs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to remember that DNA tests don\u2019t replace traditional health screenings. For example, even if a Lhasa Apso tests clear for PRA4, they may still be at risk for other eye conditions. And while we can test for chondrodystrophy and chondrodysplasia, these tests don\u2019t eliminate the need for radiographic imaging and clinical diagnostics. Hip, elbow, and spinal issues may still be present and must be evaluated.<\/p>\n Since all Lhasa Apsos carry chondrodysplasia, they are at increased risk for orthopedic issues such as elbow incongruity and other skeletal abnormalities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”106px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_cta title=”Interested in a Puppy?” button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you are interested in our upcoming litter or another co-owning option, feel free to reach out: yarmilan@gmail.com<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_contact_form email=”yarmilan@gmail.com” title=”Or leave a message” success_message=”Kiitos viestist\u00e4! 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It was a groundbreaking moment: suddenly, we had a tool to identify carriers of a devastating liver disease before symptoms ever appeared. Not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11484,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breeding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11426"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11486,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11426\/revisions\/11486"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yarmilan.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Is DNA Testing?<\/h2>\n
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DNA Tests Available for Lhasa Apsos<\/h2>\n
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Why Carriers Still Matter<\/h2>\n
Beyond the Genes<\/h2>\n
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Previous blog posts<\/h1>\n