Cocker Specific Discussion > Genetics & Breeding

Gold to Gold breeding

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shaendix:
Any one have a veiw on gold to gold matings through more than one generation?  I have heard various opinions of this and would be interested to know what breeders think from the "mother land".  Do you think there is an increase in genetic recessive disorders occuring? And if so what problems could arise?                    

Jane S:
I don't believe mating gold x gold (or orange x orange etc) through successive generations increases the risk of recessive genetic problems coming through unless they are there in the background anyway & then it doesn't matter what colours are involved. If genetic problems are carried by particular dogs, then they will come out when these dogs are mated together no matter what colour they are. Basically recessive problems can only come out if they are there in the first place, if they are not there, they can't come out :) The two main recessive conditions seen in Cockers are PRA & FN, both conditions seen more often in the past in partis than solids (though some solids have produced affected puppies so these problems are not confined to partis) Other conditions that may or may not be recessive include deafness, entropion etc. There is also Hip Dysplasia which isn't a recessive at all but influenced by a number of genes & can be triggered by external factors like diet & exercise. Any mating (whatever the colour of the parents) has to be considered in the light of what problems may be lurking in the background - not easy as often we breeders don't know what's in the background until an affected puppy appears :(

The feeling that you shouldn't mate gold x gold too often seems to be more to do with a loss of type (somtimes heavy heads & other faults creep in) & also possibly a loss of depth of colour. We were told many years ago by an old-time breeder not to mate orange to orange together too often as this would result in "washed-out" colour.                    

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