A few years ago, AMS caused a classic 'storm in a teacup' in the World of working Cocker Spaniels. There were just a few cases, and the association of particular genes to the condition was not sufficiently conclusive, in our opinion.
We acquired Hari, with the intention of using him at Stud, both for ourselves and others. He has DNA tested as a positive AMS gene carrier, although he will never develop the condition himself.
Statistically, up to 50% of Hari's progeny could become carriers, also. Further, crossing him with a bitch carrier would risk a proportion of those offspring actually developing the condition (although, it seems that there is little evidence of what that risk really is).
Common Sense Prevails
A lengthy telephone call to The Kennel Club pays dividends, as the application of good sense and pragmatism is displayed towards Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS).
We assumed, incorrectly, that Hari would have to leave us but, thankfully, The Kennel Club have concluded that insisting that both dam and sire are not carriers would narrow the gene pool too greatly, risking exposure to other more prevalent conditions and raising coefficients for the breed.
We now offer Hari at Stud (despite the common misconception that you simply can not safely breed from an AMS carrier) and we have retained his other excellent attributes by crossing him with non-carrier bitches.
To date, we are not aware of any AMS carrying progeny; fingers crossed...
We now offer Hari at Stud (despite the common misconception that you simply can not safely breed from an AMS carrier) and we have retained his other excellent attributes by crossing him with non-carrier bitches.
To date, we are not aware of any AMS carrying progeny; fingers crossed...
