Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

Nothing is any more devastating to the breeder and the owner of a gun dog than to discover that Degenerative Joint Disease (Hip Dysplasia) is present. This is especially sad when it makes itself obvious only after much time has been spent and financial investment has been made in the training of a Bird Dog.

A responsible breeder will try to do everything possible to ensure that this cannot happen. Sadly, there is no way known at this time to eliminate hip problems in any breed of dog. The causes are multi genetic which means that in spite of using all known methods to reduce the incidence of the disease, it can–and does–crop up.

As in all genetic disorders a dog can be completely free of the problem itself but still be a carrier of the disease and pass it onto the offspring. This is why it is very important that any dog you buy be from parents who have been evaluated by one of the two known methods. Not only for your own dog’s sake but also for future generations, should you choose to breed your dog.

You can hear all kinds of excuses given by breeders as to why they do not bother with hip evaluations. These may include everything from “we have never had a case in our kennels” to “If any dog comes up lame or we suspect hip problems we destroy the dog”. Do not buy a dog from these sources. These people just don’t understand the facts.

G. G. Keller, D.V.M. MS Chief of Veterinary Services at the Orthopedic Foundation for animals (OFA) reports that out of 8,621 English Setters evaluated, 16.9% were in fact dysplastic. Of the last 51 Llewellin Setters evaluated 21.6% were dysplastic. By the way, these numbers are not too bad compared to many other breeds. The Llewellin Setter is not particularly prone to suffer from dysplasia.

The numbers show that English Setters as a whole have about the same likelihood as the Llewellin strain to be afflicted. The smaller gene pool of the Llewellin over the past 100 years has not changed anything in this regard.

The cost for hip evaluation is a deterrent to many people who breed and own many dogs. Today the average is in the area of $230 per dog.

Here at Lynnhill Llewellin Setters, all breeding dogs are tested. Formerly this was done by the OFA system and today usually by the PennHip system. We prefer the Penn Hip because it gives us breeding objectives based upon an actual measurement of hip laxity (find out more at www.Pennhip.org). OFA is a grade based upon the consensus of an examination panel (see www.offa.org). Of course if DJD is present in either system the dog fails. A failing dog would be discarded from any breeding program as would a dog with excessive laxity or an OFA grade of less than “Good” in the approach we have in place at Lynnhill.

Lynnhill Llewellin Kennels have produced approximately 1000 pups over the past fifteen years and to the best of our knowledge there have been only two cases of dysplasia reported. We attribute this not only to testing but also to our repeat breeding policy with our successful matings as well as careful inbreeding Coefficient studies. Of course we give a lifetime guarantee with reference to the development of dysplasia and will replace any dog should this occur. No question.

Keith Smith