Make sure both parents have current eye certificates (from a registered Ophthalmologist) we are appalled at how few are eye testing their dogs that they breed from. Don’t ask if they DNA test but what they DNA test for some of the tests are not even relevant to miniature schnauzers. We have included an explanation of all the tests we do. Fully DNA tested does not mean they are tested for these conditions that affect miniature schnauzers, you need to ask what tests have been done and see the results

How do you prevent or manage inbreeding of your dogs?

We are leading the way with miniature schnauzers in New Zealand by developing a database to measure the COI (coefficient of inbreeding) in our dogs. Not all conditions can be tested for, for example pancreatitis which miniature schnauzers are known for. By measuring how much a dog is related (not just the names on the pedigree but many more generations before that) we can lessen the risk of doubling an untestable gene. Ethical breeders should be able to tell you the COI of every litter they breed. The ideal litter will have a COI of under 5% but in cases (especially in remote places in the world which New Zealand is considered to be) if a breeder has a litter with a higher COI they should be able to tell you of the health of the lines they have chosen to double up on and why they have chosen to double that line.

Passionate breeders love nothing more than to discuss their dogs and the breeding programme they have. We have plans for many years ahead and plan litters well in advance especially where we may need to try to import the semen or dog.

How many litters do you do with your girls and what is the recommended amount by the NZVA?

We do not do any more than 3 litters in a girl’s lifetime often it is less than that if we are able to breed a girl as nice as mum or preferably better than mum. We do no more than 1 caesarean in a girl’s lifetime. The NZVA’s recommendation is 3 litters maximum and no more than 1 or 2 caesarean sections. Ethical breeders adhere to recommendations from the Veterinarian council.

On the odd occassion if we have not been able to get a puppy to keep from a girl we could consider a 4th litter but this would only be done under our veterinarian’s clearance and guidance. This would only be done if this bloodline would be lost to the NZ gene pool.

Is There a Bare Minimum of Tests I Should Ask a Breeder Have Done on their Breeding Dogs?

Of course we think that all the tests are important the only condition that can be passed onto humans is MAC all our dogs are tested clear or clear by parentage. The one conditions we personally know are in NZ are Type B1 PRA, Factor V11 Deficiency, Myotonia Congenita and Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome (Can be part of Megaesphogus) all of these can be DNA tested for and the parents need to have a current (Yearly) clear eye certificate from a registered Veterinarian Ophthalmologist. do ask to see these results. A Breeder should never be offended about been asked for proof their dogs are clear. Do check to make sure that the tests are carried out by an independently audited company we have no independently audited companies on this side of the world so here at Schnauzinn we choose to send our DNA testing to the UK to an independently audited company

Do your puppies come with any guarantees?

Yes, we guarantee our puppies not to be affected for their lifetime by PRA-A, PRA-B, MAC, Myotonia Congenita, Mullerian Duct Syndrome, Comma Defect, Charcot Marie Tooth and Factor V11 Deficiency. We will replace any puppy or refund up to the purchase price of any puppy found to have an inherited condition that we could of prevented at the time on mating. We are always available for ongoing advice or support.

Why is an eye test from an ophthalmologist not enough?

If you have a dog who is a carrier for PRA they can easily pass an eye test they will never be affected for PRA but they can pass that gene to their puppies if the dad is a carrier the same thing can happen so two dogs who have passed eye tests can pass on the genes for blindness and you have puppies that go blind but the parents both have clear eye certificates.

Why do you DNA test your dogs I am just looking for a pet not a show dog?

It is just as important for your pet to be healthy as it is for a show dog, after all it will not just be a pet it will be a family member.

What are these different conditions?

Charcot Marie Tooth

Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4B2 is an inherited demyelinating peripheral nerve disease affecting the miniature schnauzer breed. Affected dogs show regurgitations caused by mega-esophagus and inspiratory dyspnea caused by laryngeal paralysis at a young age (< 2 years). Affected dogs have been alive more than 3 years following diagnosis which indicates a long survival rate. Typical pathological findings are variable thickness of the myelin sheath (so-called “tomacula”) around the axons of peripheral nerves and areas of segmental demyelination.

PRA-B1

Type B1 Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Miniature Schnauzer is another PRA mutation which causes an early onset form of the disease with symptoms occurring within the first five years of age. This form of PRA is caused by a genetic variant in the HIVEP3 gene.

MAC

Immunodeficiencies represent a large heterogenous group of dysfunctions of the host’s immune system which increase the risk for infections. While dogs are generally resistant to Mycobacterium avium infections, a variant has been found to be associated with a genetic predisposition to infection with systemic avian tuberculosis in Miniature Schnauzers (referred to mycobacterium avium complex or MAC). The described variant in the CARD9 gene most likely impairs a signaling pathway which is important for the dog’s immunodeficiency. Common symptoms of affected dogs are: lethargy, inappetence, weakness, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. The age of onset varies between one and eight years. Because of the underlying immunodeficiency, the infections are poorly responsive to treatment and often recur. Since MAC is a zoonotic disease, humans with a suppressed immune system could be also at risk for an infection.

Myotonia Congenita

Myotonia congenita is a hereditary pathogenic condition affecting skeletal muscle ion channels and is characterized by a delay of relaxation ot the skeletal muscles following an electical or mechanical stimulus or after cessation of voluntary activity. Myotonia congenita results from genetic defects in the skeletal muscle chloride ion channel and the ensuing reduced chloride ion conductance across the sarcolemma. Myotonic Miniature Schnauzers have hypertrophic skeletal muscles, difficulty in rising after a period of rest, a stiff and stilted gait when walking, and a bunnyhop type movement when running. In addition, there are increased respiratory sounds, difficulty when swalling, ptyalism, dental abnormalities and superior prognathism.

Muellerian Duct Syndrome

Muellerian ducts (paramesonephric ducts) are small structures that exist in both male and female embryos during the early fetal development, at 35-36 days of gestation, the embryo begins to differentiate into male or female. In the female, Muellerian ducts will develop to form the uterine tubes, uterus, cervix, and the upper one-third of the vagina. In the male, Muellerian ducts are lost because the testes starts producing a hormone that causes regression of the Mullerian ducts.

In Miniature Schnauzer males which are affected by Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS), the Müllerian ducts fail to regress during sexual differentiation, and therefore, all Müllerian duct derivatives, bilateral oviducts, a complete uterus with cervix and the cranial portion of the vagina, are also present.

Approximately 50% of affected dogs have normally descended testes and are fertile . However, the remaining 50% have unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism, and as a result can be infertile and develop testicular tumors.

Treatment involves surgical procedures and significant expenses for dog owners. Prevention is limited to the elimination of affected dogs and carriers from the breeding population. In the miniature schnauzer, PMDS is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait with expression limited to homozygous males. Both males and females can be carriers. However, affected dogs cannot be identified by physical examination alone, particularly if they are not cryptorchid. Similarly, carriers cannot be detected, as they are reproductively normal males or females. A DNA test is now available to identify dogs as clear, carrier or affected.

Comma Defect

affecting the Miniature Schnauzer breed. The condition is characterised by truncal shortening, extensive hemivertebrae (wedge-shaped vertebrae) and rib anomalies including malalignment, fusion and reduction in number. Affected dogs are stillborn or die shortly after birth.