News on the Panda Shepherd
The following news release from Dr. Mark Neff, University of Davis in California is what Cindy McCann and I have been waiting for for some time now. There have been alot of people in the dog world who had alot of theories as to how these dogs came to get their unusual coat color pattern, some of which were... "a border collie got in there (or whatever breed you want to mix in)"
"Imagine...a MUTATION!!!! How terrible!" (Folks we all mutated into what we are today, that is not a bad thing) "They are GSDs but have Von Waardenburgs Syndrome" (dogs with this affliction are also deaf and blind)
Thank you all for your **professional** opinions.
I prefer to believe what science has now PROVEN. Yes, we have heard many opinions. Cindy and I have heard it all. And yet we still knew that a healthy, happy GSD is a healthy, happy GSD, no matter what the color! Naming the dogs with this pattern the "Panda Shepherd" was for the beifit of those who would condemn us for calling these dogs GSDs.
Yes, they are still registered as GSDs right now, but in time, we would like to see this dog break away from the GSD and become the Panda Shepherd Dog.
Thank you for having an open mind and reading the REAL TRUTH about this coloration/pattern of German Shepherd Dog.
Marion lopizzo
A unique coat color pattern, termed Panda, occurs in a single bloodline of German Shepherd Dogs. With the help of the founding breeder, Ms. Cindy McCann of Ohio, we have analyzed the DNA of Panda dogs and their non-Panda littermates using modern genetic tools. We have proven without a doubt the following:
* The coat color pattern stems from a spontaneous mutation; it was not introduced from another breed or population.
* The de novo mutation occurred in the Sire’s germ line, and was then passed down to his daughter, who was the only offspring of that sire to show the distinguishing markings.
* In subsequent generations, the Panda pattern has exhibited an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, consistent with the action of a single gene acting with full penetrance.
* No discernible health affects have been observed in these dogs, though a double Panda dog has not yet been produced.
As the principal investigator of this study, I would be delighted to answer questions by breeders and owners who are interested in the genetics and biology of this coat color pattern. I can be contacted at:
Mark Neff, Ph.D.
VGL Canine Genetics
Center for Veterinary Genetics
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8744
(530) 752-1381
mwneff@ucdavis.edu
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