It’s time to provide you with some in-depth information on some things we touched on in earlier chapters. There are breeders out there who will tell you that it’s unnecessary to do genetic testing before breeding dogs. They claim that the dogs they own and breed have never had any health issues, and therefore no genetic test is needed. That claim is a crazy sham, and it makes me nuts when I hear it! Even though many dogs may appear to be healthy, unfortunately, not all issues can be seen by the naked eye. That’s why we have specialists who do genetic testing to help us rule out genetic disorders. Any breeder who speaks against genetic testing is – in a word – a fruitcake! Sorry if I offend anyone, but if one is attempting to be a responsible breeder, then there is no acceptable argument against genetic testing. It’s really quite simple, genetic testing is one of the most important resources available for a responsible breeder to use.

Make no mistake about it, there are health issues that can be found in all breeds, so no breed or cross can be completely safe from them. However, at the very least, some issues can be avoided by genetically testing for issues common to each particular breed. Sadly there are some diseases faced by all breeds of puppies and dogs that can even be crippling or fatal, and therefore a breeder’s aim should be to produce puppies that are not affected by what is already known to be the hereditary diseases common in his breed. For example, some things common to Shih Tzus and Yorkies – and therefore to your Shorkie puppy – are issues of loose knees, hip dysplasia, liver shunts and eye issues.

So guess what a reputable Shorkie breeder does? He becomes knowledgeable about the faults and health issues that are known not to one, but to both breeds, and he tests for them in his breeding program. If one of his breeding lines shows any issues, he will discontinue breeding that line, even if it means a financial loss. A case in point is a Yorkie boy that I had wanted to breed with one of my female Shih Tzus. Without getting into all the technicalities of the various genetic tests and clearances, one such test is an OFA x-ray clearance, and this Yorkie did not pass his OFA on his elbows. Had he been bred, he would have passed along his issue. The only way his issue could have been detected was via the test. So instead of breeding him and passing along his issue, he was neutered and placed in a pet home. Similarly, I had purchased a champion female Shih Tzu that did not pass her genetic Cerf eye exam, and therefore, champion purchase or not, she was spayed and placed in a pet home. Imagine the health issues and heartaches that would have been passed along if I had bred these dogs without testing them. And by the way, because Yorkies and Shih Tzus can have eye issues which cannot be seen by a regular vet, every year we go to the ophthalmologist to get genetic eye exams done on the dogs we are breeding to ensure we do not pass along issues. We care about our breed and about what we are breeding for our puppy parents. Pure and simple, everyone, it is about being responsible.

So, why wouldn’t a breeder test? The main reason is cost. It is not cheap to genetically screen each and every dog you own. The testing is extensive and expensive! Even so, you’ll recall that our Shorkie Club of America members all support genetic testing in their breeding programs because they are breeding to better the breed. And, while it is up to non-SCA breeders to decide whether or not to genetically screen their breeding adults, we are passionate in our hope that they do so. Genetic testing is critical to what should be our common goal of breeding to better the breed. Omitting the tests is how some Shorkie breeders are able to sell cheap dogs. And we think it is those breeders who sell cheaply who use the theory of hybrid vigor in order to avoid the costs of genetic testing. I always tell people that if they are looking for cheap puppies, I cannot help – and neither can hybrid vigor!

What is Hybrid Vigor? Hybrid vigor is the theory that the crossbreeding of genetically different species results in increased vigor or other superior qualities in the offspring of such crossbreeds. Dog breeders who support the theory try to confuse you into thinking that this theory applies to dogs and that a mixed breed puppy is healthier than a purebred. In the dog world, this is a myth! The explanation is quite clear cut. The fact is that domestic dogs are all within the same species, canis lupus familiaris. No matter the breed, all dogs are in this species. Differing breeds do not go into genetically different species, so pure and simple, the theory just doesn’t apply in the world of dogs. The renowned canine geneticist, Dr. George Padgett, wrote an article for Dog World in January 1997 where he discusses the over 102 genetic issues that crossbred dogs can have, so healthier? I think not! You may want to look up and read this article to learn more on the topic. Meanwhile, in our opinion, the breeders who support the theory do so to avoid the expenses of genetic testing while trying to reel in unsuspecting puppy parents with unsupported health claims. Beware! When it comes to dogs, the theory of hybrid vigor is fiction, not fact! There’s a better way to breed a vigorous, healthy and happy Shorkie puppy – it’s through the solid information gained from genetic testing (expense and all!).

So, emphatically yes, while Shorkies are a wonderfully hardy breed if they are bred correctly, this has nothing to do with the fact that they are a mixed breed – being a mixed breed does not guarantee health! Genetics are what govern a dog’s health – so it’s worth repeating, regardless if purebred or cross, no dog is safe from inherited health issues. Genetic testing is the only thing that makes sense in our goal to reduce the chances. Is it foolproof? Of course not, nothing will give you that kind of guarantee. However, you get the most reliable and best chance for a healthy puppy by working with a responsible breeder who uses genetic testing. Any breeder – of either a purebred or a Shorkie – who says he “knows his breeding lines,” that they are genetically free of health issues and that there’s no need to test is being less than ethical. It’s a huge red flag that someone is trying to manipulate you.

All breeders should be testing for their breed-specific issues. This is the only way to run a responsible breeding program. It arms the breeder with factual information so that when necessary, he can (and will!) discontinue a breeding line that has tested positive for health issues. We believe that our dogs are our family members first, and through the genetic testing we provide, we invest in them to ensure they are sound breeding quality. We do not want puppies to suffer from hereditary health issues that could have been avoided, nor do we want our families to have to suffer the emotional pain and financial strain a puppy with a genetic issue can bring. We test because we care about the puppies we produce, and we care about the families we service. Anything less would be just plain wrong.