Merle Expression and Its Relation to Deafness Within the Catahoula Leopard Dog

COBRA was initially founded to include supporting research specifically on the health and genetic issues of the Catahoula Leopard Dog. With this in mind, I would like to inform the members of a research project that many COBRA members have been involved in for the last 2 or more years. I have been collecting and analyzing the genetic makeup of the Catahoula in relation to merle expression and deafness within merle to merle breedings for over 3 years; and have been studying their more general coat color genetics and health issues for 6 years now. The fruit of all this labor has finally been able to be catalogued and is almost ready for proper scientific validation among some of the experts in the field. This has only been made possible with the help of some breeders who have been willing to share their breeding program, health test results, and litter results and who have kept exceptional records for validation of all data supplied.

The main focus of the research has been to determine if phenotype correlates to deafness in the same ratios as other breeds carrying the merle gene; and to determine if merle to merle breedings for generations have an increased deafness percentage within litters. At this time I cannot delve into specific numbers or results, but I can give you some background information so as to show you the true validity of the research being currently conducted. There are over 70 adult dogs in the study, all with validated, recorded bloodlines going five or more generations back with many over ten generations. This includes all breeding records of their parentage as well as offspring produced typically for more than three generations. Over 650 pups produced have been analyzed. The core group of dogs analyzed have bloodlines going back to the original foundation NALC stock of the early 1980's, with some of these actual foundation dogs' litter records included as well as their initial offspring. The traceable bloodlines are extremely important because it shows any unique occurrence as a traceable pattern back to specific dogs, bloodlines, or breeding practices. All dogs have been given a number to be traced by dam so results can later be traced through mitochondrial DNA tests in later studies (Ex. all dogs related to "Daisy" would be in the 100 family of numbers). All dogs' names are being kept off the formal published paperwork to ensure the owner's privacy and any misinformation being publicly distributed; only their assigned number will be published.

This research will be ongoing even after publication, but at this time it is closed to any further outside data submission. In the future, I will be encouraging outside breeding records from other breeders who can meet the qualifications to submit their records. In the event that you would like to participate in the continuing data submissions there are some very strict rules and information that you will need to start keeping and recording on paper. Falsifying information could invalidate the research and only approved records will be used. You will need to have:

• A written release of your kennel's data to me with permission to include your dogs' records in the research to the full extent necessary and releasing me from any liability of information published or misused by people other than myself and the co-author.
  Note: no dogs' names/kennel names/bloodlines will be published publicly, only the number assigned to them. I will be the only person with a full data base of names and access to it.
• Copies of registration certificates, preferably a five generation or more
• health data on breeding pairs, phenotype, and parents phenotype
• General color and health of each breeding pairs' litter they came from (i.e. number of deaf pups and their phenotype, and phenotype of litter)
• Any known health issues of the breeding pairs bloodlines even if it seems unrelated to deafness (i.e. red mange, deformed pups, pups with faults, eye formation etc)
• All litters must have NO CULLED AT BIRTH EXCESSIVE WHITE PUPS! Pups put down at birth for excessive white coloring will invalidate the litter information, Pups must be allowed to live until 3-4 weeks old to properly verify if bilateral deaf, unilateral deaf, or hearing. This is the hardest part of the research because breeders will have to be willing to euthanize older puppies if found defective.
• Records of how each pup was determined hearing must be kept, BAER tested, tuning fork tested, found sleeping all the time etc.

I am very excited about the research possibilities COBRA has and will be opening up in the future for our beloved Catahoula Leopard Dog. Improving the breed by increased knowledge for making good breeding decisions will help not only make better dogs but encourage making sound judgments in developing Breed Standards and Breeding Ethics in regards to the Catahoula. Again, please note, I will not discuss any part or revelation of the research with anyone not currently participating in the study; but as soon as it is properly evaluated for validity and accuracy COBRA members will be the first to know.