Why is health testing essential?

Many different breeds are prone to specific hereditary diseases, and this includes our Murray River Retrievers.

Insisting on your new pup coming from fully tested parents goes much deeper than just knowing they are not affected or carrying any heritable diseases. It also shows that your chosen breeder is serious about ensuring the future health of the breed and not just breeding because they can. Breeding is not a game and should never be viewed as an income supplement!! Unfortunately, many so called breeders either don't understand or don't care about the health and future of the pups they breed or the future of the Murray River Retrievers as a whole. Sadly, this is evident by the scarce number of breeders who thoroughly screen and test their breeding pairs. Honestly, I can only count on one hand current breeders who are complying with this.

So what can we do about it?

There is so much we as consumers can do to change this poor culture among Murray River Retriever breeders. We can insist on only purchasing pups who are from fully screened and tested parents. Basically, if there is NO market for poorly bred untested Murray's, there will eventually be NO breeders doing it. Poor breeders who do it for the money or just don't care, wont take the risk of producing a litter they may be stuck with. It is up to each and every one of us to be a part of improving the quality of these dogs!

So what sort of testing should be done?

1. DNA testing from a reputable organisation who screens for ALL diseases seen in our Murrays. Currently there is only one organisation who can do this. There are some who claim to, but in reality they don't! We recommend using only EMBARK for your DNA testing as they are second to none (world leaders in fact). It is easy to do, they send you a testing kit where you simply swab your dogs mouth and send back to them. Results are sent back to you in around 2 weeks. Many have used other DNA testing organisations as they also include a percentage of how much Murray your Murray actually has in it. The results have been questioned by many who have tested their cross bred Murrays and come back with a result of 100% Murray (when they know it isn't), so the reliability is quite low. The main aim of testing is to ensure your dog is clear of heritable diseases and is not a carrier of them, or identify if they are. Bragging rights by claiming you have 100% Murray is of no value to breeding a healthy litter of pups. Don't be misled or fooled into thinking you are getting a better test because you get a percentage. Good breeders look for type and form that include temperament and other things a percentage does not tell you. This is best practice! You can find out more by going to EMBARK's website by clicking on this link: https://embarkvet.com/home/?utm_expid=.Ky_M-GVBRQyn8ftCGvxXdg.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F

2. Hip and elbow scores are VERY important to have done. There have been Murrays who have developed hip dysplasia. This disease has been the topic of heavy debate in the Murray world. Many old school or uneducated breeders claiming that it only occurs due to environment and has nothing to do with genes. This is the biggest load of hogwash I have ever heard!! All I can say here is go and do your own research.................ask why hip and elbow scores are even a thing if it has nothing to do with genetics when breeding?

Just to give you some perspective, a dog who develops hip dysplasia and ends up needing hip relacements can cost up to $20,000 and in some case, much more when you take into account the ongoing costs of rehabilitation and medications. Can you afford to take this risk? Just because a breeder says "none of my pups have ever had it" - this does not mean it wont show up!! And if it does - I can bet that the breeder will blame you for it developing!! Here is a link with some information on hip dysplasia in dogs, however, this is only one source so I strongly recommend you do more of your own research on this topic: https://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs

Please don't be guided by a breeder who claims they have always had healthy pups and therefore don't see the need to test their breeding pair. That should be a huge RED FLAG and these breeders should be avoided! When hip dysplasia and other genetic diseases have shown up in the breed - the breeders have always claimed it was the first time they have seen it in the lines. Think about this? The Murray River Retriever is a young breed and has minimal records and history recorded, so it is no surprise they say its the first time they've seen it. And just because it might be the first time the breeder has seen or heard of it - doesn't mean it wont continue to show up in the future. The fact is..................once its shown up.................the chances of it showing up again are dramatically increased, it is in the gene pool now!

A dog is a family member for life. Don't settle for second best and do your part to ensure not only that your new family member is bred from tested parents and from a responsible breeder, but that the future of this wonderful breed is also protected and preserved in a healthy and sustainable way.

If you are looking for a new addition for your family and are not sure about how to find a reputable breeder, please call us for a chat and we will be more than happy to support you with this.