The gene responsible for the long-haired coat length (fluffs) was previously identified in Alaskan Malamutes, Chihuahuas, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Mastiffs, Norwich Terriers, Rottweilers, Shiba Inus, and Weimaraners. It has now been shown to also apply to Schipperke fluffs.
A new DNA test was developed by Drs. Donna Housley and Patrick Venta with the help of several breeders in each of the breeds who donated research samples. The lab doing the testing accepted Schipperke samples and determined that the same mutation is responsible for fluffs in Schipperkes.
In these breeds the long-haired coat length is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Thus carriers appear normal coated, but each offspring produced by these carriers has a 50% chance of being a carrier also. The genotypes possible are Normal/Normal, (N/N) those individuals having two copies of the normal short-haired allele; Normal/Affected (N/F), those individuals which are carriers but appear Normal; and Affected/Affected (F/F), those individuals with two alleles for long-haired mutation which are long-haired. The genetic test developed identifies coat length genotypes allowing breeders to be more selective in mating so as not to produce long-haired individuals.
The lab doing the testing is DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) the world’s largest, most experienced private DNA testing laboratory.
DDC Veterinary, http://www.vetdnacenter.com/index.html, a division of DDC, provides the same quality testing and service for those seeking DNA services for animals. The lab website page for this test is: http://www.vetdnacenter.com/canine-long-hair-test.html.
Shirley Quillen
Tudox Schipperkes
Ohio Schipperke Rescue
Central Ohio USA