Dwarfism - Page 1

I am just curious to know how common/rare this is in the GSD. I have come upon this on the web in the past, but haven't really seen it addressed on this site. I would like to also hear breeders' experiences with this, and If any well known or widely used VA's or Seigers have had a reputation for throwing this disorder. Thanks, Melanie

Uran Wildsteigerland is listed in Willis' Genetics of the GSD as a producer of pituitary dwarfism. I have a friend who had 1 in a litter she bred several years ago and a sister from a previous litter was very very small... although she didn't show the typical characteristics that you see on some of the websites... I'm not sure but I think there are a whole list of other health issues that come along with the dwarfism....

Here's Fred Lanting's article on pituitary dwarfism. http://www.dogstuff.info/dwarfism_lanting.html I have personally never seen a dwarf, nor heard of anyone who has had one in a litter. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has had a litter in recent years where this trait appeared. Diane

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6074/dwarfs.html A good site over dwarfism.

I have a 9 month old female who is very tiny. Perhaps 20 #'s or so.... hence her nickname "teenie weenie" Other than her size, she appears to be quite healthy, plus she's a very dominant female. Mom is Olivia vom Kirschental and Dad was my FEMA K9 of humble ancestory. I'll try to post a photo of her on my website. One thing that I like about her is her size. She moves exceptionally well and is tiny enough to traverse into places that most dogs can't. Joanne www.dwamusa.com

Lasso Neuen Berg produced more than one i think in California, and my friend told me of one recently in a litter out of a male who is show lines and i'm not sure what the bitch is. I personally have never had one in a litter. I've seen them, and they are quite cute but they have a lot of health concerns and rarely live past 4 to 6 years of age.

www.pueppy.de.ms A small (dwarf) female with a large heart described their history.

I think this is another one of those hushed up subjects a bit like epileptics and haemophilics that no-one really wants to admit to knowing anything about, and certainly doesn't want to admit to having in their bloodlines. I too have read that Uran was known to have produced the odd dwarf and can't help wondering how many were produced and then hushed up. When you consider how many litters he sired it is quite frightening to think of the possibilities of carriers in our lines today. Also did the gene come from his father or mother. If it came from his mother Palme, who also gave us Quando then the statistics would be even more alarming. I wish breeders would be more open and honest about such health issues and pass on information about carriers, then we could all improve our knowledge on the subject, but the trouble is that those who are brave enough to make an admission of this order get slammed and abused on discussion forums such as this one.

There is another condition in the Shepherds that many breeders have turned their eyes on. We have called them "Delay's" . These pups are born normal size with the rest of the litter, they then grow at a slower rate than the rest of the litter. At 8 weeks, they can be 1/3 of the size of their littermates. But, when followed, these pups grow to be normal is size and appearance. Dr. Mark Neff at U.C. Davis has been collecting DNA samples from affected dogs and known carriers to breeders, and he is trying to map a gene for this. This delayed development gene would be helpful to know, but just like all the other genetic testing on dogs, a breeder needs to do the testing in order for this all to work out. Pia

I have seen 2 dwafs, both were from Uran Lines, Same father and different bitches. They are so cute, such tiny little bodies with so big GSD attitdude. I fell in love with them and I do not care for small dogs. I would have had a dozen of them if the medical issues were not so many. It is also very rare that they live over a year. The first one died at 4 months, the next a little over a year. They spent a lot of time at the vets, skin problems, organ damage. If it was not for the medical, they are a treat! Both of them thought they were Alpa dogs and would let the "normal" size know it. Those 2 had no fear, friendly, very curious I love the Uran Lines, but I would watch both sides of the pedigree. Both bitches had Uran in their lines.