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Words By Sue Bell, President National Dog Warden Association

It has been suggested that the contention around ‘breed specific’ legislation is soon to be resolved. Instead of the dog’s ‘type’ being decided in the light of subjective opinions of prosecution and defence it will become a matter of scientific fact as DNA testing for ‘breed’ and ‘breed mix’ is now available.

Indeed at the start of the year the Canine Heritage Breed Test was made available by MMI Genomics in the USA and since then a further test has been introduced by Mars Veterinary - Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis, again in the USA.

Of course before British courts would want to be directed to accept DNA tests to determine cases of ‘type’, in the way it has been suggested they might, the reliability of these tests should be scientifically examined. Now how would you seriously test the claims made for genetic testing as evidence of ‘type’?

Well what you need is a large sample where the genetic identity of the dog is said to be known by some proven method. You then randomise the test samples so that only you know the genetic identity claimed for each sample. You then examine the success rate of the test!

How on earth can this be done quickly?  Well perhaps the Kennel Club could ask ten representatives of each breed being judged at Crufts 2008 to present a numbered sample (saliva swab or blood) for presentation to the DNA testing companies. That is about 180 breeds and 1800 tests.

Of course if the findings of these tests are already accepted as accurate by experts acknowledged by the Kennel Club any dog’s sample which failed to identify it as the breed under which it was being exhibited at Crufts would lead to the exhibitor being asked to withdraw. This would be a small price to pay if the test can then be established as incontrovertible scientific reconciliation of opinion regarding ‘type’ in court.

If on the other hand the reputable members of the Kennel Club and the dog show world are reluctant to establish the scientific veracity of these tests, who will? The National Dog Warden Association calls for DNA testing, in fact the Association calls for all the claims made for DNA testing to be scientifically proven to be accurate rather than misleading information is published and it becomes accepted

Author Details
Neil Burton is a dog warden and chairman of the National Dog Warden Association. - See this author's webpage

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