Why are pedigree papers needed? Sample Pedigree Chart

I received my kits a very long time ago, but have not had time to complete and return them.  Is it too late?

It has been a very long time since I requested kits and I have not received them.  Does this mean my dog is not eligible for the study ?

Pedigree papers help us to identify the breed correctly. We carry out analyses that take breed into account, or make comparisons across breeds. Thus having this information facilitates these analyses.

Also, having the actual pedigree information helps us to construct large pedigrees for some breeds, which are useful in genetic studies, even if the DNA of the parents is not available.

It would be most helpful to have a copy of the pedigree but it is by law and ethically incorrect, we cannot directly ask your vet/breeder for them. But since you are the owner of the dog, you may ask your veterinarian or breeder for a copy to be sent to us by fax or mail.

Not only do WE NOT support breed bans, but Dr. Overall has argued regularly against them in court and has published extensively on why they are foolish.  Our primary intent is to understand truly problematic and abnormal behaviors in dogs that run in family lines.  If we can understand the genetics and offer genetic counseling, then we can screen dogs early and prevent the most devastating of the behavioral effects by treating early. We can - we hope - contribute to the creation of better and more specific treatments.  Not only do we oppose breed bans, we look forward to the day when all dogs are wanted dogs and humanely treated, and no dog is euthanized or abandoned for any behavioral concern.

Yes. We accept all dogs, including unregistered dogs, mixed breed dogs, and dogs registered with responsible, reputable registries other than AKC.  These may include foreign kennel clubs such as the Kennel Club UK (KC) or the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), as well as breed-specific registries such as the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA), the American Border Collie Association (ABCA), or the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV).  We accept dogs even if they do not qualify for AKC accepted markings, colors, and/or physical traits required for their breed category.

We are interested in ALL dogs.  If you have multiple dogs, they can all contribute to our study, whether they are affected by behavioral problems or not.  The general rule is when in doubt, send the sample.  You cannot do us any harm by sending us more data!

In addition, we will benefit from family groups, especially if one of the dogs exhibits aggression or anxiety-related behavior, compared to the rest of its littermates. For more explanation, click here.

Theoretically, yes. Given information about relationships between dogs (i.e., pedigrees) it is possible to look for associations between coat color (or any other phenotypic marker) and behavior. 

Let's say in a litter of six, three dogs have the behavioral trait we are studying.  Let's also say that those same three share coat color, while the other three littermates, who do not have the behavior, have a different coat color.  This is not definitive, but it suggests that the behavior "segregates" with the coat color trait, at least in this example.   If you were able to collect a number of pedigrees with this same pattern, this becomes more persuasive from a genetic standpoint.  The most definitive proof would be to establish that the gene contributing to the behavior is in close proximity to the gene contributing to coat color.

All information and data is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and only for usage in this research project. Your information WILL NOT BE SOLD.

The kits are free. The only cost is the stamps used for mailing the samples back to us.

Yes! Non-purebred dogs are welcomed to participate in the study.

This kit is for participation in a research study only - it is not a test to verify if your dog does or does not have a disorder.

Research is very long and lengthy process. We hope to have some results ready for publishing in the next year or so. For our participants, they will receive an advance discussion of the findings before they are made public. But the findings will not disclose the individual results of any participating dogs.

No, it is never too late to return kits.  Data collection for projects of this kind is ongoing, so even if it has been weeks or months since you received the kit, please do return it.  We are happy to include your dog(s) in the study.  If you have lost parts of the kit and need replacements (extra swabs, etc.) please contact us and we will send out whatever you need as soon as we can.

No, it does not.  If you have not heard from us in a reasonable amount of time (within a few weeks), please feel free to contact us.  It is possible that your request was lost in the system, or that we have been particularly busy and overlooked your kit request.