Doing my genetics homework...

[BGpa]

Starting with learning more about about our BYB Bonnie...

I got Embark test kit for several reasons, one just for fun- try to find relatives and through that confirm her background...

As more people sign up for Embark and share their results, over time you'll get some idea of heredity up the line or sideways...

Embark has some highly useful education info too:

Genetic Relatives and Embark Relative Finder | Embark

The Relative Finder feature shows your dog’s relatives based on how much DNA they share and gives you the ability to connect with their owners.

embarkvet.com

My end goal is to learn enough to independently read pedigrees and confirm breeder health testing at least 3, preferably 5 generations back, for the traits I seek in next big dog, to be confirned...in a year or two, we'll see.

So this is babysteps compared to those of you as owners and breeders...just sharing the process for other noobs, with the option for anyone to comment with tips observations.

PS: last time I looked, Wisdom had about twice as many users, but did not have "relative finder" but I was just browsing there and see they have added it...

Embark has a breeder level suite of features, and I read elsewhere that one breeder prefers Wisdom for some things, VGL for others...

So this is a rapidly evolving genetics info market thats fascinating in itself, and feel free to share what and why you use any genetics for insight, or entertainment...yes I am becoming a dog nerd, apparently...

 

[JanS]

I am becoming a dog nerd, apparently

LOL I think a lot of us are and I could spend hours reading pedigrees and delving a bit farther into them.

 

[BGpa]

LOL I think a lot of us are and I could spend hours reading pedigrees and delving a bit farther into them.

What is your main source(s) for pedigrees?
Is there one or two best books or online "how-to" guides to read in advance?

 

[BGpa]

Ok, I've mentioned BetterBred as a breeder level tool, sorta curious about "how many dobe breeders have used it, is it useful, something I should ask about as a well informed shopper someday"...
Whats unique vs Embark, Wisdom, is it uses "Expected Breeding Values" from same database at UCDavis that creates the Canine Diversity test (?)
and was just mentioned perpherally in that recent DobermanPlanet guy youtube...

And its been around awhile: here is a 2020 post here on DCF:

Thread 'Better Bred'

Mar 9, 2020

I found this super interesting!
No affiliation with the site other than Maja's breeder posted the link on here web page.
And thought I would pass it along.
MR

Contributing positively to the future
Rebekah
0 Comment

BetterBred Blog, Breeding Pedigree Dogs, How to Use BetterBred.com
Dogs within purebred gene pools are by their very nature related. At some point within the formation of the breed, there were identical ancestors in each dog’s...

• Maja Rocks
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Doberman Health Issues and Questions

• 

Anyone here look at it?

 

[BGpa]

And here is another really good thread starting with Embark and a note on VGL, from a prolofic past poster @kaloric
and convo by @Ravenbird

Both very knowledgeable (and to my way of thinking) useful as independent and practically oriented towards Functional Doberman ...including companion guardian/pets, or "performance pets" as I read that term elsewhere.

Thread 'Embark results!'

Aug 27, 2023

Kaiya's Embark results came back.

I'd strongly encourage folks to get these tests done and share their pups' Embark and/or VGL results, regardless of what they show. It's not a competition, it's about knowledge, comparing anecdotes about how our dogs' stories are being written, and if there are any indications that some of the building block combinations work better than others. It's not about shaming or naming or being anxious about a dog's future because there are maybe some causes for concern. And of course this goes for breeders too, especially if they're trying to do better, the...

• kaloric
• Replies: 44
• Forum: Doberman Talk and Discussions

• 
• 

 

[BGpa]

Following a bread crumb trail on @Ravenbird recent post, I found an answer to a couple questions in "how to learn basics on genetics":

ICB Basic Population Genetics for Dog Breeders

FREE online course designed specifically for dog breeders !

www.instituteofcaninebiology.org

Anyone tried this?
PS: I dont intend to become a breeder. I just want to know the questions to ask, and get proof, to differentiate between those who walk the walk vs talk the talk.

 

[Ravenbird]

Anyone tried this?

I don't get why it says Free, then down below it says $95 ?

That aside, she says the text for the course is a $66 book Intro to Veterinary Genetics (2009) so since you'd have to buy that anyway, I'd get the book and see if it is layman friendly enough to study on its own. I find eBay the best for buying used text books from a few years back as many of them are replaced with newer versions. But to answer your question, I have not taken any of her courses. Some people are really good teachers online and are worth every penny, others just barely motivate you, so I can't comment on that end of it.