For the first time, scientific evidence supports the discussion about the first 100% Chilean breed, the Chilean Terrier, popularly called rat-hunting dog or Condorito´s Dog. Despite being recognized by the Kennel Club a few years ago, a research conducted on December 2016 gives us information about its genetic variability status a problem among breeders and “dog lovers”.
They are known for its hysteric personality, for being grumpy and nervous, although their breeder and owners describe them as lovely, easy going, and very adaptable. The Terrier, specifically the Fox Terrier, it’s a dog of English origin that came to our country at time of the Colony, when Spanish immigrant brought some dogs with them. However, it didn’t take long until the European canines started to cross with some creole dogs. This mixture originated what it’s now scientific recognised as the first Chilean dog, the Chilean Terrier
Paola Mujica, Dr. in Silvoagropecuarian and Veterinary Sciences from Universidad de Chile, never imagined eight years ago, when she started her research, that she would end up describing the first canine breed from Chile. “Until that moment it was considered a mixture and it was not recognized as breed by the Kennel Club Chile, but I discovered that in 2007 it was formed the Chilean National terrier club, which stablishes how a Chilean terrier should be, defining a standard and its pedigree”. It was at that moment when Paola decided to embark this research, done at the Favet-Inbiogen laboratory. “The first thing we did, was meet with the president of the club to convince them about the importance of this research. They were so motivated that they allow me to go the exhibitions, and the registry sessions to take samples. That was the only way I could access to
dogs[PHV1] from all over the country”.
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After standard that the canine population must follow were stablish, started the selection of certain traits, something that threatened its variability and affect in the long term the characteristic these dogs could have acquired during its development, until at least 200 years. “The main goal of my doctoral dissertation was to determine how was the impact of the recent selection on the Chilean Terrier, to be able to preserve the variability of this new national breed and contribute to the right develop to be internationally recognized”, she add.
In this way, the researcher managed to the characterize and determine the structure and genetic variability of this breed taking representative samples of 24 founding dogs, those for with there is no record, or whose parents not registered. These analyses were done using genotyping of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), using a platform that can identify variants of 1.700 markers describes in this species.
“In deed it’s a different population from the Americans or the Europeans, although physically there are alike, like the Rat Terrier in the United States or the Jack Russel in United Kingdom, dogs that eventually could be confused with ours. Besides, the information generated in this study provide important records about the recent evolutive history of this breed, which contributes to the right management of the actual population”, add Paola.
Dog lovers?
Paola comments that the peculiarity of these dogs is that they still preserve a great genetic variability, something not very common in pure breeds due to human intervention. The main goal of her research was to characterize this genetic variability and try to define the genetic diversity present in the
dogs[PHV2] , like this it’s possible to know which characteristic should be kept “The selection made on dogs is an historical problem. That is according to the breed standard stablished or about some particular phenotype which goes against population diversity”.
This selection can be made in two ways, making crosses between related animal, or using several times the same male which has desirable characteristics according to the standard. In both cases the results are high inbreeding rates and low population diversity. “We know for scientific background, that there are breeds that have been under the management of breeders for 100 years and have high levels of inbreeding, which cause an increase in the frequency of genetic diseases like cataract or deafness, diseases present in almost every breed worldwide”. An example of this can be observed in the German Shepherd, one of the most common breed in Chile. “These animals have been selected so that the hips are lower hips in relation to the shoulders, because the standard describes it, but It is insane! As results of this, this the incidence of joints problems has increased, and it was possible to observe extremely recurrent cases of hip dysplasia”, added Paola.
These diseases are often not visible because there’re genes that associated to more than one characteristic, such as fur colour and hearing. This is the case of the Bullterrier. When its standard was defined it was enhanced the existence of completely white dogs, however, the breeders didn’t think genetics could be more complex. The result is that the excess of white colour is related to deafness in these animals. “Those who make these crosses don’t know about genes that could be associated, selecting other characteristic that could be negative for the population
Although these practices have led some animal to develop chronic diseases, for many the selection of traits serves to embellish the breed or to retain the original characteristic of these animals. That’s why the regulations of these procedures must be strength, relying always in scientific research like the one conducted by this Chilean. “One asks itself who did they get to this? Despite for many could be nonsense that this continue, even more when there are visible problems such as hip dysplasia, there are events or beauty shows that move many people and money and because the lack of a severe regulation, they keep encouraging the breeding of dogs that might have genetic diseases. Unfortunately, there are people involve on that world that aren’t not
dog lover”. Besides, Paola add at international level the regulation is scarse and it have been difficult to these scientific records to be taken into consideration. In this sense, she comments that the
World Canine Organization[PHV3] (FCI acronym of its name in French)
[PHV4] maximum authority abroad, is on charge of the judges of beauty contest, who don’t always consider that rewarding a characteristic can be detrimental to the dog’s health. “If the judge begins to prefer a healthier characteristic, the breeders are going to breed based on that. People always say, “I am not going to cross a dog that could inherit diseases”, but if that dog continue winning contest, they will keep breeding them” she emphasizes
However, she adds some years ago the FCI began to work with veterinary groups and researchers to discuss about alterations developed due the intensive selection of
dogs[PHV5] for defined traits. “There is interest for generate policies which aim to revert the undesirable phenotypes for healthy concerns, regardless of whether the standard demand. That’s what we need to replicate in Chile.”
Thanks to be a young breed in terms of official records, it only has 10 years of management, the Chilean Terrier don’t present yet described diseases that could be associated to certain phenotype or to a visible physical characteristic. This makes the research from this scientist even more important, because defining a consanguinity level could help to prevent these diseases. “This work represents an objective measure that we have take into consideration to not reach that point”.
[[Box 2. Kennel Director]]
The Importance of the 100% Chilean
Being able to determine that the Chilean terrier it is a criollo breed it’s not only important for people who loves animals, but it also helps to preserve a representative of the history of our country. “These animals weren’t artificially breed to fulfil certain roles, like what happened with the English Bulldog. This is a breed was formed by itself, that is super rough, well adapted to the territory, and therefore, very healthy”.
This specimen, known as rat-hunter dog in the countryside or as Condorito’s Dog in the pop Culture, has shown a great adaptability to our diverse geography because it can be found in all the national territory. This feature reflects our idiosyncrasy and it’s a great motive to help preserving its genetic diversity.
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The Kennel Club Chile (KCC) it is a corporation founded in 1934, whose mission is to keep an official genealogical record where dogs of pure breed are registered in our country. It’s in part, as federated member of the World Canine Organization[PHV6] (FCI) an international group that gathers 91 countries and it has recognized 244 breeds worldwide. Although the Chilean Terrier is backed up for the Kennel Chile, its application has not yet been sent to FCI, because of that we can’t talk about international recognition.
[[Box 2]]
Isabel Vásquez – Director Kennel Club Chile
Last years the KCC has begun to take measures to encourage the genetic protection in a crossbreeding of dogs. Its director comments they have restrictions regarding the consanguinity, maximum and minimum reproductive age and the colour associated with genetic diseases. “in 2016 we made a Cynology course in which topics like standards, genetic and animal health were discussed, this course was also given to breeders from provinces. In addition, we had a session of genetic with the Dr. Roberto Santoianni, to explain to breeders about the importance of having basic concept of genetic for a healthy breeding”
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Did you know?
The Chilean Terrier has managed to adapt to a countryside and a city life. That’s not all, considering it has also stablished itself as a rat-hunter, which has earned him the nickname of “Chilean Rat-hunter”
Did you know?
Genetic variability are changes recorded in the DNA of a species or population and that gives rise to the evolution of species
[PHV1]Dogs me suena más preciso que especímenes
Aquí no estoy segura si usar la traducción del nombre al ingles
El nombre en Frances
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale
[PHV4]Aquí podría quedar solo (FCI)
[PHV6]Mismo comentario que el anterior, no estoy segura si dejar este o
o
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Contributions
Macarena Rojas-Abalos, translated by Paulina Huanca