Flat-coat genetic rescue, step-by-step
Genetic rescue is a conservation breeding strategy whereby new genes are introduced into a fixed population in order to reduce inbreeding rates and improve health and fitness. Purebred dogs can accomplish this by borrowing from their own tradition and origins — outcrossing, then selecting for the desired traits to carry forward into future generations. While this breeding strategy may now be at odds with the unsustainable constraints of closed registries, breed preservation demands we break from such superficial barriers. For the love of Flat-coats, read on.
Step 1: Establish and prioritize breeding criteria
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Use Embark (or similarly robust SNP genetic profiles) to ascertain predicted litter COI and check for known mutations. Aim for a litter COI under 5%. If either prospective parent dog presents a particular risk for mutations not included in the Embark panel, test for those as well. Be mindful of dogs who are carriers of Mendelian diseases — you need not exclude those dogs, but future litters may demand continued testing.
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Select a breed or cross-breed dog with a low incidence of health problems, paying particular attention to cancer rates. Health test parents. Get to know the candidate dog and pedigree to ensure it promises to provide soundness of body and mind.
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Don’t dwell much on whether a dog looks like a Flatcoat — given the breed’s homozygosity, “return to type” in future, back-crossed generations isn’t hard to achieve. Rather, focus on the more amorphous behavioral traits that are difficult to reliably perpetuate — a team-player attitude, social engagement, or whatever it is you value in a Flat-Coat. Outcrossing also presents an opportunity to enhance FlatCoat traits you love and re-instill traits you fear to be diminishing, so take the opportunity to incorporate your own preferences and think to future generations.
Step 2: Outcross
Breed outcross litters.
Profile the puppies with Embark, or a similarly robust SNP profile tool.
Select the puppies you want to carry forward, being mindful of genetic diversity and phenotype. Ensure those puppies are maintained intact and available for future breeding.
Place puppies in homes that will participate in long-term monitoring (brief annual updates and notification upon death of dog).
Step 3: Backcross
Breed the outcrossed generation to Flatcoats, being mindful to maintain low expected COIs.
Again, select those pups you wish to carry forward. In this first backcross generation, you will start to see the “return to type” that homozygosity promises, but may not have the refinement or consistency desired until future generations.
Anyone wishing to skip the first two steps can jump in here by breeding to an outcrossed or backcrossed dog.
Step 4: Monitor. Rinse and repeat.
Monitor COI and health outcomes over time and reincorporate fresh genetic material as needed, either by utilizing other backcrossed dogs for breeding, or by returning to Step 1. Ongoing genetic and health monitoring will also help to ascertain whether any COI tipping points exist where health outcomes decline to unacceptable levels.
While the Flatcoat Conservation Project is currently a "proof of concept” genetic rescue program, breed preservation requires involvement from the broader community. We invite all Flatcoat breeders, Flatcoat lovers, and outcross enthusiasts to participate. It’s also important to note that while the Flatcoat’s breed profile positions them as especially good candidates for genetic rescue, unsustainable inbreeding exists in many breeds with closed stud books — we’re keen to share our experiences and collaborate with other breed conservation efforts.