About

About

Why Genetic COI?

As every breeder knows, the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) is one of the most important factors determining a dog’s health and longevity. 

 

Breeders critically need a tool that will provide an accurate, genetically-based COI for future pups when planning litters.  COIs based on pedigrees were the only method available in the past, but science has shown them to be woefully inadequate.  A newly-available genetic tool can tell breeders the average expected COI (eCOI) of the pups with great accuracy.

What breeders can do

Join the Shiloh DNA Trial Breeding Project.

  • We will run Genetic Trial Breedings for you with all opposite-sex Shilohs in the Project, as well as any specific trial breedings you request.
  • We will provide you with a detailed report summarizing the results.* 
    • The average expected COI (eCOI) of the planned litter
    • The COR (Coefficient of Relatedness) between the potential sire and dam.
    • The pups’ risk (if any) for having or being a carrier for any of the 270+ potential health issues tested by Embark
    • Dog Leukocyte Antigen (DLA) Diversity results provided by Embark.
    • Genetically-possible coat colors and patterns
  • Owners of breeding Shiloh Shepherds in the Project will be advised of a new genetically favorable potential matches for your Shiloh.**
  • If requested, we can also provide you with…
    • Confirmation of Parentage from Embark if both parents have also tested with Embark.
    • Names and Coefficient of Relatedness (COR) score for 30 of your Shiloh’s close relatives who have also tested with Embark.
    • Your Shiloh’s “wolfiness” score.  These are ancient wolf genes that have survived multiple generations.  They may be several thousand years old, or might even date back to the original domestication of dogs about 15,000 years ago.  In Embark’s words, “They are bits of a wild past that survive in your dog!”
  • There is no charge ever for membership or services provided by this Project.

 

*All results come from Embark. 

**Owners will be contacted privately and separately in advance to confirm any limitations on pairings they may have (for example, “only plush coats” or “no trial breedings with XYZ kennel”).  Limitations may be updated at any time.  Any limitations identified by an owner will remain strictly confidential.   Only that Shiloh’s owners will know.

Who we are

 We have been actively analyzing DNA on a volunteer basis for over a decade (Project Administrator of several large, international Family Tree DNA Projects).  Although dogs have more chromosomes than people, they have the same types of DNA as we do.

 

We have owned Shiloh Shepherds since 2000.  Our Shilohs have come from multiple breeders in multiple states, and have been in multiple registries.  We have never bred or shown and don’t ever plan to.  This initiative is not affiliated with any particular group.  It’s only about the Shilohs.  We have absolutely nothing to gain from this Project, other than the hope that we can help breeders of today and Shilohs of the future.  Our Shilohs have given us so much joy over the years, and this is just our small way of paying it forward.

Privacy

We will never share the names of members or their Shilohs outside the Project without the prior written permission of the member.  Within the Project, names of members and their Shilohs will be shared only via Trial Breeding Reports.  All Trial Breeding Reports will comply with whatever limitations owners have previously identified.