A test for MPSIIIB was developed in the US some years ago and a number of British breeders have been testing their dogs for some time now. About a year ago, the Club committee was minded to insert a requirement in the Code of Ethics that all dogs must be tested prior to breeding and to request further that MPSIIIB testing of all breeding animals be added as a condition for any Schipperke breeder applying to become a member of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme.

This did not happen, however, since around the same time, three breeders re-tested some dogs and received results which differed from the originals. It transpired that errors had occurred at a time of particular difficulty in the US lab and that the first results had been “false” negatives. The animals concerned had already been bred from but by great good fortune, no affected progeny were born although some pups were shown to be carriers. This situation was clearly very alarming and distressing, especially for the conscientious breeders involved and as a consequence, confidence in the reliability of the test was severely dented.
After careful consideration in committee, one of the involved breeders and I met with Dr Sampson at the KC in London. We had a long and detailed discussion based on previously prepared questions and Dr Sampson stressed that, notwithstanding the errors which had arisen, the test remained robust and was being offered by an internationally reputable genetics team and laboratory. Dr Shirley Quillen, the principal co-ordinator for health with the Schipperke Club of America, confirmed this view in my subsequent correspondence with her, although there had been some errors involving US test results as well, almost all around the time of staffing problems and financial cuts at the test laboratory.

An approach was then made to the Animal Health Trust in this country to see if a UK-based test could be made available. The head of the AHT, Dr Kathryn Mellersh, has now been in communication with the US lab which has recently agreed to publish its data. This will enable the AHT to explore whether their laboratories can produce a test or not.

All this may take some time, of course, and committee has become increasingly anxious that, in the meantime, breeders are continuing to mate untested dogs whose MPSIIIB status is unknown. Since the condition has not apparently fully established itself in this country, it is vital that every possible tool is utilised now to eradicate it quickly.

As a result, and taking genetic advice in to account, the committee will ask the next AGM to approve a change to the Code of Ethics to include the requirement to test all breeding dogs and bitches prior to mating. If a tested carrier is to be used for breeding, then it will be essential that all resulting puppies are also tested to determine which, if any, are carriers. The committee also intends to ask the Kennel Club to register MPSIIIB test results as it currently does in other breeds with hereditary conditions and to impose the requirement for testing as a prerequisite for any Schipperke breeder requesting membership of the Assured Breeder Scheme.

The committee is very aware of the understandable reservations which some breeders might still have about the current MPSIIIB test. After debate, however, it has concluded that the only responsible course of action at this point, is to advocate the use of the only available test in an attempt to ensure that this destructive disease does not become established in UK Schipperkes.
Further information on testing can be found at the Penn Gen lab web-site (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/penngen) and on the US bonchien web-site (http://www.bonchien.com/MPSIIIB.html) where a voluntary register of test results is maintained.

IAN MILLAR
(Health Co-ordinator)
February, 2012.

CH  MONTERREZ GOOD LOOKER AT NIGHTSTORM,
CH REXFORD ROYAL ICING OVER MYWULF,
CH AMERISCOT HEARTSONG,
CH CARROZA MAN ON A MISSION,
CH QWONTOX QUIDNUNC BY ROSHAANA,
CH MONTERREZ JINGLE BELLE FOR HANTREVED,
CH/IR CH MONTERREZ GUARDIAN,
CH ARADET RUMOUR HAS IT OVER TRIJEM,
CH. AM CH CHATELET ARADET RUGBY &
CH AVIDORE FANCY PANTS.

Best dog: Ch/Am. Ch. Chatelet Aradet Rugby ShCM (imp);
Best Puppy dog: Fuller’s Aradet Xtra Addition;
Best Bitch: Wearing’s Aradet Party Politics;
Best Puppy bitch: Peck’s Byquy Lilley the Pink.
Best of Breed: Ch./Am. Ch. Chatelet Aradet Rugby ShCM (imp)
BOS: Wearing’s Aradet Party Politics; Best Puppy in Breed: Fuller’s Aradet Xtra Addition.

“Jordy” then went into the Best in Show ring to compete against all the other Best of Breed winners at this all spitz breed show, and under judge Mr. Rodney Oldham (Towmena), won Best in Show. The Schipperke puppy , “JoJo” was in the final four for Best Puppy in show, not bad for a 7 month old pup.

In variety classes, the breed also was well represented, with Trickelbanks’ 11 yr old Ch. Nocte Boris Karloff winning 2nd in the AV Veteran stakes class. 2nd in the AV Puppy class was Philpott’s Aradet Xpert Timing;in the Junior Handling Association class (qualifiers for Richmond Semi-finals) the breed was extremely well represented with a trio of young ladies in our breed,Leah Scales, Bethany Willis and Rebecca Nock all being placed. Well done ladies and our breed for the day!

The Class Results:

Junior dog (4,1):
1, Fuller’s Aradet Xtra Addition
2, Peck’s Byquy Cabbage
3, Philpott’s Aradet Expert Timing
Special Yearling (2,1):
1, Muggleton’s Aradet Wizard of Oz Amongst Mywulf.
Limit Dog (3):
1, Fuller’s Aradet Shot in the Dark
2,Massey’s Scipsar Sunny Jim at Ristine
3, Manners’ Komargo’s Crazy Diamond at Roopec.
Open Dog(3,1):
1, Morley’s Ch/Am.Ch. Chatelet Aradet Rugby ShCM (imp)
2,Trickelbank’s Ch. Nocte Boris Karloff.
Junior Bitch (3,1):
1, Peck’s Byquy Lilley the Pink
2, Massey’s Scipsar Alice in Wonderland at Ristine
3, Wearing’s Aradet Xotic Dancer.
Special Yearling Bitch – no entries

Limit Bitch(6,1):
1,Bryans’ Trijem Ultrasonic;
2, Manners’ Scipsar Black Magic at Roopec;
3, Massey’s Ristine Dark Rosie.
Open Bitch (5,1):
1, Wearing’s Aradet Party Politics;
2, Trickelbank’s Ch. Carozza Magdalena for Nocte;
3, Forknall’s Avidore Hot Gossip.

As part of its commitment to the on-going study on epilepsy being conducted by the University of Helsinki, Schipperke Club is keen to encourage members and owners to provide buccal swabs from their dogs to assist in this important project.
Swabs of saliva can easily be taken by owners, provided the dog has not eaten for an hour previously. The procedure is simple but written instructions are available [with illustrations]. Swabs can be posted direct to the return address on the illustrated instruction sheet (within one week of taking the sample. Monday is the best day on which to collect a sample and minimises the risks should postal services be a bit slow!) Please do help in this very important work. The more samples, the better! Contact Ian Millar for swabs and instructions.

Some blood testing kits are also available and if you feel able to help in this aspect of the study, please contact In Millar. Blood samples would need to be taken by a vet. The University is particularly keen to get samples from dogs diagnosed with epilepsy and from unaffected full siblings. If you have a dog who has epilepsy or know of one which you have bred, please contact the health co- ordinator, Ian Millar, in confidence, if you can help. This is an especially significant area of the research project.

Thank you!

IAN MILLAR

0131 669 2861
E-mail: ianmillar.turnlaw@btinternet.com

The Schipperke Club held it’s Championship Show at the Parish Hall, Marston Green, Birmingham on Saturday October 15th 2011. Judge Colin Reed, standing in at the last moment for Albert Wight , who was unavailable due to an accident, awarded Bitch CC and Best in Show to Ms Chrtistine Hart’s hombred Champion Ludwyn Black Velvet, as she won from the Veteran Class she was also awarded Best Veteran in Show too. Full results below:

Best In Show Hart’s Ch Ludwyn’s Black Velvet
Res BIS & Best Opposite Sex Mance’s Ch Schipdale Orlando
Best Veteran Hart’s Ch Ludwyn’s Black Velvet
Best Puppy In Show Allington’s Rexford Blackcurrant Tart
Best Coloured Hardy’s Byquy Sebastion at Palmosa
Mick Boles Memorial Trophy Manners’ Komargo’s Crazy Diamond at Roopec

Dog CC Mance’s Ch Schipdale Orlando
Dog Res CC Morley’s Ch/Am Ch Chatelet Aradet Rugby Sh.CM
Bitch CC Hart’s Ch Ludwyn’s Black Velvet
Bitch Res CC Wearing’s Aradet Party Politics

Minor Puppy Dog: (2)
1st Allington’s Rexford Mission Impossible
2nd Fludder’s Aradet Xtra Addition

Puppy Dog: (2)
1st Philpott’s Aradet Expert Timing

Junior Dog: (2)
1st Hardy’s Byquy Sebastion at Palmosa
2nd Robjohns’ Qwontox Quincy

Special Yearling Dog: (3)
1st Hardy’s Byquy Sebastion at Palmosa
2nd Muggleton’s Aradet Wizard of Oz at Mywulf
3rd Robjohns’ Qwontox Quincy

Post Graduate Dog: (4,1 Abs)
1st Bugg’s Komargo Dandy Warhol
2nd Muggleton’s Mywulf Flame of Arnor
3rd Robjohns’ Qwontox Quincy

Limit Dog: (4,1 Abs)
1st Massey’s Scipsar Sunny Jim at Ristine
2nd Manners’ Komargo’s Crazy Diamond at Roopec
3rd Muggleton’s Mywulf Burning Flame

Open Dog: (4,2 Abs)
1st Mance’s Ch Schipdale Orlando
2nd Morley’s Ch/Am Ch Chatelet Aradet Rugby Sh.CM

A.O.C. Open Dog (4,1 Abs)
1st Ch Caroza Man On A Mission
2nd Massey’s Scipsar Sunny Jim at Ristine
3rd Bugg’s Komargo Dandy Warhol

Veteran Dog (Under 10 Years): (3,2 Abs)
1st Holmes’ Ch/Ir.Ch/ Int.Ch Monterrez Guardian Sh.CM

Veteran Dog (Over 10 Years): (1)
1st Tricklebank’s Ch Nocte Boris Karloff (Best Veteran Dog)

Minor Puppy Bitch (4,1 Abs)
1st Allington’s Rexford Blackcurrant Tart
2nd Massey’s Scipsar Alice In Wonderland at Ristine
3rd Wearing’s Aradet Xotic Dancer

Puppy Bitch (2)
1st Massey’s Scipsar Alice In Wonderland at Ristine
2nd Peacock’s Aradet Xpress Delivery to Rosaramark

Junior Bitch (2)
1st Mance’s Byquy Grace’n'Favour at Ryeman
2nd Muggleton’s Mywulf Dark Dragoness

Special Yearling Bitch (1)
1st Manners’ Scipsar Black Majic at Roopec

Post Graduate Bitch (4,1 Abs)
1st Wilson’s Avidore I’ll Be There
2nd Massey’s Ristine Dark Rosie
3rd Moore’s Clynalwin Fina

Limit Bitch (3,1 Abs)
1st Massey’s Ristine Dark Rosie

Open Bitch (7,2 Abs)
1st Wearing’s Aradet Party Politics
2nd Hart & Hart’s Ch Carozza Molly Malone with Ludwyn
3rd Forknall’s Avidore Hot Gossip
Res Archer’s Aradet Party Girl with Radash
VHC Aylward,Burdett & Yiasoumi’s Carozza Dark Angel

A.O.C Open Bitch (3,1 Abs)
1st Muggleton’s Ch Rexford Royal Icing over Mywulf
2nd Allington’s Rexford Ice Maiden

Veteran Bitch (Under 10 Years) (3,1 Abs)
1st Hart’s Ch Ludwyn’s Black Velvet
2nd Tricklebank’s Ch Carozza Magdelena for Nocte

Veteran Bitch (Over 10 Year)
1st Forknall’s Ch Avidore Detroit Miss
2nd Wilson’s Avidore Diamond Lil

Breeder: 1st Deats – Aradet
Brace: 1st Manners

Mick Boles Memorial Stakes Sp Yearling D or B:
1st Hardy’s Byquy Sebastion at Palmosa
2nd Manners’ Scipsar Black Majic at Roopec

Mick Boles Memorial stakes Open D or B:
1st Manners’ Komargo’s Crazy Diamond at Roopec