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Kooikerhondje: the crossbreeding project in Finland

Contribution by the Finnish Kooikerhondje club “Suomen Kooikerhondje ry”

Why?

The main reason for starting this crossbreeding project is kooikerhondjes’ health problems: Polymyositis, other autoimmune diseases, different kinds of renal diseases, sterility in dogs (especially male infertility). Changing kooikers’ temperament is not our goal but we are looking for breeds that have traits which kooikers already have or which could result in a positive outcome sociability, boldness, curiosity, no sensitivity to sounds).

How?

The breeds and individuals used in these crossbreedings are first approved by The Finnish Kooikerhondje association’s breeding committee and then approved by The Finnish Kennel Club. The Finnish Kennel Club that makes the final decision on which breeds and individuals are used.

All individuals despite their breed must be health checked according to kooikerhondjes’ Finnish breeding regulations (eyes, patella, hips), kooikers must in addition be tested for vWd and ENM. Also their behaviour and temperament are evaluated (dog shows, mental tests, or hunting results… etc). Kooikerhondjes used in the crossbreeding project must have received at least VG (very good) in a dog show at the age of 15 months or older. All individuals used in the project must be at least 3 years old, and have had at least one litter earlier.

Presenting a breed includes giving information about their behaviour, temperament, health (and health problems) as well as conformation. A short summary of the breed’s history can be included. Breeds used in the crossbreeding project should resemble kooikerhondje by their temperament and overall appearance (e.g. other spaniels) or have no strong traits (e.g. Companion and Toy Dogs). Also other breeds from other FCI groups can be put under consideration.

The first generation of crossbred puppies (F1) are thoroughly evaluated based on health, temperament and conformation. As many dogs as possible from the first generation (F1) will be bred, and only dogs that fail to meet health and temperament requirements will be excluded from the breeding program at this point. The F1-dogs are registered to EJ-register (EJ = not for breeding) and if they meet the health and personality criteria set in the program will they be transferred to ER-register (ER = special register, can be used for breeding). We will use kooikerhondjes’ Club Register, the Finnish Breeding Database (KoiraNet) and fit2breed as tools to benefit kooikerhondje as a breed with these crossbreedings.

When? For how long?

The crossbreeding project is an on-going project. We would like to begin with 3-5 outcross litters with different breeds within the first five years (2021 – 2026).
After these first crossbred litters and the first F4-generation, more outcross litters will be made e.g. every 5 years as a way to increase the genetic diversity. This project is an addition to the other tools (exports, imports, foreign male matings, using different individuals to breeding) we use to help the gene pool become larger.

Approvals (timeline)

• In March 2019 the Finnish Kooikerhondje association had a vote regarding the crossbreeding project: it was approved.
• In June 2020 the Finnish Spaniel Club gave their approval to crossbreeding
• In September 2020 VHNK (Vereniging Het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje) gave their statement
• In January 2021 the Finnish Kennel Club approved kooikerhondjes’ crossbreeding project
• The crossbreeding program still needs to be elaborated and specified but the Finnish Kennel Club gave us permission to do one(1) crossbred litter without a finished program.

Note from the VHNK (February 2021)

From the Finnish Kooikerhondje club “Suomen Kooikerhondje ry” we got the news that in January 2021 the Finnish Kennel Club has approved the request for outcross.

During the authorization procedure, the application was also submitted to the VHNK. The board discussed this and pointed them to a number of key issues. According to the VHNK, an outcross is at this moment not the most desirable way to address the inbreeding problem. The VHNK’s plan is to achieve greater genetic diversity through a breeding support program. In Finland, breeders have health problems that can – but do not have to – be caused by inbreeding. We do not experience the same problems in the Netherlands. The outcross remains an independent decision of the Finnish club. The association has drawn up a well thought-out plan and ensures a good implementation.

Now we get the news that as part of the outcross project a female is mated with two different working-cocker males. The whole project will be carefully documented and monitored. We trust that the cooperation with the Finnish Club will continue to be good and that the whole Kooikerworld can learn from the experience.

Kerstin Ueckert
VHNK’s Chairman of the Board

Kooikerhondje: das Outcross Projekt in Finnland

Warum?

Der Hauptgrund für den Start dieses Kreuzungsprojekts sind gesundheitliche Probleme beim Kooikerhondje: Polymyositis, andere Autoimmunerkrankungen, verschiedene Arten von Nierenerkrankungen, Sterilität bei Hunden (vor allem männliche Unfruchtbarkeit). Es ist nicht unser Ziel, das Temperament der Kooiker zu ändern, aber wir suchen nach Rassen, die Eigenschaften haben, die Kooiker bereits haben oder die zu einem positiven Ergebnis führen könnten (Geselligkeit, Tapferkeit, Neugier, keine Geräuschempfindlichkeit).

Wie?

Die Rassen und Individuen, die in diesen Outcross verwendet werden, werden zuerst vom Zuchtausschuss des finnischen Kooikerhondje-Verbandes und dann vom Finnischen Kennel Club zugelassen. Dem finnischen Kennel Club obliegt die endgültige Entscheidung darüber, welche Rassen und Individuen verwendet werden.

Alle Individuen, ungeachtet ihrer Rasse müssen nach den finnischen Zuchtvorschriften für Kooikerhondjes (Augen, Patella, Hüften) gesundheitlich geprüft werden, Kooiker müssen zusätzlich auf vWd und ENM getestet werden. Auch ihr Verhalten und Temperament werden bewertet (Hundeshows, mentale Tests oder Jagdergebnisse… usw.). Kooikerhondjes, die im Outcrossprojekt verwendet werden, müssen mindestens VG (sehr gut) in einer Hundeausstellung im Alter von 15 Monaten oder älter erhalten haben. Alle individuellen Hunde, die im Projekt verwendet werden, müssen mindestens 3 Jahre alt sein und hatten schon mindestens einen Wurf.

Die Vorstellung einer Rasse umfasst Informationen über ihr Verhalten, Temperament, Gesundheit (und gesundheitliche Probleme) sowie Exterieur. Eine kurze Zusammenfassung der Geschichte der Rasse kann aufgenommen werden. Rassen, die im Outcrossprojekt verwendet werden, sollten im Temperament und Gesamtbild dem Kooikerhondje ähneln (z. B. andere Spaniel) oder keine ausgeprägten Arbeitseigenschaften haben (z. B. Begleithund- und Toy-rassen). Auch andere Rassen aus anderen FCI-Gruppen können in Betracht gezogen werden.

Die erste Generation von outcross Welpen (F1) wird gründlich auf Gesundheit, Temperament und Exterieur getestet. So viele Hunde wie möglich aus der ersten Generation (F1) werden in die Zucht genommen, und nur Hunde, die Gesundheits- und Temperamentanforderungen nicht erfüllen, werden an dieser Stelle vom Zuchtprogramm ausgeschlossen. Die F1-Hunde sind im EJ-Register eingetragen (EJ = nicht für die Zucht) und wenn sie die im Programm festgelegten Kriterien für Gesundheit und Temperament erfüllen, werden sie in das ER-Register überführt (ER = Sonderregister, kann für die Zucht verwendet werden). Wir werden das Kooikerhondje Club Register, die finnische Zuchtdatenbank (KoiraNet) und fit2breed als Werkzeuge verwenden, um der Rasse Kooikerhondje mit diesem Outcross Projekt Nutzen zuzuführen.

Wann? Wie lange?

Das Outcross Projekt ist ein laufendes Projekt. Unser Ziel sind 3-5 Outcross Würfen mit verschiedenen Rassen innerhalb der ersten fünf Jahre (2021 – 2026).
Nach diesen ersten Würfen und der ersten F4-Generation sollen etwa alle 5 Jahre mehr Outcross-Würfe vorgenommen werden, um die genetische Vielfalt zu erhöhen. Dieses Projekt ist zu sehen als eine Ergänzung zu den anderen Methoden (Exporte, Importe, Gebrauch von ausländischen Rüden, Einsatz verschiedener Individuen zur Zucht) die wir verwenden, um den Genpool zu vergrößern.

Genehmigungen

• Im März 2019 hatte der finnische Kooikerhondje Verein eine Abstimmung über das Outcross Projekt: es wurde genehmigt.
• Im Juni 2020 gab der finnische Spaniel Club seine Zustimmung zum Outcross Projekt
• Im September 2020 gab VHNK (Vereniging Het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje) seine Erklärung ab
• Im Januar 2021 genehmigte der finnische Kennel Club das Outcross Projekt von Kooikerhondjes
• Das Outcross Programm muss noch weiter ausgearbeitet und präzisiert werden, aber der finnische Kennel Club hat uns die Erlaubnis erteilt, einen (1) Wurf zu machen ohne abgeschlossenes Programm.

Benachrichtigung

Vom finnischen Kooikerhondje Club “Suomen Kooikerhondje ry” erhalten wir die Nachricht, dass der finnische Kennel Club dem Antrag auf Outcross zugestimmt hat, welche der Kooikerhondje Club vor einiger Zeit gestellt hat.

Im Rahmen des Genehmigungsverfahrens wurde der Antrag auch beim VHNK eingereicht. Der Vorstand hat sich mit der Zuchtkommission beraten und auf eine Reihe von Kernfragen hingewiesen. Nach Meinung des VHNK stellt ein Outcross derzeit nicht den besten Weg dar, um das Inzuchtproblem anzugehen. Der Plan der VHNK ist es, mit Hilfe eines Zuchtbegleitungsprogramms zu einer größeren genetischen Vielfalt zu kommen. In Finnland haben Züchter gesundheitliche Probleme, die mit Inzucht zusammenhängen können – aber nicht müssen. Wir erfahren in den Niederlanden nicht die gleichen Probleme. Das Outcross bleibt eine unabhängige Entscheidung des finnischen Clubs. Der Verein hat einen durchdachten Plan erstellt und sorgt für eine gute Umsetzung.

Jetzt bekommen wir die Nachricht, dass im Rahmen des Outcross-Projekts eine Hündin mit zweiverschiedenen Working-Cocker Rüden gedeckt wurde. Das gesamte Projekt wird sorgfältig dokumentiert und protokolliert. Wir vertrauen darauf, dass die Zusammenarbeit mit dem finnischen Club weiterhin gut sein wird und dass die gesamte Kooikerwelt aus diesen Erfahrungen lernen kann.

Kerstin Ueckert
Vorsitzende VHNK

At the beginning of this year the VHNK offered a risk assessment for polymyositis. This was meant as a temporary solution until Fit2Breed becomes available. Unfortunately, it turned out that the way Prof. Leegwater assesses the risk does not meet the expectations of our breeders at home and abroad.

Breeders get a result for one coincidentally chosen breeding pair, even if several of the given breeding pairs are assessed as low risk. It is done so as not to allow any conclusions about carriers.

As a scientist, it is important to Prof. Leegwater that the assessment does not make it possible to conclude whether dogs are carrier or free of polymyositis. If that were possible, dogs would be unnecessarily excluded from breeding.

Why are no results released from Utrecht for the other dogs? The answer lies in the following writing that we published on the website in December:

Polymyositis research (Dr. Peter Leegwater, Drs. Yvet Opmeer & Dr. Paul Mandigers)

There is some good news. We have found the mutation that can be associated with polymyositis. All the dogs with polymyositis which are examined by use have the mutation. This mutation is can be found close to two important genes involved in the functioning of the immune system. It also turns out that Kooikerhondjes suffering from polymyositis have an abnormal function of these two genes. So the mutation has no doubt a meaning.

However, not all the Kooikerhondjes with this mutation become ill. Kooikerhondjes that are homozygous for this mutation (they therefore have the two different alleles) have an increased risk, but not all of them will get sick. We see this more often with immune-mediated diseases. Environmental factors or variations in the rest of the DNA can cause a dog to become ill or not. That is why we call this mutation a risk factor. Also heterozygous Kooikerhondjes (Kooikerhondjes with only one deviating allele) are also at risk. That risk is very small (probably less than 1 percent) but present. Because there are many Kooikerhondjes with this mutation, we see that about 1 in 3 leaders of polymyositis is heterozygous (carrier) for the hereditary risk factor.

Pedigree research showed that other factors must play a role. We noticed for example that in some litters several dogs got sick, which would not make sense if the mutation is only expressed in a small proportion of the Kooikerhondjes. However, if there is a variation in the DNA that makes a dog more at risk or less at risk, this explains what we see in some litters.

In order to investigate this factor the DNA of a group of heterozygous leaders was compared to a group of homozygous leaders which have remained healthy throughout their lives. This comparison led to signals on two chromosomes that have been further investigated.

The first signal led to a DNA variant that seemed promising, but it turned out that it had a high frequency in the entire population. It was a false positive result that was a coincidental. The second signal could not yet be traced back to a variant in a gene. This investigation will be continued.

We hope that this resolves any uncertainties regarding the received results.

If you still want to request a risk assessment, you can do so via: Application polymyositis risk assessment.

Update cooperation VHNK and the ExpertiseCentrum Genetica Diergeneeskunde (ECGG)

Polymyositis research (Dr. Peter Leegwater, Drs. Yvet Opmeer & Dr. Paul Mandigers)

There is some good news. We have found the mutation that can be associated with polymyositis. All the examined dogs with polymyositis have the mutation. This mutation can be found close to two important genes involved in the functioning of the immune system. Furthermore it is shown that Kooikerhondjes suffering from polymyositis have an abnormal function of these two genes. So the mutation no doubt has a meaning. However, not all the Kooikerhondjes with this mutation become ill. Kooikerhondjes that are homozygous for this mutation (they therefore have the two different alleles) have an increased risk, but not all of them will get sick. We see this more often with immune-mediated diseases.

Environmental factors or variations in the rest of the DNA can cause a dog to become ill or not. That is why we call this mutation a risk factor. Also heterozygous Kooikerhondjes (Kooikerhondjes with only one deviating allele) are also at risk. That risk is very small (probably less than 1 percent) but present. Since there are many Kooikerhondjes with this mutation, we see that about 1 in 3 sufferers of polymyositis is heterozygous (carrier) for the hereditary risk factor.

Pedigree research has shown that other factors are also involved. We noticed for example that in some litters several dogs got sick, which would not make sense if the mutation is only expressed in a small proportion of the Kooikerhondjes. However, if there is a variation in the DNA that makes a dog more at risk or less at risk, this explains what we see in some litters.

In order to investigate this factor the DNA of a group of heterozygous sufferers was compared to a group of homozygous sufferers which have remained healthy throughout their lives. This comparison led to signals on two chromosomes that have been further investigated. The first signal led to a DNA variant that seemed promising, but it turned out that it had a high frequency in the entire population. It was a false positive result that was a coincidental. The second signal could not yet be traced back to a variant in a gene. This investigation will be continued.

Improvement in the treatment of Kooikerhondjes with polymyositis (Dr. Paul Mandigers)

In recent years we have seen several Kooikerhondjes with polymyositis. In the early years of this study, the treatment results were downright disappointing. In most cases, a dog did not or hardly responded to the chosen prednisolone therapy. You expect this with an immune-mediated disease such as polymyositis. The treatment results did improve when we also treated with certain muscle supplements. Furthermore, based on the pathology result, we could also reasonably predict whether or not a dog would respond.

Thanks to the research by Dr. Leegwater and Drs. Yvet Opmeer (at the time a student), the hereditary risk factor was identified. Because the two genes immediately adjacent to this mutation functioned abnormally, we started treating Kooikerhondjes with a specific inhibitor of these genes. So far the results seem very hopeful.

Meanwhile, we have treated various Kooikerhondjes in different countries and some dogs recover in such a way that the owners report that they no longer notice something about their dog. A hopeful result! Of course the goal remains to combat the mutation, but given the wide distribution of the mutation this requires several generations.

Progress Fit2breed (VHNK)

At the moment a lot of progress is made with the development of “our” new app Fit2breed. Fit2breed will help us in the near future to breed healthy and social Kooikerhondjes in a responsible manner.

In the Fit2breed app pedigree data will be combined with DNA data. The app is being developed to provide the breeder with a tool in choosing a suitable partner for their dog. In the meantime, it is becoming an increasingly large project, many other breed clubs are showing interest and the Raad van Beheer is also considering a participation.

At this moment various people are working with the data in the ECGG, choosing the most important data, converting the ZooEasy data to a version that is suitable for Fit2Breed. In close consultation with the information committee and the board of the VHNK, considerations are made, information and ideas are exchanged and input is given for further development. The structure of Fit2Breed as a company or foundation or ? also has to be chosen. This has to do with finances and here it is again very important, whether and to what extent major players such as the Raad van Beheer or Utrecht University participate.

One thing is certain, without the cooperation of the VHNK, the development of such a beautiful project would not have been possible in this time frame. This will also be reflected in the price. We have negotiated hard and owners of Kooikerhondjes will receive a special price. But here, too, no definitive answer is yet possible.

Collecting DNA samples

The next step for further development is now the collection of a large number of (sponsored DNA) samples. These samples are distributed from the VHNK for collection among recently used and soon available breeding animals. Within the Netherlands, a large number of owners have been approached from the VHNK with a request to collect DNA of their dog. Since DNA is already available from many dogs, the VHNK has made a selection for this.

In order to further fill the database, the VHNK will approach various stud owners in Germany, Denmark and Sweden with the request to take DNA from their dog. This selection is made by the VHNK and on the basis of already available DNA profiles.