First, we must understand the difference between the term genetic and the term traits. Genetics are the genes that make up the composition of the body,  we refer to traits as attributes or behaviors of the animal. Speaking genetics you have dominant disorders and recessive genes.

 Dominant disorders work differently than recessive conditions.  It only takes one copy of the gene with the mutation to have the disease.  With dominant disorders, there is a 50% chance for the offspring to be affected like the parent.  Sometimes, there is a new dominant mutation in which the mutation was not inherited from a parent, but rather, new in that individual.  Both dominant and recessive disorders may show symptoms at birth, or they may not develop until later in life; these are called “adult onset”. The concepts of dominant and recessive can easily be applied to dog breeding.  For example, polycystic kidney disease in Bull Terriers is caused by a dominant mutation in the PKD1 gene.  Symptoms may be variable, and may not be diagnosed before breeding.  Kidney cysts do not usually cause pain but may lead to kidney infections, frequent urination, poor eating and weight loss. In some dogs, the disease will progress and lead to kidney failure.  A breeder may choose not to breed a dog at all with this dominant mutation in PKD1, knowing there is a 50% risk of passing this on, which may affect many pups in a single litter.  Remember, it only takes one copy of this gene from either parental line for this disease to potentially show up in the next generation. Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive neurological disorder found in dozens of breeds of dogs that is inherited in a recessive manner.  It’s very similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease in people.  Degenerative myelopathy may be misdiagnosed as arthritis in the early stages.  Dogs eventually become unable to walk.  An affected dog may not be diagnosed before breeding because of the later onset of symptoms.  Because this is a recessive condition, it requires two copies of the mutated gene to be affected.  Dogs with one copy of the mutation have no symptoms.  It is important to identify carriers when breeding.  Owners may not want to breed two carriers of degenerative myelopathy together, because there is a 25% chance of pups being affected.  It is possible that several pups in a single litter could be affected.  Although they may choose to breed a carrier with a non-carrier, because there is not an increased risk of having affected pups, this will keep the disease mutation in the breeding lines, which may be undesirable.

The traits of a dog, such as poor house breaking, separation anxiety, fear of storms, etc. just to name a few, are behaviors that are easily rectified with appropriate and necessary early training and socialization. With any breed, it is our responsibility as owners and handlers, to be honest with ourselves, will there be 100% dedication to the needs of this living breathing creature that GOD has given us? Will we take ownership when the puppy has grown into an adult dog that we don't like because we didn't take the time to mold it and train it to be what we wanted? Will the novelty wear off and the pet will be passed off to someone else or a shelter?