Holter Testing

[Elaine]

With respect to Holter Testing, in spite of what you might hear, we do not say “don’t test.” We say, "don't put the Holter Test result in the context of a breeding advertisement and do not make it mandatory for puppies entered in the DPCA Futurity because it implies that the dog will not develop or transmit DCM… and that implication is false and misleading. "

In spite of what ever gossip you might hear, our opposition to including Holter test results in breeding data or Futurity requirements is not grounded in some personal agenda. Rather, it is grounded in a concern for the Doberman breed long-term. Our opposition is grounded in our concern that Doberman breeders make wise breeding choices based upon credible medical science.


FYIW, both Ch. Trotyl de Black Sahdow and Ch. Logres' Tungsten have been Holter tested.

You would have to speak with Ron about the details of Trotyl’s Holter results. I do not know if they just did a 24 hour Holter test, if they did x-rays, and/or if they thought it was medically necessary to do an Echo. Given the Trotyl is young and healthy, I suspect they did not do an echo, but you'd have to ask Ron or Jim.

Tungsten had a 72 hour Holter test (data was read every 24 hours) … he was x-rayed, and it was determined that it was medically unnecessary to do an Echo.

You will not see data about this in any stud dog ad of ours because it does not say that Tungsten or Trotyl will not develop or transmit DCM.

[Elaine]

For those pushing that we make Holter Test results mandaltory for parents of puppies entered in the DPCA National, we strongly object to such foolishness. First and foremost, the Holter test will not tell that the dog will not develop or transmit DCM. Requiring that Holter tests be mandatory for the parents of puppies entered in the DPCA Futurity does not serve the Doberman breed in any useful manner. It simply benefits the person who sells the Holter test. Requiring Holter tests on two year-old males is like doing a colonoscopy on a 10 year-old boy.

We have a fundamental problem with the person selling Holters (Judy Doniere) pushing a questionable and medically unsound DPCA policy that essentially increases her personal income. We even have a problem with an AKC judge (Ms Doniere) making a living selling a $500 chunk of equipment to people who’s dogs she judges. In our opinion, it would be best if Mrs. Doniere simply made a choice, either be a sales rep for the Holter, or an AKC judge. Being BOTH a sales person for the Holter and an AKC judge seems (to us) to be creating the perception of impropriety. I have heard that, “Even Bill Garnett's Doberman Owner Handler Association was not allowed because he took dues...” I have also heard the sentiment that people are, “uncomfortable with an AKC judge pushing so hard to REQUIRE the use of a machine she profits by, for hundreds & eventually thousands of dogs to enter the Futurity.”