A Breeding Program to Reduce Hip Dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs

Abstract

In a 6-year program (1960 to 1966) involving 38 litters of German Shepherd Dogs (236 dogs), incidence of hip dysplasia was reduced by selectively breeding parents with normal hips. When both parents had dysplastic hips, 7% of the offspring had normal or nearly normal hip joints. When one parent had normal or nearly normal hip joints and the other had dysplastic hip joints, approximately 50% of the offspring had normal or nearly normal hip joints. When both parents had normal or nearly normal hip joints, 76% of the offspring had normal or nearly normal hip joints.