Linda Bynum (of Weinland), has asked me to post the following response with regard to Ch. Weinland's Matinee Idol:

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Hello, I am the breeder and co-owner of Am/Can Ch Weinland's Matinee Idol.  I feel it is time to jump in with some facts for you newbies. Yes, Matty was one of the first males DISCOVERED to sire puppies with an os penis.  Cornell studied his get and could not verify that it is carried in the
same way as other breeds that produce TRUE hermaphroditism.  After this, Matt was removed from the gene pool.  One thing is certain, however, it takes TWO parents to produce a "hermaphrodite"... be it true or faux.  Whenever one starts pointing fingers at a stud dog, look to the dam also.

When it was first "discovered", I kept a list of all the known carriers.  About five years later, almost every line in gsps had been implicated!  Many of the carriers occured in field lines also so it is not just a show breeding issue.  It has been known in shorthairs since the 60s with many big-name winners behind the pedigrees. Many breeders pointed fingers at Matty till they found that their dogs were implicated also.

I bred Matty to his mother to flush out the skeletons before others did.  He sired seven bitches and one dog in this litter. I followed up on all the bitches two years later. The ones that were intact were examined and all vet records were also considered.  To my knowledge, there were no hermaphrodites in this litter.  According to the science, this would imply that Matty's mother, Candy, was NOT a carrier.  The same is true for breeding his sister...no pups showed up with it even when bred to a Matt son.  So the conclusion would be, just as it is concluded with the Cornell studies, that it is not a LINE issue, but a speciman issue. An outcrossed breeding has as much a chance of having it as a linebreeding.

There was a large witch hunt back in the 80s when Matt was producing a lot of puppies (thus increasing the chances). since then, the talk has died down as more and more HONEST  and INFORMED breeders encountered the problem.  The conclusion to many was that a known carrier who was clear of
other faults and medical problems, (having good hips and eyes and hearts, not to mention sound temperaments) was acceptable to some as these were still sound dogs and would make excellent pets. Some feel it is not good to breed to a carrier as some are disappointed when they purchase a dog
for breeding and that is impossible. I have known breeders to breed dogs with bad bites and hips and put others at risk with these faults appearing in subsequent generations. My attitude is that you must decide what would cause the dogs and owners pain and hardship first. Then take responsibility as a breeder to weed this out.  I have never bred a known carrier myself, just as I would never breed a dog with fair hips or eye problems or heart problems. But do not worry so about other people's
breeding programs. You must do what you feel is correct and don't be the one to cast the first stone when you do not have the facts. This is the reason I no longer breed.

                                    -- Linda Bynum

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Well I dropped a zero in that last quote.  Still I would find it surprising if it's even occurring at a 1:10,000 rate.

I realize more is learned in genetic science every day, but from what I learned in embryology this is not a genetic disorder it's a congenital disorder.

Testes and Ovaries are homologues.  All embryos start off as female morophologically.  At a given point in development the ovaries "drop" through the ingual aperature and differentiate into testes.  At the some time the other homologues (clitoris/penis), (labia/penile head) also migrate and differentiate.

Perhaps at some point it will be proven there is a genetic predisposition but the environmental factors would all have to be excluded first.

  I agree 100 percent, I also feel that it's a congenital defect, and not a genetic defect. unfortunately their are people that love to make this a breeder ethics issue.

 

I agree - I wish all breeders were so honest, ethical and forthcoming with information.

Jean

very well said and if you all look at the source of where this is coming from a newby trying to make a name. This is not a major concern in the breed . I have seen this in other breeds as well as humans and for all the research I have done over the years I too believe this is a congenital problem not genetic. Matinee Idol was an asset to the breed and I have never seen any written proof of any accusations. as for Linda kudos to you for being honest thats what breeder stands for. Being new to the breed start off with real facts and genetic problems dont look for problems. contact your breeder don't sling mud I do not think you will like the outcome. I breed another breed besides gsp's and I have seen in in that breed. It is a freak thing. I have a son with a chromosome disorder so I do alot of research on genetics and chromosomes . My husband an I were both tested for what my son has an neither of us are carriers

we also had amnio and were told he was normal as explained to us by many top doctors in the field that chromosome abnormalities do not have to be genetic.

e-mail me privately for more information I will not get caught up in the mud slinging I have alot of respect for ALL top gsp breeders of the past & present and the newbies need to learn a thing or two..