In early 2004, a DNA test for prcd-PRA was made available by OptiGen in the United States. We are pleased to say that in May 2004, our small kennel were the second UK kennel to take advantage of the OptiGen prcd-PRA test by testing ALL dogs in our ownership.

Since that time we have continued to test all our dogs (apart from those that have two parents who are tested "Clear".) Although we have tested all our dogs, only the dogs forming part of our breeding programme are listed on this page, for our other dog's results please see their own pages.

With recessive conditions like PRA, there are 3 genetic categories, affected, clear and carriers. Affected animals have two copies of the faulty (mutant) PRA gene, one inherited from each parent. Carrier animals have one faulty (mutant) copy of the PRA gene but appear perfectly healthy and cannot be distinguished from normal dogs by eye screening. Normal animals are entirely free of the faulty gene - they have NO copies of the faulty gene.

The problem with relying on the KC/BVA Scheme is that breeders have no way of identifying which category their breeding stock falls into as the BVA Panellist examining the dogs eyes can only determine if a dog is clinically clear of the disease at the time of examination. If the dog is not showing any signs of PRA at the time of the examination, the KC/BVA test cannot determine whether the dog is a carrier or whether the dog is affected & will go on to develop the disease at some time in the future. More importantly, it is impossible to know whether the dog will be passing the disease onto his offspring.

PRA is a progressive disease with an often late onset, this means that a dog that is genetically affected will not have clinical evidence of its status until the disease is obvious and may of course already have produced offspring (who in turn may also be affected).

All our dogs are tested (or have clear parents) and we are pleased to say that we have no affected dogs. According to scientific data, 'Clear' dogs will never develop the disease, are not carriers of prcd PRA, and cannot pass this disease onto their offspring. 'Carrier' dogs will also never develop this disease and provided they are mated to 'Normal/Clear' partners, none of their offspring will develop the disease either.

Breeding with "carrier" dogs has been only undertaken with "clear" partners, this has ensured that no "affected" offspring have been produced. Puppies resulting from this combination have been OptiGen tested. With the WISE use of this test, mating "carriers" to "clear" is not a problem.

Every breed needs genetic diversity, restricting breeding's to "normal/clear" x "normal/clear" will result in the loss of many otherwise beneficial bloodlines. The OptiGen test enables breeders to rid their lines of the possibility of producing affected animals without losing other desirable attributes, it is vitally important not to lose quality within the gene pool whilst eradicating any disease.

Offspring resulting from the mating of two "normal/clear" parents will automatically be "homozygous normal" for prcd-PRA. Any offspring from a "Carrier" x "Clear" mating should be tested prior to breeding.

We have tested several more dogs, however only dogs forming part of our breeding plans have results listed below.

For more information about OptiGen, please the OptiGen test page. For more information about PRA please visit our PRA page.

For a list of results for all dogs (all Cocker Spaniels, not just Powerscourt cockers) tested please click here!  From the 1st August 2008 the Kennel Club will automatically update the list with test results (test results updated quarterly), prior to this date, all results shown have been submitted voluntarily.

Please note, the results currently listed for our dogs are only the results of dogs still connected to our breeding programme, our other 'Normal' dogs are not listed.

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