The Los Angeles Bully Department
Study #1a. A22 Gene study in the American Bully Breed
Status : Open
We're currently doing an open study on the A22, or "Rage gene" and if it's present or not in the American Bully breed.
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What is the A22 gene? : The A22 “gene” is actually a polymorph of the dopamine transporter gene SLC6A3 . The SLC6A3 transporter gene is relevant to behavior changes and aggression across species; it encodes a protein responsible for regulation of signal amplitude and duration in dopaminergic synapses in the brain. Research by Drs. Lisa Lit, Anita Oberbauer, and colleagues at the Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis identified two polymorphisms in the SLC6A3 gene associated with owner reports of seizure, “glazing over” behaviors, episodic biting behaviors, and general loss of clarity in the Belgian Malinois. These polymorphisms have further been associated with increased stress in dogs in response to handlers. (Among the two polymorphisms, PolyA(22) is a better predictor of behavior.)
Currently this polymorph has only been associated with these behaviors in the Belgian Malinois breed and dogs utilized for the study with UC Davis were primarily from working lines.
Our Theory : Although this has only been verified in the Belgian Malinois, we've personally seen numerous dogs and heard multiple stories of dogs showing signs similar to these in the American Bully breed since it's very beginning, and we feel that if it can be identified in this breed and carriers are shown to have similar behavioral outcomes, it'll not only help point breeders in the right direction to breed away from the gene morph, but it'll also give vital information for new owners as far as what to expect, and how to properly handle their dogs safely in their everyday lives.
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Our Goal : For this study we're hoping to get AS MANY American Bullies to participate as possible, all ages, all personalities, and all types (exotic, pocket, standard, xl, extreme etc). We're especially interested in those who have any type of bite histories but ALL temperaments will benefit and help us answer our main questions.. is this gene present in the breed? if so, is it causing the same symptoms as it does in the Belgian Malinois?
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All that's required is the following...
1. Do the UC Davis Behavior Propensity Test (https://vgl.sf.ucdavis.edu/test/behavior-propensity-belgian-malinois) with your American Bully (or multiple Bullies).
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3. We'll send you a questionnaire to fill out so we can learn a little more about the dog(s) that were tested.
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And that's it! You will have contributed to the advancement of the study and the overall evolvement of this beautiful Breed!
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We'll be looking at many different things in this study such as differences in personality traits depending on if, and how many copies of the gene the dog has, if there are obvious triggers for the traits shown, if training and environment make a difference in dogs who carry 2 copies of the gene, and much much more.
We're very excited to see the amount of information we'll be able to gain from this study that will not only help the future of this beautiful breed but the future of dogs in general.
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Please feel free to reach out directly if you have ANY questions at all or would like to participate in this study of the A22 gene in the American Bully.
** Those interested in helping with funding to further advance this study and others to their fullest potential please contact us at labullydept@gmail.com subject line : A22 funding
Study #1b. A22 Gene study in All Canine Breeds
Status : Open
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We are doing an all breed study on this as well, so please feel free to reach out at the same contact info above if you have a breed other than the American Bully and would still like to participate!
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Why are we doing this study? : The A22 gene study that was done by Drs. Lisa Lit, Anita Oberbauer, and colleagues at the Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis did include other breeds of dogs, some of whom even carried the gene but never showed any physical symptoms as the Belgian Malinois who carried it did. We would like to expand on this study by testing more dogs and seeing if there's any other breeds out there that may be carrying the gene and also showing symptoms.
Our Theory : Because we've personally seen numerous dogs and heard multiple stories of dogs showing signs similar to those of the Belgian Malinois who carried the A22 gene, we feel there's a good chance there's more dogs out there who not only carry the gene but also exhibit the symptoms.
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Our Goal : For this study we're hoping to get AS MANY dogs and different breeds as possible to participate - all ages, all personalities, all sizes and all types (pets, working dogs, therapy dogs, rescue dogs, dogs from breeders, etc.) We're especially interested in those who have any type of bite histories, skittish temperaments, shy dogs, aggressive dogs, etc however ALL temperaments will benefit and help us answer our main questions.. is this gene present in other dog breeds? if so, is it causing the same symptoms as it does in the Belgian Malinois? If we can verify this gene is present in other breeds and causing similar symptoms it would be a huge help to the entire rescue/shelter community to be able to test for a genetic morphism that may cause extreme temperament outbursts before adopting the dogs out which could greatly mitigate dog bites/attacks after adoption.
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All that's required is the following...
1. Do the UC Davis Behavior Propensity Test (https://vgl.sf.ucdavis.edu/test/behavior-propensity-belgian-malinois) with your dog(s).
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3. We'll send you a questionnaire to fill out so we can learn a little more about the dog(s) that were tested.
​
And that's it! You will have contributed to the advancement of the study and the overall evolvement of knowledge about our furry best friends!
​​​
We'll be looking at many different things in this study such as differences in personality traits depending on if, and how many copies of the gene the dog has, if there are obvious triggers for the traits shown, if training and environment make a difference in dogs who carry 1 or 2 copies of the gene, and much more.
We're very excited to see the amount of information we'll be able to gain from these studies that will help the future of dogs!
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Please feel free to reach out directly if you have ANY questions at all or would like to participate in either study of the A22 gene.
** Those interested in helping with funding to further advance this study and others to their fullest potential please contact us at labullydept@gmail.com subject line : A22 funding
Study #2. SLC6A4 Gene Variations and their association with Highly Sensitive Dogs.
Status : Preliminary Phase
This study is currently in its preliminary phase as we're currently searching for a lab that has the adequate capabilities that can help with this testing process. Once a lab has been found and testing technique is settled on we can open this study and start working towards some real answers!
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Why are we doing this study? : The SLC6A4 gene is a serotonin transporter that is responsible for regulating serotonin levels in the brain, influencing mood, behavior (like anxiety, aggression), and potentially conditions like heart disease (DMVD). Genetic variations (polymorphisms) in SLC6A4 can alter transporter function, affecting serotonin uptake, and have been linked to behavioral traits and disease susceptibility, though research shows inconsistent links to aggression in some breeds, suggesting complex interactions with other genes and environment.
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Our Theory : Our theory is that there may be a testable genetic link to dogs who show much higher sensitivity to their environment whether in reference to sounds, touch, handler pressure, etc.
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Our Goal : For this study we're hoping to get AS MANY dogs and different breeds as possible to participate - all ages, all personalities, all sizes and all types (pets, working dogs, therapy dogs, rescue dogs, dogs from breeders, etc.) If we can connect a testable genetic link to dogs who exhibit highly sensitive tendencies and traits then we'd be able to provide an extremely beneficial option for shelters, rescues, breeders, trainers, and owners to safely learn each individual dogs genetic tendencies in order to provide them with the most beneficial training, knowledgeable homes, and potentially be able to breed away from these highly sensitive traits when necessary.
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Due to this study being in it's preliminary phase we are not accepting any participants at the moment however we are looking for labs who might be interested in working with us on this study! Essentially we would like to find a lab that can assist in determining number of copies or expressions of the gene, compare a swabbed test with a blood test to confirm gene results match and receive, store and test swabs once the study is open for participants. If you or anyone you know might be interested in being a part of this study, don't hesitate to reach out in e-mail or on social media so we can discuss options.