The Los Angeles Bully Department

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).

 

2. Once you receive your results, email us or reach out through social media letting us know you received your results.

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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.