Connemara's DNA Breed Results:
Eighteen (18) Connemara Irish Jack Russell Terriers, representing all family groups in the bloodline, were plotted against UK and US sampled Jack Russell Terriers. Test results showed that the Connemara dogs, although not clustering as a totally separate cluster, are clearly differentiated from UK and US Jack Russell Terriers and are not clustering integrally to either US or UK Jack Russell Terriers in the database. It is likely the Connemara line has a slightly different genetic profile of DNA markers.
We then stepped aside allowing generations of told history of the Connemara to be challenged. When we started, we were asked; “Are you sure you want to know?” …As the Connemara’s rich history was about to be put to the test. We had blood drawn on a representative sampling of the line and complex gene testing began on 18 Connemara Terriers.
This entire project took years to complete and now we share this information with you.
Is the Connemara genetically different from the common Jack Russell Terrier found today?
1.) Our terriers are a specific old line/strain of Jack Russell Terrier. And not to be compared to the faddish “Irish Jack” being peddled and sold in America - as they are nothing more than a common mix of terrier types often found all over the Irish countryside… and imported to the states to be sold for 5 or 10 times their original worth.
2.) The fact that the Connemara is Irish has nothing to do with their quality. We've argued that being Irish does not make them anything special; It is actually the fact that they have been carefully bred in Ireland (as well as England) for over a century to maintain their manageable and agreeable temperaments and superior health. Making them fantastic pets who would get on well with small children, other dogs and cats.
Cracking the Genetic Code:
A dog’s genes carry information a physical exam can’t reveal. Complex genetic testing is the only true way to find out what ancestry any Jack Russell Terrier breeder can claim.- Genetic markers: These are the places of variation in a dog's genetic structure. By studying similarities and differences in these markers among different breeds, scientists are able to determine characteristic signatures in each breed.
- Breeds can have different genetic breed signatures in different geographical regions, particularly with comparison to the same breed in say Europe or Australia. Due to these geographic variations, it is possible to determine what country a dogs more recent ancestry hailed from.
- When the Connemara's were tested, they looked at 25 chromosomes of the 38 available.
- Chromosome 15 is a size gene – all small breeds have this Haplo/DNA marker. All Connemara’s had Chromosome 15.
- Chromosome P is common to all Terriers. Chromosome P was present in all Connemara Terriers tested.
Conclusion: The Connemara Terrier's Chromosomal match scores (as a group combined) proved they are in fact a sub-type of Jack Russell Terrier and predominantly Terrier with evidence of Spaniel & Griffon types. The Connemara is clearly differentiated from the UK and US Jack Russell Terriers and in fact, because this line has been bred with no outside influence for generations, their DNA has begun to morph and they are on the fence between being a clear and distinct sub-type of Jack Russell Terrier and their own breed altogether.
In the very late 1800's, the Connemara Jack Russell Terrier had become a mainstay on a few farms in Ireland. This terrier eventually developed a following of it's own and a select few enthusiasts made it a lifetime commitment to protect the desired attributes, keeping out undesired traits and eventually producing their own type. The results from their efforts yielded a sane and manageable terrier that came in three coat lengths, was on average 10" tall and when measured was longer than tall.