Is Lady a McNab

When Lady started her Herding class, Jubie (runs Club-Doggie) asked me if Lady was a McNab. I bit back my smarty pants response of "I don't know what she was before we got her, but she is a Stamp now"! In real life I responded that I didn't know, I thought she was a Smooth Coat Border Collie. When we got back to the Herding ring Kama asked me the same thing. Lady is large for a Border Collie and she is not really built like one. Her coloring is typical BC however.

I had never heard of the McNab breed, so I looked it up on the web. Signs do point to Lady being a McNab rather than a BC. I am intrigued because based on my research McNabs are pretty rare. McNabs were bred from BCs, but to be smooth coated for ranching in California. My general mystery solving curiosity was piqued.

McNabs share the same genetic mutation responsible for Ivermectin sensitivity. This sensitivity is found in Australian Shepherds, Collies, English Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs and Australian Cattledogs.

Of course my next step was to get a DNA test for Lady. That will be coming in the mail soon and of course we have to wait about three weeks after I send the swab in, but it will be interesting to know one way or the other. Additionally, it will make a difference in the approach to training, since McNabs are uber sensitive and do not take criticism well (kind of sounds like my daughter during soccer - I think she needs to be DNA tested).

Of course the question begs to be asked "what is a McNab doing in Arizona and how did this wonderful dog end up in the Rescue system? DNA testing here we come!!