"Rutlands Truly" 
​
Dearly beloved companion to Audrey and Jack Meltzer in Melbourne Australia

Before I became aware of the I.C. gene, I used to call the occasional 'affected' puppy a Flatcoat genetic mutation.

FACT:  I.C. 'affected' dogs look very different to correctly coated Cobberdogs, BUT the many non-coat-related desirable characteristics in the breed are every bit as strong.  In fact many Portugese Water Dog breeders say that their IC puppies have the best conformation of all and the most endearing natures - and these people have been dealing with the issue for a lot longer than we have.

FACT: I have never had a problem finding appreciative loving homes for any I.C. 'affected' puppies I have bred - possibly because I myself am not ashamed of them!  Invariably a close up photo showing their incredibly intuitive and gorgeous eyes will 'speak' to someone.  Not everyone needs a non shed coat, in fact many people love the idea of such an amazing dog but without the coat care! They do shed in varying degrees, but still no where as much as a Labrador.
​However I would not send one to a family which has dog-related allergies or asthma.

As always, I defer to others who know a lot more about certain things than I do.
​
​Ref: Dr Gordon Lark
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology at University of Utah
 
"Be aware that along with the good news, and of critical importance, is a warning to breeders: Identifying the IC gene in breeding stock is all well and good. Breeding a carrier (or even an IC dog) to a normal is fine and sensible to avoid producing improperly coated dogs.
But, and it’s a big “but,” not using IC carriers in breeding programs is NOT fine. There is lots more research that needs to be done to fully understand how this gene works. We’ve thrown the baby out with the bath water in many previous breeding decisions, let’s learn from those mistakes, not repeat them." 

Ref:  Research scientist Kevin Chase – University Of Utah:

​“This is an important regulatory gene. There are also some 30 other genes in close proximity to it. Removing this variant of the gene from the breeding population would remove a tremendous amount of genetic diversity in the breed. This would be very dangerous”.