How to find a responsible dog breeder

[redhen]

Quote:
And i'd have no problem at all helping this breeder out if they paid the testing fees. If they want to know the results..i would expect they would pay also.

 

[Msbear]

like the breeder of my beautiful French Bulldog, Luci. ...who is pure bred says my MIL but only comes with CKC papers

And developed mange withing weeks of having her. ..then develops allergies to everything.. I mean EVERYTHING; dust, grass, chicken, etc. We feed her duck and sweet potato with plenty of raw veggies as well as fish oil and probiotics and give her anti-fungal baths every two weeks to help combat yeast overgrowth... Thanks MIL

Here's Luci with our Frenchie/Chihuahua mix, Rico

Oh! and the Pièce de résistance, she cannot "express" her a-n-a-l glands naturally, so this needs to be done for her during bath time.

The breeder would only meet us ...we never visited the premises and when I asked for pics of the parent stock, I got "my camera is broken" And she told me to tell my friends she also breeds scotties, and pomeranians and chihuahuas and the list went on and on.

Any breeder that specializes in more than two breeds, I think sends up a red flag as well as any breeder that does not encourage you to come and see the premises.

MIL was hellbent so I went along for the ride. She got her two pugs from the same lady and they turned out ok.

 

[Bluemoon420]

There is a newer hip dyplasia test available now. It can be done MUCH earlier and it is more accurate. My Vet told me about it when I scheduled last vet appointment. If I can find where I wrote it down, Ill post it. Basically the test can be done as early as 8 weeks old. I guess it's more accurate then the xray done at two years, but it costs more. It had something to do with DNA testing I think.

Bluemoon

 

[toredano]

I think the important thing is to not go to a puppymiller and make sure they have their shots , the parents are free of genetic faults. ( with that I mean to a certain extent if the buyer is willing to accept the fact that they might not be able to breed that pup they bought.
I allways got my dogs from people that I knew that had good dogs.. had testing done and looked at dogs they had sold before.
Its the breeders responsibilty not to breed any dogs that have genetic defects .Not ask the buyer test their pup they got from them for defects. If the breeder isnt doing that he isnt helping the bloodline at all.In fact he is adding to the crappy dogs that cant walk at 2 years because of some genetic defect.
It falls on the breeder to test all their stock before breeding.If the breeder isnt doing that then they do not to breed dogs at all. I will not buy a dog that I know I will breed if the parents have not been tested for genetic defects .Certain breeds are known for certain genetic defects.. Those tests need ot be done before they even think about breeding dogs. Its not the buyers responsabilty to test their puppy for anything and it should not be included in a contract ever.



I had an American Bulldog.I got him tested at 2 years with the OFA for hip dysplasia. His result was a "fair" .Now in that breed a fair is alot better than good .Since they have such problems with it.Allthough he had a fantastic pedigree and his dispostion was outstanding,I chose not to breed him to further the demise of the AB with genetic problems.But right from the beginning we knew where were not going to breed him anyway.Thats not why we got him in the first place. Even with clear hips we wouldnt have bred him.
Each breed has its own faults and I am really beginning to like not seeing any dogs beeing bred anymore because of all the problems they are having.Backyard breeders, puppymillers etc have added so many bad dogs its allmost impossible to even get a dog that has not any genetic defaults to the point that they need new hips,knees ,etc. Its a shame, really.


my 2 cents

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Its the breeders responsibilty not to breed any dogs that have genetic defects .Not ask the buyer test their pup they got from them for defects. If the breeder isnt doing that he isnt helping the bloodline at all.

I wish it was this easy. Unfortunately a lot of the testing currently available WASN'T available for the dogs a few generations back in the pedigree. And just like you and your husband can have perfect vision and perfect teeth but still produce kids who need glasses or braces, the same things can still happen when breeding dogs. Testing is vital.

Why should the buyer bother to have his dogs tested? How about because he loves the breed and wants to help wipe out these genetic problems! The more offspring who are tested, the more accurately breeders can predict which dogs can safely be bred and which ones are throwing undesirable traits and therefore should be eliminated from their breeding program. That does not happen in a vacuum.

This isn't about money. It is about the betterment of the breed. Nobody who is breeding dogs the way they SHOULD be bred is going to make money at it. I've been involved in dogs since my teens. I am now 62 years old. So please believe me when I tell you that there is no money in this! It's a lifelong love affair, not a business.

And if the "breeder" you are dealing with does not feel this way about his dogs....RUN!


JMO


Rusty​

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Quote:
Um by all means, do please find me this information so I can share it with the rest of the dog world.

If you are talking about Penn Hip, that test can be done earlier, but earlier in many respects is NOT better. The Penn Hip data base is very small and you cannot search it for information.

But please do get me the information on the DNA test for Canine Hip Dysplasia that can be done at 8 weeks. Thanks!

 

[Bluemoon420]

I have to take in a stool sample for worm check later this week. I'll find out for sure what it was he was talking about. He suggests mainly for folks breeding their dogs because the test is more accurate than the other method. Since our dog isn't for breeding we decided to wait and see. We MAY get it done when she goes in for spay, but I'll find out.

Bluemoon

 

[Redyre Rotties]

thanks very much, I will be waiting for the information. Be sure to pass it on to the OFA too, since they have no idea about this either.

http://www.offa.org/hipinfo.html

 

[Rosalind]

The breeders of my dogs did what's called an OFA preliminary evaluation, but had copies of the parents' certificates showing that both parents were at least "good" or better. The DNA testing was for something else (cystinuria, I think), and the Newfie had a cardiology certificate as well. But the preliminary exams are still fairly predictive, I think--something like 90% accuracy.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I have always tested my own dogs and was pleased to do so. The only breeder whoever insisted I test was the last puppy that kind of fell into our laps. That breeder died but we are testing anyway because I want to know, to the best of my ability, that I have a healthy dog. If the dog is not healthy I want to know as early as possible to make lifestyle changes for the dog or get medication for the dog. I always let the breeder know if a dog I own has a thyroid problem, bad hips, genetic ataxia or if they are OFA excellent! If anyone else asks me I tell them too.

There is too much hush-hush in the dog industry about health problems and some incredibly nasty medical conditions are showing up in our purebred dogs. You are better off testing your dog to minimize nasty surprises later in the dog's life.