Sled dog breeding

[Americano Blue]

I think my point may be missed. Activity level and ability to pull is not an indicator of joint health. You need to do radiographs (x-rays) to tell if a dog has the possibility of being dysplastic later in life. The surgeries to fix problems later on is crazy expensive, so I would not purchase a working dog like this without an OFA hip rating. I'm just trying to give you tips to protect your investment, because it's important that breeders you purchase your dogs from do these tests.

Also note that just because a parent is OFA good or excellent does not mean all the offspring will be. Occasionally a good dog will through puppies that have hip problems.

do you mush?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

No, I'm a veterinary student who is also a radiology tech. So we deal with these issues on a daily basis. I also have friends who are quite successful breeders in both working and show dogs, so I've had the opportunity to shadow on occasion.

 

[Americano Blue]

cool, but the lady i got the information from has been mushing for many years and goes up to Alaska to shadow professional musher and they told her this. I understand that because of the things you have been taught it would seem smarter to get them tested, but she and other mushers have done it this way for along time so i am going to take her advice. sorry if i sound like a snob. she does get them tested every now and then but not before each breeding.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

cool, but the lady i got the information from has been mushing for many years and goes up to Alaska to shadow professional musher and they told her this. I understand that because of the things you have been taught it would seem smarter to get them tested, but she and other mushers have done it this way for along time so i am going to take her advice. sorry if i sound like a snob.   she does get them tested every now and then but not before each breeding.

These tests are not before each breeding. It is usually a once in a lifetime thing. I can tell you if I was looking to spend big money on a large, purebred dog, that i planned to work hard I would sure as heck want to know what the joints looked like, especially of the parents. I say this to the OP because she is not only looking to purchase dogs, but also to breed them. She needs to be knowledgeable about any potential medical issues that could arise, especially in breeds she is interested in.

I think it would be a really good idea to research this more. I was involved with performance horses for many years and good solid conformation can make or break the animal.

 

[res]

Having lived in Alaska, I can tell you that it might not be logistically or financially possible for a musher in Alaska to have their dogs OFA'd. I worked as a vet tech while we lived in Alaska, and dealt with many dog teams. So I wouldn't bank on your friend's method being a perfect one, it may simply be out of necessity.

Most vet practices are in the larger towns, they are not evenly scattered along the road system (assuming you are aware that there is not a spiderweb network of roads across Alaska - look at a map to see how few there actually are - MUCH different than anywhere in the lower 48). Many mushers do not even live on the road system, anyway. Many are considered "off the grid". In order to get an OFA, they would have to transport the dog(s) to a vet (possibly hundred of miles, possibly by air, too), and pay for the exam, radiographs, possible sedation and OFA fee. NOTHING is cheap in Alaska, so you are easily looking at $750 per dog, likely more when you include transportation costs. I was quoted $1000 to have non-OFA basic hip x-rays done at a specialty clinic back in 2008!

I am not sure I would want to breed for a litter of pups that are going to be expected to work hard, without first knowing what their chances are at being able to do so. Especially since the OP says she is breeding for one litter and keeping all the pups. It doesn't sound like she will have multiple litters with the option to discard the ones that are not fit to work. And, yes, the big kennels do cull their litters/packs.

 

[Americano Blue]

my point was that this system has worked for many people for many years, and if you don't have the $$$ to get them tested, this has worked well.


sorry if i'm coming across like a snotty know-it-all. i'm just saying what i have been taught by mushers

 

[Americano Blue]

Having lived in Alaska, I can tell you that it might not be logistically or financially possible for a musher in Alaska to have their dogs OFA'd. I worked as a vet tech while we lived in Alaska, and dealt with many dog teams. So I wouldn't bank on your friend's method being a perfect one, it may simply be out of necessity.

Most vet practices are in the larger towns, they are not evenly scattered along the road system (assuming you are aware that there is not a spiderweb network of roads across Alaska - look at a map to see how few there actually are - MUCH different than anywhere in the lower 48). Many mushers do not even live on the road system, anyway. Many are considered "off the grid". In order to get an OFA, they would have to transport the dog(s) to a vet (possibly hundred of miles, possibly by air, too), and pay for the exam, radiographs, possible sedation and OFA fee. NOTHING is cheap in Alaska, so you are easily looking at $750 per dog, likely more when you include transportation costs. I was quoted $1000 to have non-OFA basic hip x-rays done at a specialty clinic back in 2008!

I am not sure I would want to breed for a litter of pups that are going to be expected to work hard, without first knowing what their chances are at being able to do so. Especially since the OP says she is breeding for one litter and keeping all the pups. It doesn't sound like she will have multiple litters with the option to discard the ones that are not fit to work. And, yes, the big kennels do cull their litters/packs.

you have to take all the dogs you are running to the vet before each race and any dog with problems that can't run you replace. and then you get the replacement tested.

we don't cull the pups we don't want. I find it useless to end an animals life just because it can't do what you wanted. We try to sell them to people that will only work them lightly or as family dogs. Personally, dogs deserve to live even if they can't do the intend job

 

[SternRose]

I understand that this is going to be expincive. My sled team is being postponed cuz I might be getting a miniature horse( filly named Xenia[Zen-ya] and I want to finish her show training) so I'm probly going to start raising them in 2-3 years. thnx for the info I'm prett sure that Americano Blue has a good idea of what I'm gunna do with breeding and all. Keep the info coming on any more tips or info you have on sled dogs.... PLEZzz

 

[SternRose]

you have to take all the dogs you are running to the vet before each race and any dog with problems that can't run you replace. and then you get  the replacement tested.

we don't cull the pups we don't want. I find it useless to end an animals life just because it can't do what you wanted. We try to sell them to people that will only work them lightly or as family dogs.  Personally, dogs deserve to live even if they can't do the intend job

Killing pups is only in place when a pup is deformed or if it won't live a life with out pain. Killing a poor pup is crazy! Breeders don't usually do it unless its really needed.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Mushers in Alaska tend to cull pretty heavily. A friend lives in Alaska and described their operations to me. It works but can tend to be a harsh one.

My recommendation for these tests is more for the OP who lives in the continental United States where culling heavily is not looked upon as kindly. The tests are also not that bad cost wise here. I think it's worth it and will make pups much easier to sell.