Studs And Breeding

This week I had a stud enquiry for Nico. Contact was initially made through the bitch's breeder as the owner apparently doesn't use the internet. My conclusion from that is that the breeder would have checked out that Nico's breeding was compatible for the bitch that she bred. I gave my mobile number for the owner to contact me and after several failed calls due to poor reception we turned to text messages.

My initial concern was the virus, she is in South Wales, still precautions could be taken there. I asked for the bitch's registered name and went to check her out. I immediately discovered that not only was she related to Nico but she had an elbow score of 3 on one elbow. Three, that is the maximum score, that is elbow dysplasia. Shocked I replied and explained why Nico would not be available at stud for the bitch. But who is to blame here? Surely the breeder should have researched Nico's pedigree, I appreciate that with the KC website being piss poor now that it takes longer ... but it's still not impossible. Worse still than the risks through the close breeding was the health implication to puppies from a mother with elbow dysplasia, it does have a strong genetic link. Why would the breeder have removed the endorsement? Or did she not bother putting any on in the first place? Simply in my opinion this bitch should not be bred from! 

On Facebook I've been following a rant started by the owner of GSD with no registration papers. He insists he does not need a piece of expensive paper to prove to him that his dog is a GSD. Well yeah, from the photo, it is, of sorts! But he's missing the point, he really isn't seeing the big picture. A KC pedigree gives proof of who the pup is and who he is related to, but also it safeguards the dam. How does he know how many litters she's had? The Kc have rules about the minimum and maximum age of breeding and how many litters a bitch can have. How does he know the father is not closely related to the mother? No one can check the COI without registration papers. What if there are genetic abnormalities within the line and the dog need treatment? He'll never know he'll never be able to check. 

Buying cheaper puppies without pedigrees really is filling the pockets of the backyard breeders. Please see the bigger picture. Saying that, they are not cheaper these days, whilst reputable breeders try and keep the prices sane the prices of unregistered puppies from parents that are not health tested are soaring, and with demand being higher than availability people are just paying rather than going on waiting lists. Of course there is not going to be any back up from these "breeders,"  so when the homes don't work out these pups/dogs will end up in rescue, or worse. Don't ever feel sorry for the dogs in rescue, feel sorry for the ones who don't get there, but if there was better understanding by the general public then there would be no need for rescue at all. Responsible breeders look after their own. Storm in the second photo came back to us after her home didn't work out, she stayed with us for the rest of her life. 

I really don't know who is worse though, the so-called reputable breeder with all the information at hand that decides to ignore the issues or the backyard breeder who just breeds for money? I'll let you decided.