More Hard Decisions (Dog Gone It!)

[Nyboy]

If you look at my avatar, in the upper right side is a wall filled with AKC BEST IN SHOW ribbons. My kennel Stonybrook has has over 80 Best in show wins. A best in show means the AKC judge claimed my dog was the best dog over every other dog in that show ( large show could have a couple of thousand dogs entered) Some breeders would give their first born child for 1 Best in show win. If you want a working dog stay away from breeders breeding for the ring find a breeder who breeds working dogs.

 

[canesisters]

Wow. SO sorry SeedO. I had no idea what I was starting with that little comment.
I just wanted to you to remember to consider the dogs who were already here.
I think that a breed rescue is a good idea and you should continue to look into that too.

 

[seedcorn]

It is but it isn't. Message is do your homework as many different areas to be concerned about. It's not just, man that is a beautiful dog that I want. Understand the risks, uses for, potential problems and rewards.

Personally I love beagles but no more. Tired of trying (key word-trying) to keep them home. Turn your back and the little happy go lucky devil is off to explore.

 

[thistlebloom]

I can't think of a thread on here where we haven't strayed from the specific to the general in related topics. I think this discussion has been educational with all the give and take and various perspectives.
It's a conversation after all.

 

[ducks4you]

I think you should invest in obedience school. I have not ever had a food aggression problem with ANY of my dogs. I get them as puppies and often take their food away from them as they grow. When they are puppies, IF they growl, they get a smack and a "No." Perhaps this is bc I am also a horse owner/trainer and you cannot give a horse too much latitude.
I can even take a kill away from my dogs, as I did last week when Rose caught a rabbit and was reluctant to leave it outside. I picked it up and brought it into the basement for her to leasurely devour all day, while I was gone. YOUR food aggressive PB would have bitten me for touching a kill.
Dogs can be cherished, but a good dog is an obedient one, and a good trainer is never satisfied with their training.

 

[ducks4you]

Ridgerunner, we will just have to disagree here. People are discovering that after 150 years of dog shows and speciliazed dog breeding that these purebreds have a low genetic pool. Breeding "cousins" is STILL inbreeding, even though people want to rename is "crossbreeding"--still the same thing. MANY purebred dogs are handicapped bc of this. People do it with all animals but I have seen the results in dogs and in horses. The animals have to live with these problems. THIS is why someone gets a mixed breed with hip dysplatia. These poor dogs are in great pain, and it's so unnecessary. The breeder my silly SIL has bought from (twice now!) puts down any sick puppies. If you love dogs SO MUCH that you breed your bitch, why would you feel successful euthanizing puppies?!?!? These are not misprints from your computer, they are living breathing creatures. It both rips me up and angers me.
In a day and age where the average life of an American dog is 1 1/2 years, I would recommend certification for these breeders, one of the few things that they do RIGHT in Europe. Sick/handicapped dogs are not certified for breeding and they are neutered/spayed. I have only owned female dogs, all have been spayed and none has had a litter. We do not need any more dogs bred, and we do not need any more horses bred.

 

[canesisters]

In a day and age where the average life of an American dog is 1 1/2 years,

???

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Wow. SO sorry SeedO. I had no idea what I was starting with that little comment.
I just wanted to you to remember to consider the dogs who were already here.
I think that a breed rescue is a good idea and you should continue to look into that too.

Nothing started there Cane, sorry if I made it sound the wrong way. As we are very serious about getting a farm started for profit we can't afford keeping an animal if the right benefits don't come from it.

I'm still looking at breed-specific online rescues when I can. It's probably going to be a while until I can make it over to the local shelter as both parents are working the next few weeks, I'm in no hurry though.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

???

I'm thinking typo, or concerning those dogs out there that have to be put down because of inbreeding-related health problems.

 

[bobm]

The ethical purebred breeders use DNA genetic testing as well as x- rays to identify those animals that carry a lethal gene or one that causes deformities as well as tendencies for health issues. Then make breeding choices accordingly to eliminate those traits from the gene pool. Yea, I have done this with all of my purebred dogs as well as horses. I also bred thousands of rabbits, chickens and sheep. Mother Nature has NO PROBLEM in culling out the sick, weak and deformed from the gene pool with the use of predators as well as disease. So why the issues with the owner/ breeder ? So here lies the problem with the bleeding hearts, puppy mills,and wanna be breeders perpetuating a genetic problem in any species being animal or plant. They do not have the heart or will to cull so the problematic genes are passed on. This is where the shelters get their animals to palm off, with huge " adoption fees", on unsuspecting adopters who then endure huge Vet bills. Oh, by the way ... I bred purebred Arabian horses for 37 years who had a closed gene pool for over 2,000 years starting in the Arabian desert. I had 10-14 mares and 3 stallions at public stud, plus foals. My herd was between 20- 35 horses at any given time. I could trace back their pedigrees for over 30 generations all the way to the Arabian desert. They had anywhere from 5 close up to - 64 linages to each to eather Nazeer, Arax, Ibrahim, Messoud, Sahara, and Mommona. I had every one of my horses DNA tested for known genetic defects ... all tested negative. I never even once produced a foal with any deformities or inherited health issues. After I sold them to owners in many States and 2 Provinces in Canada . they went on to successful sport, racing , show, and/ or endurance carriers as well as breeding .