Reputable breeders? Can it still go wrong?

Of course things can go wrong. We're dealing with living creatures, not products off a factory line.

All we can do is *reduce* the *risk* of problems. We cannot eliminate them entirely.

As one breeder once said to me: I defy any human couple to have 8 children, and have all of those children be perfectly healthy, intelligent and well adjusted, without glasses, braces etc. Yet that is what we as breeders are expected to do every time we have a litter.

Certainly, just as there are right and wrong reasons for getting a dog at all. When all you're looking for is a companion animal, and have no intention to show or breed, then I'd say that rescues and shelters probably ought to be first choice. Why spend the money for a dog that isn't going to be taken to its full potential anyway? There are lots of homeless dogs looking for love! On the other hand, if you're looking for very specific attributes, then shelters fall by the wayside - You want a rescue or a reputable breeder for finding the *exact* dog. If you're only looking for specific attributes and not for show, well, a rescue may be able to find what you're looking for, even better than a breeder. Or maybe not. On yet another hand, if you want to breed, well, a reputable breeder is the ONLY game in town. So - What's your purpose? That'll help you figure out where to go looking.

I have not yet bred a litter, and I hope and pray that when I do, I do not produce any of the health issues plaguing my breed. I did however purchase a pup from a reputable breeder, someone who is a Code of Ethics breeder, and therefore did the necessary health testing. My pup is spayed because she was missing 2 adult teeth, therefore not show quality. However, there is at least 1 litter mate brother that I know of that has a heart problem. They did a repeat breeding of the parents, before my girl was 9 months old, and her tooth problem was discovered, and before the owners of the litter mate discovered he had SAS. The second litter has missing teeth and heart problems.

I have never done a doppler on her yet, because she spayed, and will never pass those health problems on. What I learned from this experience....have an Echo Cardiogram done on any dog I breed, because a vet check is not enough. Also, never do a back to back repeat breeding. Not that I will ever do a back to back breeding, but never, ever do a repeat breeding until you know how the first breeding has turned out. As a COE breeder, they did refund me half my purchase price because she had a disqualifying fault, but I had to spay her first. The owners of her brother refuse to neuter him, though the will never breed him, therefore, they have not gotten anything back from the breeder.

Things can go wrong.....but without proper testing there is a greater chance of a health issue occurring. I learned the Echo is the best way to go before breeding a b*tch, but the dog must also have the Echo done as well.

Sorry your friend finds herself in this predicament. But, before she places the pup with someone else, I would think the breeder needs to approve of the new home.

Of course it can go wrong.

That is why reputable breeders do their best to keep it from happening by breeding health tested dogs.

I took in a gorgeous GSD puppy as a "hospice". She was impeccably bred, from health tested parents. She was born with several heart defects. Two that were fixed (after the owner relqinquished her to a vet who would do the surgery for free) but after those two things were fixed a very rare heart condition (only a handful of dogs evere reported with it) was discovered on the follow up ultrasound.

The puppy was only supposed to live two more months when I aquired her. My friend-the vet who took her in supplied me with all medications she needed, which I gave three times a day. She also agreed to supply those and all medical care for this dog for its life.

I DID NOT TREAT THIS DOG AS AN INAVLID as that would have made what life she was going to have miserable.

She lived to be over 2 years old, with a quality life. As I said I did not treat her like an invalid. I was not going to crate or confine her. She played with my other dogs, she ran, she jumped. She had a massive heart attack one morning right after I loved her up and picked up her food bowl. I can not think of a better way to go.

My friends Whippet has a very serious heart murmur. She is now 6 years old. She comes from a top Whippet kennel. She lets her dog run around my ranch. I mean RUN. Her feeling is if she drops dead while just being a dog that is better then confining her for the rest of her life.

Your friend blew it when she did not give the puppy back to the breeder originally. If the dog is not going to be cared for and allowed to be a dog it is BETTER that the breeder euthanizes the dog.

So yes, as they say S happens. That is why you buy from someone who is minimizing the risk

Yes, with the best will in the world, sh*t happens.

I was on a waiting list for two years from a responsible breeder who health tests ALL of her dogs, for every heredity condition possible. Every mating is carefully planned at least one year in advance & the stud dog is chosen for type, mental & physical soundness & is rigorously health tested.

The breeder does everything possible to MINIMIZE the risk that the puppies will inherit a genetic health condition from the sire & dam.

However, there is no marker for DCM & cancer, the other top killer in the breed cannot be tested for either.

No responsible breeder will guarantee that the puppy will not develop any health condition, because not all illnesses can be tested for. A good breed offers health guarantees for everything that can be tested for & would take the puppy back.

My current b*tch had TPLO surgery at 3 years old & has DJD in two joints, once of which is deteriorating fairly rapidly.

How about getting a second opinion. Our dog was diagnosed with the same murmur (full bred English Labrador) We took him to two other vets that said, "what are you even talking about?" Humans are sometimes flawed too. If it does have a murmur, she should give him moderate walks, and vigorous hugs everyday. It's not a sled dog. It's going to love her just as much as any other dog would. However, if it has a murmur, she has an obligation to notify that breeder.

of course things can go wrong, no matter how diligent, heck, it happens all the time, in dogs, horses, people. My advise would be to return the pup for another, yes the pup will be put to sleep but how fair is it to ask someone else to take on the vet bills, and really, what kind of life is that for a pup, no play b/c of the heart condition. I personally wouldn't have let the pup go at 8 weeks if there was a murmur, I would have kept it to see what happened, they can correct themselves but obviously not in this case

Certainly things can always go wrong. I have seen it with hips occasionally just as Curtis said.

Your friend had better be careful about re-homing the dog unless she has talked to the breeder about it. She may have signed a contract stating she would return the dog if she were not to keep it herself. That's great if she can find a home, but the breeder should be in the know.

There is always the chance that something could go wrong - can happen even with reputable breeders.

There should be a return to breeder statement in her contract - the breeder should be willing to take the puppy back and re-home him herself. Heck, the breeder should WANT to just to be sure they re-sell to someone on the same contract (spay/neuter).

Sure- it can go horribly wrong fro reputable breeders, which is one of the risks of outcrossing your lines. Hopefully the breeder learned not to breed those two particular dogs together again.