I know this feeling all too well - i had lined up and was pretty set to bring a pup home untill being told there were no hip scores for the parents or any KC papers.... after listening to my OH (and asking on this forum) i didnt go to view this litter - as i knew my heart would melt.... and for that reason i am glad
if i only ever take one thing away from this site (other than good friends) its the knowladge of hip, elbow and eye certs. at the least. there are so many painfull stories on LF with labs with HD and needing hip replacements and granted even a dog with good scores from mother and father can still develop HD its obviously much more likley to happen to those unaware of scores - usually bad ones
If you were a proud breeder and proud of you pups and you bitch wouldnt you want to shout to the world you have pups from sire and dam with perfect scores? - you really would, so in this case i would certainly hold your heart in your hands and walk away
Firstly hello and welcome to LF, there are many many experts here and their advice should be heeded. If I had found this site before I got Keira, I would never had brought Keira home. I did though and thankfully after an awful start Keira is now fine, however had I gained the knowledge that I now have I would not have gone to see the litter.
Sue has highlighted Lab Health which is an excellent website. Keira's story is on Lab Health with thanks to Sue and Wendy. I honestly would not want anyone else to go through the terrible trauma I did with Keira at such a young age.
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a new puppy is the health checks of the parents, Hips, Elbows and Eyes. I suppose at the time when I got Keira I did not really think of these things as all my previous dogs had been rescue dogs where this really is not a consideration. Personally now I would not consider purchasing a puppy where the parents were not health tested. I know it may be hard, but I would take advice from the previous responses and walk away.
The more i read the more i know i should walk away, but i am struggling.
I know there is a risk, but the opposite is also true, she may be absolutely fine.
I am so cross now with myself that i have allowed this to happen
I have sent an email to the person who has the puppies and expressed my concerns, and yours, and will wait for a reply.
This is their first litter and i think they just picked someone they knew for the first time and did not consider the test results.
Will let you know what they come back with.
Will pet insurance cover HD if we don't have test scores?
This is their first litter and i think they just picked someone they knew for the first time and did not consider the test results.
And that is a justifiable excuse? If anything, your first litter is all the more reason to include the health tests - a more informed breeder may have their own view on say, for example, the Elbow schemes, allowing them to make an informed choice.
Quote:
Will pet insurance cover HD if we don't have test scores?
I am beginning to think it darn well shouldn't
It is not the fact that it could cost them £8,000 ish - no-one would want to see any dog suffer, it is the heartbreak for your family, the worry, the agonies of going back and fore to the specialist - taking time off work, maybe spending less time with your family, worry about every GA your dog has to have (each one carries a risk) - not to mention the pain your dog could be in.
Yes, this is hypothetical - and I know that people who have dogs with hip problems wouldn't swap them for the world - BUT - I know they will also say that they would never want to go through that experience again it is painful for them AND the dog - not to mention the fact that irresponsible breeding continues to push insurance premiums up for those that just don't deserve it - make an informed choice - no - there are no guarantees in life - but surely starting out on the right foot is a step in the right direction.
Many of these members who have had difficulties with their pups (and believe me many of them are just that) knew no better - but to have the information and then to still go with your heart rather than your head
Insurance will cover HD to a point... but do you really want to inflict that on yourself and your family? I absolutely agree, balance must be injected at any time and of course your breeder will come back and tell you we are all worry pots and the parents have never had a days lameness in their life! And that they both have 20/20 vision, but this absolutely firstly may not be true and secondly, even sound dogs can have poor hips at the sort of age a dog and bitch are bred from, its only a little later as they hit 6, 7 or so years of age that early arthritis kicks in.
The eye problem that affects our breed (well there are several but the one which will render your puppy blind by 3, 4 or 5 years of age) is completely hereditary, there i no luck to it, or environmental factors, its is all inherited from BOTH parents.
Chances are these folks do not know the stud dog they used well so there is no knowing to them if he is a sound dog. And, of course, as I say, soundness is only skin deep, only xrays and hip scoring would tell if he had good joints.
Another thing to consider is that someone saying they have no scores and eye certificate may of done these checks but the results been so bad they are being hidden. I doubt it, your breeder sounds nieve not cunning, but it is more common than you think.
There are that many healthy litters out there and we can guide you to some, that there is no need to fund someones disaster litter, even if it is inadvertantly a disaster. Buying from them will encourage them to breed like this again. The pups may be cute but ALL pups look cute at this age. they will find homes but why should you take on someone elses mistake when you know better - if you didn't it would make more sense....
Don't let your heart rule your head this is too oimportant and within days you could be viewing a healthy litter bred by an experienced breeder for the same price, chances are, and the previous litter will be a distant memory.
It costs only about £150 to do these basic health tests before breeding. PLEASE don't hand them £300/£400/£500 as a reward for putting less than a couple of hundred quid before the longterm health of a whole litter of puppies.
Health scores are easy to obtain and widely publicised and used by hundreds of breeders a year in our breed. Its not an exclusive club and no it gives no guarantee BUT it is like buying a car that has been gone over by a expert mechanic and one that hasn't before purchase. Which would you trust with your family?
Good luck and do come back if you want litter directional arrows
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
