Advising on Buying from Healthtested parents-pro's and con's

Diana · Last edited by Diana on Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:28 pm; edited 3 times in total

'Or staying with the forum even though you feel an outcast Wink

'

I had a listmember come stay this weekend and we discussed the fact that its fantastic that there is so much advice given to those who ask (and sometimes don't - grin) about whether to or how to buy from health checked parents when purchasing a puppy. before saying anything else that advice is sound, absolutely right and I give it as much if not more than anyone else and feel fustrated when it is ignored or dismissed because it is so important.

By 'healthchecked' we speak of hip scoring and eye testing the parents of your new puppy.

However, we also discused the fact that some of the people go away, rightly so with masses of reasons to buy from health tested parents, but as it should be, in a free country, some will decide against it for their own reasons. Or be so emotionally or financially involved in the litter already its just impossible for them to.

I am worried that when these questions or posts occur we never see those people on here again if they go ahead and buy from untested parents. However the ones buying from health scored parents DO tend to come back.

I know WHY the ones who decide against changing their minds don't come back for help and advice with their new puppy is because they think we will jump on them, or hold it against them that they went against our advice. Its also embarassing to a certain extent to admit you went with your heart not your head.....but of COURSE it happens.

...PLEASE puppy buyers, come back even if you decide not to buy from healthtested parents.

Please know this IS a friendly place and now your pup is here, we are labrador lovers, you will be greeted with only open arms. If not the mods will come down hard on them if actively rude (very VERY rare here). Never worry -this forum is friendly and FAR nicer than the vast majority of dog forums. You will find so many topics to help you raise your pup brilliantly.

Di

Cristina · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:43 am Post subject:

Hi Di,

I've made this a sticky....Its has some very valid points in your post Very Happy

Cristina

xKazx · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:45 am Post subject:

I agree with Diana, we are here for al Lab owners & not just the health checked labs

Shelly- · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:52 am Post subject:

Hand on heart (waits on the guns being drawn) at times and on some posts it can come across that this site is pretty dictorial.

I feel at times (its maybe just the way it comes across on the net) that people can get a balking and feel pretty useless when all they have done it ask for advice.

Im a pretty tough skinned b**** but i was even a little offended a while back at a couple of posts that indicated that if you bought from non health checked parents you didnt care about the pup, regardless of the reasons for buyig it... but i decided that i was maybe taking it to heart a little and stayed here as i love the site.

But i agree with Di for the more timid poster it may be enough to put them off staying and becoming a paying member.

Apologies if ive offended anyone or anyone thinks ive over stepped the mark!

NicolaL · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:16 am Post subject:

Hi Shelly

The net is a wonderful place for so many reasons, but it also very easy to offend, often unintentionally - one of the main reasons being that a lot of conversation in day to day life works on body language too and so the 'written word' comes across very differently.

I think Di has made some excellent points and I'm sure you'll all agree that we need to help people when they ask and try to make a fair judgement. This can be difficult at times because we are all so passionate about our Furbabies and of course the breed in general but we need to support with balanced views - which I think the forum is great at in general.

All the best,
Nic
X

xWendyx · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:19 am Post subject:

Shelly, I really hope that it wasn't me who offended anyone with one of my posts.
I certainly am not trying to be dictorial with what I write, but because of what we have been through I am desperately trying to get the message across to as many people as possible BEFORE they buy a pup.
For those people who have bought a pup who has now developed hip problems I hope I am being supportive with what I write.

If I have ever upset anyone then I am truely sorry, I certainly didn't mean to

Wendy and Charlie
www.lab-health.co.uk

sheens · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:40 am Post subject:

Good post Di,

My lab is from non hip scored parents (I asked the questions but was shown scores of grandparents, wasn't till I was given the pedigree on bringing home that we realised and by then it was too late and we were in hook line and sinker Rolling Eyes

)

I didn't find this site till Georgia told me about it when Fudge was 8mnths old. We have been lucky so far as in she hasn't had any problems she is now 20mnths.

I still wish though I had found this before we got our pup and that Wendy & Sue's website showing certificates etc was around to show me what I was looking for. .......Hindsight is a fabulous thing Smile

I hope that all new people come on here and ask about their concerns and try to take the advice of people like Di who has a wealth of Knowledge and experience in all things lab related.

And of course Wendy who has learned the hard way((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))

All in all this is a fantastic place for prospective puppy parents to find out how to do all that is best for gorgeous pup to have a happy healthy life.

If you find this site after you have seen your pup though I know it would be so difficult to walk away........I didn't Embarassed

sarah111 · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

Hi Baileys parents had good hip scores and clear eyes and we thought we had done all the checks but Bailey got entropion, how can you guard against buying a pup who does not have this if it is hereditary, i thought it would come under clear eyes but my vet says no as its not the eye its the skin around it. Its been sad watching Bailey with this and i would like potential buyers to be aware of this its not just hip scores and clear eyes. Thanks Sarah

Topseyt · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:10 am Post subject:

Great post, Di. I often worry that people have been driven away by some of the replies given to their posts.

I have been as guilty as anyone of letting my heart rule my head. When I bought Charlie I knew zilch about buying puppies, and did not find LF until he was 18 months old. I don't know about the health-check status of his parents as I did not know to ask at the time. I like to think that the next time I ever buy a pup I will be more discerning, but I cannot unduly criticise anyone who has fallen in love with a pup from un-healthchecked parents and felt that emotionally etc. they are in far too deep to walk away. After all, it is what I did myself, and walking away once I had already met Charlie several times would have felt like a horrible sort of bereavement. This does not mean that I advocate buying from unchecked parents, rather that I hope that I generally stop short of being the pot that calls the kettle black, though I am sure I get it wrong sometimes. These are the reasons I rarely post on threads debating this sort of thing.

I have been fortunate in that physically Charlie seems fine so far, though I do have some problems with his temperament as people know.

We all need to be careful what we write at times, and consider how it could be interpreted. Knee-jerk reactions to the language used by a new poster who is reaching the end of their tether over a young pup etc. do happen. They can set the tone for the rest of the thread and drive away a person who is in need of support. I have also felt very uncomfortable sometimes at the way some owners of lab crosses have been treated, especially as the home page specifically invites them onto the site.

Those are my thoughts on the matter anyway.

Helen.

Shelly- · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:24 am Post subject:

oh no sorry Wendy it wasnt you, infact noone in particular, just in general (oops silly me haha).

What i mean is if they have already bought the pup by that time it is in effect too late, but they can get scared off a little by some members reactions to it.

I like yourself Wendy will never buy another non health checked dog, as ive stuck around and read all the stories etc now. But if we scare people off right at the start they may not stick around much to learn the reasons why NOT to buy a pup thats not health checked, or may be too afraid to ask for help due to the back lash.

As i said due to the way things can be misinterpritated (oh jings my spelling sucks!) on the net, people can take things right to heart that may have been posted with the best intentions.

As Di suggested a well thought, well words and well educated post outlining the reasons for not buying puppies from non health checked parents may be whats needed, even with a link to Wendy & SUes site.

REALLY SORRY i didnt mean to cause 'havoic' hehe. Just plus for the pot!