Input from GSD breeders - Page 2

The 2 year guarantee is often more a trick than a guarantee. It sounds good and most are comfortable knowing they have somethiung in the way of a guarantee.

It's basically worthless, only as good as the person behind it. The dog has to be over two to OFA. Most owners don't know about 'a' stamp. As soon as the dog is old enough to certify, the warranty is over....sorry.

Requiring a dog to be returned to keep the guarantee in force is emotional blackmail. Much fairer just to ask for proof of spay/neuter.

SS

In my contract the owner of the dog MUST right at 12 months submit the Xrays of hips and elbows to the SV for approval of the SV.  And I do assist them with this, of course.  IF the dog does not pass then naturally they will have a replacement at any time in the future as long as I am breeding dogs.  IE they can keep their dog should they desire to, or return it to me for immediate replacement of a pup of similar 'value' of the next litter.  

Why is this fair to both of us?  Because, then we both know the dog is ok  and we're off the hook. 

I know from a vet tech that the OFA has volunteer 'country vets' for a lack of a better description, who can't distinguish an Xray from a newspaper ad.  So, I want my dogs' hips to be compared to German Shepherd Dog hips, by experts from the SV.   Not OFA Volunteer vets, who get an Xray emailed to them, glance at it, then say  oh ITS A GERMAN SHEPHERD? and give it a fail because of his bias. No thanks.   The OFA sends their email image to three different vets of unknown qualifications, and lets them glance at them, then add up the Excellent, Good, Fair, or Fail.   If its two Good and one Excellent, the outcome is Good.

The SV, ONE expert looks at the images for hips, and the Elbows go to a different office. 

Now, why at ONE year of age?  Simple logic.  A dog at that time has grown into its height, and nothing is going to get better at that point.  In all fairness to the dog and their owners, between 12 and 36 months all the training and wild playing starts, and the possible injuries that come with it, which can be confused for HD or ED when you wait till they are 24 months.  

I had this happen to me personnally with Zeuss which hips and elbows looked fine at the 8 month prelim.  I didn't need him for breeding as I had his sister, Zaoa, and waited and waited until earlier this year, when he was 5 yrs and some months, and he impregnated a female which I had not planned.  (quick he is!)  Had him Xrayed and his left hip didn't not look good enough for a pass at the SV, so I refrained from trying.   YES; Zeuss was neutered.   I had one female pup of that litter hips xrayed at 5months and they looked just fine.

With hips examine I know "normal" means really good excellent (no problem). when examine and it says "fast normal" what does that exactly mean??? I know its under normal but does that mean there possibly could be a problem in the future?

GSDXepher,

i try to make a very good relationship with all my puppy buyers.  if the situation that you are speaking of were to arise, i would probably extend the contract.  i am not out to make a bunch of money selling pups.  just want to make sure the breed is kept what it is suppose to be, a working dog.   i do encourage, but do not require, puppy buyers to do a pre-lim around a year old, especially if they are going to a working or sport home.

as Dog1 said, a contract is only as good as the person behind it.

john

I guarantee hips will OFA or A stamp and no way would I ask someone to return a dog if the hips or elbows would not pass.I ask that the dog be xrayed at one year as well. I think it is better to know before a whole lot  of time and effort of training is done. I also guarantee against any genetic disorder that will affect the quality or length of life. I