Czech GSD's with bad hips - Page 8

 Jenn. You saved me from having to explain that yes it is a passing score.................

I would say that there is a big difference, IMHO from A1 to A3.  Advertising a dog with "A" rated hips may lead some to think the dog was A1 as opposed to A3.  Something that needs to be taken into consideration when a dog is considered for mating or for their progeny.   For those that search websites and research pedigrees accurate hip ratings may be important.  

If an ad, pedigree, etc., doesn't specifically state the grade of the a stamp--or if it's a6, in the case of foreign certifications--better to err on the side of caution and operate on the premise that the rating is NZ [or OFA Fair, or C/C] until it's proven otherwise. Assuming that it's any better than that is just folly.

Hexe,
Probably very  true, but some may be optimists.  The glass is half full the hips are "normal"   that kind of thing.  

Yeah, ok, but that wasn't the point nor the question. What letter goes in front of the 3 in a nz rating? 

Yes, it would be an A.  Jenni you must be an optimist, I am the same way.  

Slamdunc, you're right, but anyone to whom it matters if the a stamp is a 1 or a 3 should also know that an a3 dog from a litter and/or line of primarily a1 dogs trumps an a1 dog from a litter and/or line with more failing hips than passing...so the rating itself is only part of the equation anyway.

Hexe,
Again very true.  There are many A3 studs and bitches that produced dogs with great hips and were known for producing good hips.  That is why I mentioned the research aspect especially when it comes to hips.  Siblings are very important, the bitch and sire and the dogs back in the pedigree are important.  But the only way we get this information is when breeders actually "certify" their breeding stock.  Because a breeder may be able to read an X ray doesn't necessarily help the rest of us who rely on hip scores or ratings, especially when looking at pedigrees.  If only a certain breeder "knows" how  the hips are, how does that help us years from now when researching dogs?  If I can't find the X-rays 5 or 10 years from now to read myself I am out of luck.....But OFA or the SV would have the results if the dog was actually certified.  

Slamdunc, I'm not even going to think about wading into the muck-filled pool that is "self-certification" of hips or elbows...that needs an entirely different thread of its own.  Suffice it to say that I'm not too cheap to spend the few bucks it costs to have films reviewed and certified by OFA--and if I were breeding dogs, I consider it to be a small enough cost of doing business as to be irresponsible NOT to do so.  It's not as if the fee is a hundred bucks per dog--hips & elbows together are $40, hips only is $35. 

Hexe,
Exactly!  Well put.