Buyer Beware - DM information - Page 2

Ok, whatever.  At least she tested one which is more than I can say about most of the other people advertising litters here. As long as buyers and breeders understand what it all means and don't think that they are buying or breeding "100% DM free" dogs when only one parent has been tested. 

I know what you are saying and agree, most definitely people that are buying dogs for the purpose of future breeding need to know the status of both parents or the dog itself that they are buying. As I said she used the word "free" because the puppies will be free of the disease itself, meaning they are free from being at risk according to the research. It has actually been kind of hard for her to figure out the best way word it which is why she puts the explanation of DM at the bottom of the ad stating that the current research shows that with at least one N/N parent the puppies are free from being at risk of developing the disease itself. Her puppies are irrelevant to breeders though as not a single one of them will ever be bred as she wants them all to be family companions and not breeding dogs.

I have chosen to test all of my breeding dogs because some of my puppies are sold to breeders. Some of my pet clients that have dealt with DM personally also feel a little more confident knowing that both parents are tested. Luckily for me, so far all of my breeding dogs as well as a couple of mine that have since retired tested Clear N/N.

Barbie, here's what gets to me. A while ago I saw an ad for a litter out of a nn male and an at risk female, the status of both verifed on the OFA site. The puppies were advertised as having no chance of being at risk, the sire was normal and the dam's status never mentioned. True the puppies can't be at risk, but every one is a carrier and that was never mentioned in the ad. What was told to buyers? I have no clue.

I don't get all spastic about using carriers, I'll probably be doing that myself this year for my first litter of GSD's and probably my last LOL. I don't think it's a terrible thing to use at risks if they are bred to normals. But IMO it's dishonest for a breeder who knows better, which this one did, to intimate in a for sale ad on a website that every puppy was a safe breeding risk as far as DM goes.

I hate to see this test is being used improperly as a marketing tool. From what you say, I can't think that your friend had any wrong intentions when she placed that ad here.

I agree Blitzen, I would urge all breeders to be very open and clear about their dogs status. If only so that there are no accidental misunderstandings that lead to tragedy for someone in the future.

Abby, I seldom see any DM information whatsoever with any for sale ads here or anywhere else. I'm not sure if the breeders honestly don't know about the test or if they know and aren't using it. Not all are from the US, but if a breeder can ship a puppy from Europe to the US, they can mail a cheek swab here too.

IMO it is unrealistic to only buy a puppy from a litter where both parents are tested clear.  IMO if one parent is tested clear I would be happy.  Then you know your puppy will not be at risk.  Sure it may be a carrier, but that will just need to be addressed when breeding in the future.  

There are SO FEW people testing right now, I have only seen a handful of litters where both parents are tested and many of those litters are untitled parents.  While DM is horrible, it is just one aspect of the breed.  There are SO MANY more things to take into consideration.  If I had to choose between a litter where both parents were DM clear yet not titled, not proven in any other way or a litter where the parents were exceptional in every way but not tested for DM - that choice would be easy for me!  Obviously the best option would be exceptional dogs who are tested for DM... which will hopefully become more common in the future.  

ALSO keep in mind, there is NOTHING WRONG with breeding carriers or even at risk dogs IMO.  We NEED to use these dogs for breeding!  It would be stupid to throw them out of the gene pool and harm the breed more than any good that would come from it!  Maybe someday in the future we will be able to only breed clear dogs, but right now we need carriers/at risk dogs and they can EASILY be bred responsibly without producing any more at risk dogs going forward.  

I dunno, I'd want to know the status of both parents, but that's me. Or I'd want to know the status of the puppy I was interested in. I guess it's OK as long as the buyer (and the breeder) understands what it means when one parent is nn and the other not tested. If the breeder makes it clear that the puppy they are buying could test as a carrier and explains what that means, then I don't have a problem with not testing both parents when one is an nn. Another alternative is to test the breeding quality puppies at 4 weeks which would probably be more costly than just testing the other parent. It just seems to me like it's getting half way to the goal line and falling on the ball. 

It's just so easy to test both, I can't imagine why a breeder wouldn't want to do it unless they are selling the litter with no breeding rights.

Since the bottom line is to not produce anymore at risks and using an nn always accomplishes that goal I suppose it's a start and better than not testing at all.



 

Blitzen, it may not be up to the breeder if both parents are tested or not.  I cannot force stud dog owners to test their dogs.  And I refuse to ONLY go to tested dogs with my Clear female because it would limit my choices and force me to choose a male who may not be as good for her.  If she were a carrier, I would have to go about things differently... but she is clear, so I am happy and feel perfectly fine with breeding her to an untested male. In the future I am sure more and more people will test their dogs, but it doesnt happen overnight and I refuse to neglect other aspects of the dog that are just important.  

I understand GSD2727 and would feel the same if I were breeding nice dogs. My concern is with those who are not being honest with their buyers; you are not one of them.