Hip x rays - Page 3

She didn't do anything, but I wasn't surprised.

If she doesn't pass elbows, I may as well just quit.  I still have not had a dog that I wanted to breed that passed both joint screens and has had a good temperament, except for my service dog, and I have nothing to breed him to.  Really getting sick of trying.  I'm hoping she finishes this coming weekend, but even if she does, what does it matter if she doesn't pass elbows?  I've waited for over a decade to have a litter, and I'm still not getting anywhere.

:(  :(  Xeph.  From what I've seen/read, you put a LOT of work into her, and probably learned A LOT along the way.  Because you have yet to breed for one reason or another, it says how dedicated you are to doing it right.  Most of us have been where you are... raise a prospect and put countless hours into it with hopes and dreams just to have something as "controversial" as DJD grade 1s come in the way.  A friend of mine (won't give too many details because I don't think she'd want me to) has expressed to me how frustrating her "breeding" venture has been as well.  She's probably been trying even longer than 20 years to have the right dog, and when she thought she did (passed every screen) she wouldn't conceive.  It's a hard road for some, seems like you included.  :(  Like I said before, I HOPE I'm wrong... the OFA has been inconsistent in the past, and I'm no expert, but I don't want it to come as a blow when the paperwork comes in either IF they indeed don't pass.  Good luck next weekend!!!

Xeph, with all due respect, you're starting with PUPPIES. Puppies are not breeding prospects. Don't lose heart. This happens to most, if not everyone. If you want a foundation dog, buy a foundation-quality DOG, not puppy. Look at dogs who have already passed health screenings and then buy one you like. 

I waited about 8 years before breeding my first litter. I found a female (well, I had help) who was already joint scored and then got her breed surveyed and titled. You've got to start somewhere and look at all the money you essentially waste on trying to breed a puppy. I can look at a dog and tell if it can be titled or if it will do well in a breed survey or show ring. I cannot look at a dog and tell if it will pass hips and elbows! Buy a puppy because you love puppies and want to raise it and keep it for life for better or for worse; buy an adult if you want a breeding prospect. You've housed and fed and had high hopes for how many dogs now that didn't pan out? The disappointment is tough, especially when you like the dog and are attached. 

Anyway, I am sorry for your disappointment and I understand. Do yourself a favor- don't quit, just quit trying to turn PUPPIES into breeding stock. 

I have tried adult dogs, and I really do not like acquiring them.  They end up not being what I'm looking for in temperament, and I hate having to fix foundation work that wasn't done correctly or wasn't done at all.  I will also admit that *I* do not bond as well to dogs I get older.

The last show dog I got as an older dog was nuts AND missing three teeth.  It was a huge waste.  I don't want adult dogs from others for the most part :(  Mostly it feels like I can't win regardless of what I do.

Hmmm. Weird, but I have bonded more with Capri than almost any female dog I've ever had. How long are you giving them and how are you keeping them? House? Kennel? And if in house, where? Crate, garage, basement, bedroom, free reign, etc.? I'm not suggesting you're doing something "wrong", I'm just asking because they're not Goldens, as you know, and they don't always wear their hearts on their sleeves. It can take a while. Also, how you're set up and how many other dogs you have and what their temperaments are plays a role, too. When I imported Pri, I dragged her everywhere with me, and just acted like she was my dog and always had been. I kenneled her very rarely and gave her lots of free time running loose and forced her to get used to being the house queen, which she had clearly never been! Now, she has wonderful temperament, so that helps, too. For 3 weeks she may as well have been deaf, but lo and behold, she did come around and there was no going back once she decided I wasn't half bad. I have had dogs before and since that I didn't bond with as strongly and I definitely see correlations between how I kept them and how they settled in. Don't get me wrong; they did "fine" but it wasn't the same as when I had the ability to drag them everywhere with me. 

I know I'm not telling you anything you probably don't already know...just trying to offer some encouragement w/my experience in purchasing an adult. She's the only adult non-rescue I ever bought and honestly, she was worth every penny! I have definitely spent more when you add up the puppies who didn't turn out to be breeding prospects, or the surgeries I put into them before selling them for a few hundred bucks or giving them away for free! Actually...when I add them all up, holy cow, she was the bargain of the century, as a "sure thing." Are they cheap? NO. But your heartache is worth something, and your time, and money. Start saving and buy yourself something really special down the road. I'm so glad I did. Lord knows the days of that kind of money have long since passed! LOL!!

My dogs are all house dogs, get time with just me, playing, etc.  And no, I don't want them to wear their hearts on their sleeves.  The dogs bond to ME, it's me that has more trouble bonding to the dog.  I just don't feel "that thing" I feel when I raise them from babies.  It's not the same.  And I end up feeling like crap because I feel like I should be more connected to the dog, and I'm just not.

The dog I originally mentioned really WAS just nuts.  There was nothing for me to bond TO.  He is luckily now very happy in another home, and acting more normally (still not quite normal, but he's safe to have and be around).  I have not had a ton of older dogs at all.  I gave up after two (with Loch being an exception...have had him 6 months, and he'll work out fine) because I just wasn't happy, and I don't like feeling that guilt and like I'm never going to mesh with the dog.

I admire people that can do it.  The puppy raising phase, much as I'll complain about it while I'm going through it, is really important to me.

When I was just searching for elbow (specifically UAP photos - thanks Jen ;), I came across this site: http://vdrrottweilerbreeders.com/hip_elbow_ratings.html.  Please take a look Xeph.  I know how you shared your films on FB and are getting so many mixed opinions as they are basing their guesses on their breed.  I was amazed to see what is "Excellent" in Rotties... OMG!

Thanks, honey :)

I am absolutely confident that her hips are beautiful!  The people looking at those don't know what they're talking about.  We'll see what happens with the elbows.  They're still fully functional, I have no concerns, and if the OFA is going to be that nit picky, I really may not use them for elbows anymore.

Xephx Please do not think it's over 'before' the fat lady sings !!lol
Wait to see what OFA says. Shit, there's enough other things in this world to feel bad about.
I know you love doing what you do with your girl, keep the faith.
There will be plenty of time to feel bad 'IF' she does not pass.
Don't go there....IF you don't have to.
My fingers are crossed for you and your girl.

Xephx Please do not think it's over 'before' the fat lady sings !!lol
Wait to see what OFA says. Shit, there's enough other things in this world to feel bad about.
I know you love doing what you do with your girl, keep the faith.
There will be plenty of time to feel bad 'IF' she does not pass.
Don't go there....IF you don't have to.
My fingers are crossed for you and your girl.