Is this a responsible breeder? Out of options. - Page 4

Hexe -- I'm not sure why you assume that I haven't exhausted all the possibilities on my end before involving the breeder. I've asked friends, family, trainers I know, people in my PSA club and THEIR friends/family. I've looked into rescues.

My inability to care for her health issues have nothing to do with the efforts I've gone to in trying to find her a new home, and I would appreciate if you didn't assume so.

 

minro, I sent you a PM.   Pete

My  2yo rescue/pet/BYB GSD doesn't know what to do on grass. He's only used gravel/sand his whole life. The few times he's been on grass.....he runs around in crazy circles, leaps in the air & falls on the grass to wiggle in it. Very cute.

I'm new to this forum & definitely not an expert in GSD's/breeding/training/health. IMHO, the breeder shouldn't be held responsible for the allergy disease your dog is suffering from....unless, of course, their crystal ball was working back when you got her. Life is like that sometimes & it just sucks. Very sorry you're having to deal with this whole situation. Both of you.

Here's my weird suggestion: Take her on vacation to AZ or NM & see how her allergies are in the dry heat & where only the urber-rich can afford to water grass & trees enough for them to thrive. Maybe  then you'll know for sure what can be done for her, besides steroids for life/PTS/whatever, if it's strictly 'grass' that causes her reactions. Someone in the desert may be looking for just your type of girl.  Good luck.

A dog with algeries like this and an owner w/o means for constant med treatment should put it to sleep. I hope this dog does not get the headaches associated with algeries. They are truely painful

I'm pretty sure one our rescue girl (not a GSD) is allergic to everything, including air.  As someone else stated about allergy testing...it does get expensive.  Veterinarians are not trained allergists or dermatologists.  After multiple diet changes, medications, wiping her down with an antibacterial wipe after she comes in from outside, wearing a t-shirt outside, and a battery of tests, we finally have the reins drawn in on her environmental (and dietary) allergies. 

Yes, it's still a pain in the, you know what, but it's not nearly as bad as it could have been. 

And for cost purposes, her allergen testing ranged in between $1000 and $1100 over a span of two visits.  When you're a student, undergrad, grad, or even doctorate, that can be a lot to swallow.  However, before we had even gotten our dogs, we had set up a separate bank account solely for dog expenses, and we have also applied for and used CareCredit for a surgery when money was tight (and my husband was unemployed.) 

I realize the OP has done quite a bit herself, but additional (at-home) testing can be done.  If the dog is allergic to something other than environmental allergies, it's time to assess your home: diet (you said raw-chicken, but chicken is one of the top food allergies for dogs besides grains,) dust mites (bedding, furniture, etc.,) insects (fleas, ants, etc.) 

Definately, I would be suspicious of chicken. Unless they are your own free range chickens, who knows  what they gave that chicken. Don't laugh, GMO's are a big unknown and they are making their way into the food chain. And even if it is only grass allergies, it shouldn't be an immediate death sentence.

The idea that there are lots of people looking to take on the responsibilty you are running from, is just mind boggling to me. Sad for your dog, they got dealt a bad hand, through no fault of their own. 

It sounds to me like the breeder is being honest & trying to help.  I think that offering a replacement puppy shows that they truly care about the buyer's situation, but while allergies can have a genetic component they can also be related to food, pesticides, and other environmental factors which cause immune system damage.  I absolutely would not expect the breeder to offer money back.  While it might be nice to think that the breeder has lots of connections who would want a dog with severe allergies and the potential for thousands of dollars in vet bills I don't think that's very realistic.  Most people want a healthy dog (as does the buyer).  There's not a lot of people out there saying "yes, I'll take a 2 yr old dog who I'm not attached to and spend thousands of dollars on it even though I might become attached and then have to euthanize him anyway if the issues can't be resolved.  I haven't seen anyone here offer to take him.  I think it's good that the breeder is honest enough to tell the buyer what the likely outcome would be so the buyer can make the choice. 

If I were in that situation, I'd offer advice (grain-free food or raw diet, no pesticides or chemicals in the home to start with) and would take the dog back to evaluate.  If I felt the dog could be placed in a home where he would be happy & relatively healthy (as crhuerta found for her dog) then I'd do it and I'm guessing this breeder would as well.  But if the allergies were so severe that I did not think the dog would ever have a good quality of life or would not be able to find a potential owner who was able to maintain the dog in good condition then I would euthanize if that was the kindest option.  It's nice to think that there's some hypothetical person willing to take this dog but it's not likely to be the reality. 

so the breeder should not be responsible for bringing an allergic pup into this world.

I am sure the the owner of the dog did not tell the breeder to give him a dog with allergies so to make it to difficult to do PSA with.

I can fully understand the breeder may not have known the pup would be allergic to grass.  But seriously grass!!!! the guy/girl bought this dog to do sport with.  Now what does he/she do because they have to stop going to the club for training.  She can go to an indoor training centre but the dog needs to be on the field for the tests.

Minro was sold a dog to do sport with.  He cannot do that... Surely the breeder needs to step up.  I know the breeder offered another pup but some people here believe it is not the breeders responsibility to do so or even get involve in helping this dog out.

This story of buying a crap shoot is a bullsh** one.  A sports dog that cannot be around grass... come on give me a break. This is not the buyers fault might not be the breeders fault.  But it sure as hell is his responsibility to give him another dog or his money back. 

So can I return my dog because he has a bad habit of eating socks and that's costing me a lot of money in socks (and potentially having a blockage)?  Can I return my Schutzhund dog because I don't really like the tone of his barking?  Seriously, where would it end... *shakes head*

As with all of these threads, everything we say is moot because the owner should be acting based on the CONTRACT.  If there wasn't one, then what do you expect?  If you want a breeder to "guarantee" against allergies, then you need to find a breeder that has this in their contract.