TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED! - Page 2

How does one find out, if the dogs used for breeding are good health and temperament wise, before breeding? The dogs that are in Germany, will people be honest and upfront before the breeding takes place? Are there a few top dogs that are totally overated, are soft in temperament,the breeders know it, but are used anyway? If Germany, the birthplace of the German Shepherd and certain breeders are breeding an animal on beauty only, and forgetting about health, temperament, and workability, then the German Shepherd will be doomed, and this noble breed does not deserve this.

Another question, if there is a questionable dog/bitch in the pedigree, how many years does it take before the dog or bitch is totally out of the bloodlines?

In answer to your question about bloodlines, the genes - good or bad - will be carried on always, we just hope that eventually the dogs that we breed from will be less likely to carry the 'bad' genes by using selective breeding in the first place,  ie. when the carriers are discovered and removed from the breeding programmes!

I would like to add that obviously the further back that the dog in question is in the bloodlines, the less chance that the 'bad' genes will be present in the dog you wish to breed from, but the chance will never be removed, especially if the dog concerned appears more than once - or several times in some cases -  in the pedigree!!

Kerschberger............ I agree with certain issues you speak of but I really feel you are being a little short sighted regarding your comments regarding genetic health issues !,  of course banning the offspring is not the answer and we all know that certain problems do not appear until later in life ............ so the only sensible answer to this is to do the home work as far back on pedigree's as you feel necessary and try to steer clear of too many lines to dogs that are known to produce certain problems, failure over the years to do this has now resulted in a definite bottleneck of bloodlines and unwanted problems !.

Line breeding is one thing but shutting ones eyes to what is past the 5th generation is more than throwing caution to the wind, its downright stupidity !.

Well said   Dawn.G Bonome !!!!!.

I don't think any breeder would encourage anyone to breed to a "top dog" if the dog was known to throw bad hips, elbows, health issues or poor temperment. I think what happens sometimes is that the "top dogs" are the one's most recognized so those are the names people want in their pedigree as that is what is a selling point so they hope that the "top dog" that is not a great hip producer just might pull off a decent litter if bred to a dog that is known for producing strong hips ect.  Although one would think if you take a dog with more cons than pros and breed it to something better you will end up with "ok" or decent litter.  Depending on what you're breeding for and why you are REALLY breeding would determine if you'd truly be satisfied with producing just "ok" pups.  I myself would go with the advice of many good beeders who'd tell you to start with the best on both sides and hope for the best.  If you start with crap you'll end up with crap.  If you start with mediocre then expect that that is probably what you will get unless you get very lucky with one or 2 exceptional pups.  JMO

There are alot of great looking dogs out there. Some throw themselves, others throw nothing like themselves. The truth is: people don't tell you what is wrong with their lines! They just want the huge stud fee or price of the puppy. What a shame this whole dog thing has become. They start breeding bitches and dogs at an early age, before all the health problems come out. Then you have the people who lie about their dogs health etc. As I stated in an earlier post, someone I know bred a dog that did not OFA. Shame on her and the breeder (who knew) for doing this.

Pat