Sieger Zamp vom Thermodos dies and people cry... - Page 2

I sure hope Zamp's family doesn't come across this post. Some people need to get a life!!! My prayers are with them.

Usually sires of this caliber are pampered.  I'm sure that Zamp's passing was random and unavoidable.  As to the quality of the language, I'm a big believer in that "the man defines the moment" and not the opposite.  There are many other ways and times to makethe in-breeding argument.

Nothing funny about it Duval! 

I think it's a terrible shame that such a beautiful dog died so young!   I really feel for his owners.

At the same time, I think Jantie is asking a legitimate question. We SHOULD be looking at longevity in our breed, and trying to make wise breeding choices that select for healthy dog with long lives.

I have an old book on GSDs, written in the 60's that say the average lifespan is 11-13 years. Is that still true?  Some people tell me they consider any years after 10 with their dogs 'a gift'.

This happened with the American GSDs when too many people line bred on Lance of Fran-jo and his sons.  Dogs were dropping dead suddenly for no reason anyone could understand. Ask Louise Penery about it. Yes, sometimes it was due to bloat. Other times no one could figure it out, and it happened often enough that people began referring to it as 'sudden death syndrome'.  The GSDCA's response was to start a '13-plus' club so breeders could select bloodlines that had long-lived dogs.

Zamp was truly a beautiful ambassador for the showlines and the breed in general.

How many pups did he father?  I don't know.  Maybe some better informed posters could provide a number.

Whatever the number is, it is surely huge.  All of those people who own those dogs and are considering his progeny, need to know why he died.

When a dog is bred so prolificly, they lose the right to a certain amount of privacy.  Some things are inherited. Some things are tragic non-inheritable conditions or accidents.

I suggest that transparency is good and some secrets are really bad.

Michele

Excellent point, Pharoh!

The PDB lists Zamp as having 734 progeny. I am sure there are many more than that which are not registered in the database.

www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/341400.html

missbeeb, there's a total of three threads going already just for condolences. Go post in one of those if you don't like reading the hard questions this one asks!  I've posted in two of the three already.

Anyone who does not believe that Zamp was foremost a family member needs to see the photos on his family's website: www.grabfeldgau.com
As to longevity, most of our dogs died between 12 and 14 and a half years of age. We lost one male at 8 due to anal fistulas and one female at age 7 due to gastric torsion.