WHY? - Page 5

Malinda,

Check your inbox.  I sent you a private message....

UlliesMom, Malinda (Weberhaus) is offering you good advice. If you feel chastised by some of the members here because of the results of your breeding practices I really do not know what to say; but I will certainly not offer an apology for my thoughts or some other's thoughts and feelings here about the proper screening of breeding dogs.

If I understand everything correctly, you chose to breed a bitch that received an O.F.A. preliminary result of "Borderline." If this examination had been done at twenty-four (24) months of age, it is considered to be a failing hip rating, but one that is often recommended for a new examination six (6) months later or so. I know that you value the opinion of your veterinarian, but be aware that the O.F.A. is still our stateside agency for orthopaedic evaluations.

The O.F.A. is not infallable, and sometimes test scores have been changed on a later re-examination. But, during each examination there are three (3) sets of eyes that belong to board-certified radiologists who examine each radiograph, and the majority opinion is the one that is chosen. One always has a chance to dispute the findings and offer a new radiograph for examination.

That your bitch had a failing preliminary rating does not mean all of the puppies have failing hips, or passing hips for that matter. It means that you chose to breed below the standard and are thus increasing the chance of producing dysplastic hips that can be passed along to succeeding generations. The hip quality of the GSD is very slowly improving stateside, as we are seeing  very small but gradual improvements in hip quality. I will explain in the next paragraph.

Considering that the value of "1st" is the worst placement in the O.F.A. "Hip Dysplasia By Breed" database page; just a few years ago the GSD ranked "19th" in this list of purebred dogs with failing hips, then approximately three (3) years ago dropped to "27th" place and now stands at "38th" place in rank This is a marked improvement that was done because of conscientious breeding practices.

Many, if not most veterinarians provide good care for canines, but very few are quite good at predicting the score of the dog's hip quality that will be the findings of the O.F.A. (or S.V. for that matter). For my dogs, upon viewing the fresh radiograph I make my measurements and offer my opinions, and listen to a veterinarian that I trust as he/she offers their opinion. I am correct in the vast majority of cases but I have seen a lot of GSD hip radiographs and I have a keen eye for geometry, but in the end I must place good trust in the findings of the O.F.A. or SV..

We all had a "first day" in our association with this breed, and some have many first days as lessons offered and observed are not retained. Please be aware that many, if not 99.999% of us here take pedigree information very seriously as well, as the integrity of the pedigree information here is not substanciated by hard documents; rather it is data that was input by us.

UlliesMom, I think I can speak for most and extend a welcome to this database, but you must view this database as a place to learn. Bad and/or questionable breeding decisions are not taken lightly here as many of us have a lifelong association with this breed and take its success very seriously. Stick around and listen to what others have to offer. Ask questions if you must.

Regards,

Bob-O

A correction to my post; second paragraph, first sentence. The original sentence read: "If I understand everything correctly, you chose to breed a bitch that received an O.F.A. preliminary result of "Borderline.""

It should have read: "If I understand everything correctly, you chose to breed a dog that received an O.F.A. preliminary result of "Borderline.""

Regards,

Bob-O

In response to BGSTOUT, Tinman has not been at Alabamak9 for  YEARS and he was bred twice during the time he was at alabamak9  (four years) hardly reference for a top stud dog.  Another prime example of you making false statements on the data base.

Marlene AlabamaK9

V-KKl-1 25X Schh3,IPO3,FH2 sable working-line male:  http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/467732.html

yES mOLLY  BIG BOY EAGLE AND HE DESERVES   A    VA

AND AGAIN  LOOK WHO TRAINED HIM AND WHAT HIS PEDIGREE SHOWS   THE DOG IN QUESTION HERE DOESNT SHOW   A   VA   RATING    ......   AND THE TITLES ARE MISSING OFF OF TINMAN...I THINK SOMEONE DID A TYPO OR TWO...KK1  IS IN RED ,,,AND NO OTHER TITLES ON HIM.....

HIM SUCH A BEAUTIFUL  BOY....I WAS LOOKING AT HIS PIC IN ONE OF THE MAGAZINES  SUNDAY....

Molly- sorry for leaving eagle out. I knew that he had his V. Love him .. Is he now one of the Highest titled dogs in the US?? 25 x's  that is awsome. Maybe i do need to look at him for stud ...

Bob-O thanks again for the statement as it is always welcome.

Rezkat5 i got it...

Ulli-- Best wishs i did see the new pic's of your pups and i think that is a better  pic for people to see what they look like.

I don't know if Eagle is the highest titled dog in the US - but maybe he is the most-titled dog who was handler-owned-bred and trained in the US.  Who knows.  25X Schh3 is a lot at least for a dog bred/raised/trained in the US.  And he's V-KKl-1 and a working-line sable too.  Worked at National-level Schh3 until over 9 years old, still competing at FH Championships this year :).  And he's mine, I'm proud of him and I love him lots.

As to the question posted on this thread - I don't know "Why" - I would never consider breeding, or buying a puppy from any dog who was not working-titled, adult-hip CERTIFIED, and actively worked and temperament tested before breeding.  Period.....

molly