Is it fair to celebrate? - Page 1

 I was waiting for Theo's OFA results and couldn't wait any longer after promising

I would NOT call them, and that I would wait to get them in the mail, the stress was 
too much, I called today, and the lady said they were just wrapping them up,

Theo got fair hips & normal elbows!     I'll take it!  I could do them over, but  I was 
just wondering, 
What if you got your dog OFA certified & did a redo & they didn't pass, is that a 
possibility??..............

Good for Theo!  Unless you are planning on breeding why not take the fair?  Fair is passed in the big scheme of things, just not what you would want to breed. 

And I would think if a rating could go up with a redo, it could also go down.

animules,

I am considering breeding Theo, his temperament is to die for, 
it is outstanding, I've owned many dogs over the years, and this 
guy Theo has a special personality that can actually draw you in.

You can look into his eyes & see his soul, he's not just a big drooly dog.
I breed strictly for temperament, and of course we all know that there is 
no such thing as an ugly German Shepherd!

Has anyone out there had a redo go down?
let me know.

Oh yeah,   Fair in OFA ='s normal in SV Germany...............................

( I was just using a play on words, I know it IS fair to celebrate!)

Here's the OFA interpretation:

www.offa.org/hipgrade.html 

Congrats Mirasmom!  I know we all pray for a passing hip score and are thankful the dirty, dreadful Dysplasia word doesn't enter into the mix.  I know it feels good - celebrate!  YooHoo!

While temperment is a very important consideration in breeding, a dog should not be bred only for temperment, there are plenty of wonderful dogs in rescue for that very reason.  I don't know you or your dogs and the last thing I am trying to do is bash anyone, but if you have been around the board for a while you know conformation and pedigree are definatly big big factors to consider!  The answer on your question is yes, the rating can go down-but IMO if your dog rated fair the first time and then doesn't pass the second time he should probably not be bred anyhow with questionable hips. 

VBK9,

Why are they questionable, when the SV would call the reading normal?

interestingly the converse could just as easily be stated.... that... while hip ratings are a very important consideration in breeding, a dog should not be bred only for hip ratings.  I am not bashing VBK9 because I agree with the statement but I am simply stating the polar position.  Breeding is not objective it is subjective and everyone knows that someone with great hips can produce a dysplastic dog, likewise a dog with a great temperament can produce a dog with a poor one, it is simply that the liklihood in both cases is diminished with proper screening and careful observation.

good luck with your baby and congrats!!

Hi VBK9, good to see you again!

mirasmom,  We know dogs that have come from Germany with a2 hips to be OFA'd as displastic.  OFA Fair does not always mean SV a2 or a3.  the a2 and a3 rating covers much ground.  A very good friend of ours explained she will not even breed a2, or below OFA good.  Yes, the others ratings, a2, a3, fair, are considered acceptable by many.  But with all the good dogs out there, that have the temperament along with the rest, why take any chances.  And yes, we've all heard the stories of dogs coming over as a3 only to go OFA good or better.   The friend of ours has some high standards that we can appreciate as one truely trying to improve the breed.

animules,

Do you breed German Shepherds?