Are prelims worth it? - Page 1

I've heard some people say they get one rating with prelims and then a different one at age two.  Is it worth it to get a prelim on a 16 month old or just wait until she's two?

The preliminary xray done anytime past 6 months of age has a 91% probability of staying the same, meaning the soundness.  So, it is important as some of us with working dogs might have some unfortunate accident that shows the dog is a genetically sound dog otherwise.  Personally we try to get everything with a solid preliminary by 1 year of age and keep that xray on file. 

with your dog being 16 months old it may be more economical to wait until 24 months of age. 

Good luck and enjoy your dog!

Nancy Rhynard
www.westwoodkennels.com

I would wait until she is 2 years old, unless you're concerned cause your dog is walking funny,

other than that, if you're a breeder and will part with your dog if hips & elbows don't pan out, than pre-limbs at 1 year are a good idea......

  If you also have no idea what a good hip x-ray looks like and will take OFA's opinions like they are the only people on earth that can read an x-ray, then you will be having OFA decide for you, which I myself prefer more options, the option of a second or third opinion from different vets is good enough for me,just cause they say OFA is non-profit, but that doesn't mean it's not as political as a dogshow...........

If ypu love your dog so much that you won't rehome her if OFA rates them as mild or worse, than why the hurry, wait until she's 2 yrs.

Pre-limbs are only worth it to breeders,or if your dog is limping,

At 16 months, I'd just wait until 2 years unless you have reason to worry.  In general, yes I think prelims are worth it but when done at 6-8 months.  I had my dog done at that age, before putting a lot of time and money into conformation and starting Schutzhund training.  I did not submit prelims to any organization, but the vet who took and read the rads is known worldwide for his expertise in the field.  I paid him to take the rads and give me his opinion.

Yeah, I think they make sense if you are making training and financial decisions for the dog depending on the results.  I only have one dog, and am training her to learn about her lines and learn about the sports...  early prelims wouldn't have really mattered to me or changed my plans for her first two years.  I am doing her hips and elbows now, to see how they certify, but it wouldn't have made much difference in my plans to prelim.  If I had six dogs and had to decide which ones to spend the time and training money on, or wanted to compete on high levels, it would make sense to spend the money to do prelims.

Just to clarify I'm not a breeder and this is currently the only dog I'm training, showing, and trialing.  But considering the high percentage of accuracy for prelims indicating HD present at 2 years, I figured there was absolutely no reason NOT to prelim the dog.

Prelims are read in house by Dr Keller at OFA as opposed to being transmitted to three different Radiologist so that is why the rating may vary a little but an Ex on a prelim is a pretty much guarenteed pass at two  w/ 80% of those going Ex  a Good is 97 percent I think ,so they are reliable.I'm not sure what the stats are on elbow prelims I will ask them