Why do people not educate on breeding and ownership of dogs? - Page 1

I am by no means a professional on the topic.

I've always had large breed dogs since I was a child. I entered in to the world of GSD's roughly 1.5 years ago. I have good relationships with people who are way more suited to make statements about GSD's than I am. So I ask and learn from them. I read a lot of books. I have a tendency to become OCD about things that I am more than just interested in. With that said -- I'm not pro at it but I feel like I at least have taken the time to say my .02 cents.

Never in my 34 years of age and since I've owned dogs have I met some of the shadiest people on the planet that are involved with GSD's. With that said I have met some extremely intelligent and super stand up people that are involved with it as well. Sadly, the bad has outweighed the good. I've always had in the back of my mind that there were just those kinds of breeders out there who see puppies as a way to move money from your wallet to theirs regardless of the way but I was naive in thinking that people would share the same personal feelings of the breed that I have.

An acquaintance of mine had been telling me about their GSD that was purchased earlier in the year. It's nice to talk about them and share pictures back and forth. I received a message today that if I wanted to see her GSD that her BF was bringer the GSD and pick up her so they could go to the vet and get her checked out.

When I saw the 8mos old pup I had a fuse or two blow. I kept my cool but the poor animal looked emaciated. I petted her and felt of her neck and it was just bone. Not that thick wrap of tissue and muscle that I've always felt. I could count her ribs. She had thick visible webbing of her front and rear paws. Extra toes on her rear feet. Yes. I lifted up her gums and they were almost so light they appeared white.

I asked does she eat? The response was "Yes, she eats a lot". I said do you see parasites in her waste when she has a movement? The response was "I never look". I did not even start to ask if it was solid or runny. I figured that was not paid attention to either.

The 8mos old only had one round of vacs. No deworming or anything had been done to this point. I asked which vet they were taking the GSD to so I could remember it. I explained they need to do some blood work and stool test. I explained how wonderful Lixotinic is to help build up blood in weaker animals and to ask for it.

The rear toe issue I assume was a dew claw. I've simply never seen rear dewclaws growing on a GSD. I read up that yes it happens. That it is a disqualifying trait and that it should have been removed before now.

My reason for blowing a fuse over it is that why would a breeder sell a dog like this and why would someone buy her? I asked myself that question and realized I answered it myself. It's simply because people will buy the animals.

It's one thing to take in a dog fully knowing there is an issue and you want to help it. But to let it come to this this and when other people start coming out to see this GSD in such poor shape all while saying "Oh I need one of those" the other owner says "Yeah, we are going to breed them".

My first reaction was go off on learning about caring for a dog, get her medical care and while you’re at it. Have her fixed! Instead I said just remember the Lixotinic. If it had been people that I did not like or work with I would have.

Consumers who buy these dogs are as bad as the breeders producing them. It needs to end.

 I too am OCD or as I say CDO in alphabetical  order like it is supposed to be.
white gums in pups usually a sign of low red blood cells could easily be caused by hook worms.  of course hook worms aren't visable in the stool with a naked eye. 

But you can see some others. I assumed she was anemic and told her to ask for the blood builder after the parasite infestation.

In most cases it is both of them that need education.  I'm like you I see an animal in poor condition and my first reaction is to get upset.  take the time to educate your friends,  nothing you can do about those who are breeding poor animals,  like you say as long as there are people who don't do their research they will have customers.  nice way to destroy a breed and a breeds reputation.

Untill the AKC set standards and is not just in it for the buck then looks like this is what we are stuck with. Do right and fear no one -Von Stephanitz
 

Well there are backyard breeders all over the country and if this dog has rear dew claws it is a backyard pet or worse, puppy miller breeder.  Someone needs to give these dogs homes.


Keep in mind that in order to educate the buyers and people breeding dogs they need to WANT  to be educated.  Nan

Both my "B" and "C" litters had rear dewclaws, Nan. 

You ask why anyone would buy such a pup?  Someone might buy the starving/sick puppy to rescue it from suffering.

Trouble with buying sick puppies 'cos you feel sorry for them and think you can do better, is:  you just leave another place for these 'breeders' to fill, with yet another sick/malnourished/undermedicated product of
overbreeding.

I don't know the answers;  I don't think there are necessarily more problems in GSDs than elsewhere, but
that they are  more common because there are so many GSDs.  The popularity of the breed and its
wonderful adaptability have been its own undoing.

Seems to me the more efforts we make to educate and inform owners and breeders, the worse the situation becomes - perversely and depressingly.

BTW  I don't know that it is particularly  'OCD'  to react with horror;  its perfectly justifed in my view  !!!

Side note, re:  the appearence of rear dew claws ('extra toes' would be polydactyly, which is different) -
when the majority of dogs originated with 'modern' WG SL,  we almost never saw these as pups were not
born with them - they had 'bred themselves out' / evolved away, because they were useless vestigials.  On
the occasions they DID appear, they were 'always' removed - by regular breeders, anyway - at 2 days old.
As the bloodlines have opened up to include stock from old lines across the rest of Europe, [and other things!]  they have crept back in, with some dogs.  I have known,  I think, 4 (unrelated) cases in my lifetime.  The most recent is a Shiloh.