Health Testing? - Page 1

Are breeders in countries outside of the U.S. testing dogs for DM, thyroid and all the other tests/certifications that a number of breeders do here in the states? I haven't noticed it nor does it prevent me from purchasing dogs overseas.

Go for it.

lol..not buying anymore dogs. Wanting yo know if breeders overseas do as much as this testing as many do here. if not, why? Are people in U.S they more paranoid or not doing good breedings so these tests are necessary?

Pippa...so are you saying that breeders who dont do eye, thyroid, DM and anything else should be voided? (not including hip/elbows in this)

A long list of health tests will impress pet buyers.

Ditto, Felloffher!

I also think the American lines have really paranoid a lot of people/breeders, and with good reason. Hey, folks, you did this to yourselves, now the dogs pay the price. It's not their faults their family trees don't have any branches.

Jenni, you look similar to a girl named Jennifer who is on this (horribly trashy) show called Shipping Wars on A&E. And I mean that in the nicest way possible LOL. What is your pitbull's name?

Staying on topic: Ace, how many dogs do you have now?

The GSDCA encourages its members to only breed from dogs with normal hips, elbows, and dogs that have passed their temperament test. That is what that club requires in order for a GSD to receive a CHIC certification. Some breeders choose to do other available tests like DM, thyroid, cardiac, CERF in an effort to  produce the healthiest dogs they can.

If you're in the market for another GSD why would you not demand that the parents have been tested using all applicable tests that are available? If you're going to breed a litter, why would you not want to test the parents first? What are you afraid of? It's not about impressing pet buyers, it's about doing all you can to breed the best dogs you can. I would be much more suspicious of a breeder who makes all sorts of lame excuses for not health testing their dogs than I would a breeder who does a laundry list of  health tests prior to breeding. What's the  point of breeding MORE GSD's if you don't do all you can to make sure there are no more sickly GSD's with bad elbows, bad hips, etc introduced into  the world? The breed is certainly in no danger of extinction, there are plenty sitting in rescue  right now, many are the results of haphazard breedings from untested parents. 

I don't import dogs, so I have no clue why European breeders do so few health checks. Maybe it's because they don't have to in order to sell their dogs to the US? If true, that's on us.

Jenni, I'm not sure what you meant by no branches in the family tree, but if you're thinking that those with ASL's do more close breedings that do those with GSL's and GWL's you'd be wrong.