How doomed are we?

[K8IE]

I do have one quick question: The original puppy we saw, I know the bitch is 1.5 years old so she's too young to have some tests, but which of the tests should she have done?

I plan to call them tonight, but I wanted to explain our decision and tell them what tests they are supposed to have done. While it probably is, is it too late to have them do the testing now and if they both pass clear then the puppies would be technically OK?

My fiancee is devastated because she met the puppy and it's breaking my heart. :(

There is a sticky at the top of this forum "health tests your breeder should do". That should cover it, and give you the info you need for when you speak with the breeder. You say your fiancee is devastated; please share with her the comments here, share with her the BYB sticky up top telling of the horrors and heartbreak people here at BW have suffered, then she can truly imagine the devastation she could be facing buying this little pup from a breeder who does not really care about the health of the pups they produce. Like Gmac says, buying from a reputable breeder does not give you 100% assurance that your pup will never have an issue, but if you are to gamble, you want the odds farther in your favor. And you do not want to support a breeder who is not doing things the right way, so hopefully they may start to do things the right way. We just purchased a puppy from awesome lines, after doing much research, and are very happy in knowing that we made a wise decision. We drove almost 9 hours to Chicago to get him, but I would do it all over again.

 

[RolenKisses]

We drove almost 9 hours to Chicago to get him, but I would do it all over again.

Where in Chicago did you get your baby? Just Curious

 

[K8IE]

Where in Chicago did you get your baby? Just Curious

Villa Park. Of course we didn't have time to actually see the REAL Chicago, but we were close....

 

[Biff]

I do have one quick question: The original puppy we saw, I know the bitch is 1.5 years old so she's too young to have some tests, but which of the tests should she have done?

I plan to call them tonight, but I wanted to explain our decision and tell them what tests they are supposed to have done. While it probably is, is it too late to have them do the testing now and if they both pass clear then the puppies would be technically OK?

My fiancee is devastated because she met the puppy and it's breaking my heart. :(

If only it were that simple! They cannot show you papers for the dogs they are breeding, so you haven't a clue about the bloodlines, or what genetic faults they have. And honestly, I think buying one of those pups would be condoning their actions - I am still reeling from the fact that the bitch is just over a year old!

Please, please ask your fiance to join us here in the forum, and read through the very helpful information, and read the posts from people who have been conned the way you will be if you buy this pup.

Is it not worth waiting a wee bit longer for a pup from a reputable breeder that has a much better start in life?

 

[ehayes21]

There is a sticky at the top of this forum "health tests your breeder should do". That should cover it, and give you the info you need for when you speak with the breeder. You say your fiancee is devastated; please share with her the comments here, share with her the BYB sticky up top telling of the horrors and heartbreak people here at BW have suffered, then she can truly imagine the devastation she could be facing buying this little pup from a breeder who does not really care about the health of the pups they produce. Like Gmac says, buying from a reputable breeder does not give you 100% assurance that your pup will never have an issue, but if you are to gamble, you want the odds farther in your favor. And you do not want to support a breeder who is not doing things the right way, so hopefully they may start to do things the right way. We just purchased a puppy from awesome lines, after doing much research, and are very happy in knowing that we made a wise decision. We drove almost 9 hours to Chicago to get him, but I would do it all over again.

I would like to second what K8IE said...Read the BYB horror stories. It so worth the wait to have a healthy pup.

 

[ashp]

Well, I've heard from two seperate breeders, one a referral from the other.

The person I was referred to had me all excited, but then when I enquired about the testing I got told this:

Both sire and dam have heart checked echos and haulters no we did not do hips as that is not comon in boxers

The original person who gave me the referral seemed more organised about things and has a website with their showing, so I'm sure they are aware of the full range of testing.

So remember guys, hips aren't common in boxers, I guess they all wiggle around like worms!

 

[ehayes21]

So remember guys, hips aren't common in boxers, I guess they all wiggle around like worms!

Well that's a new one...:cool: Keep looking...and don't be afraid to travel out of state.
Rowdy, my first boxer was in Charlotte - 4 hour drive. Then I got Disco, she's from Milwaukee, WI. I had to meet her breeder at a show in Iowa to pick her up...that was a 14 hour drive from GA.

 

[ashp]

Had contact with another (really nice) breeder who again never mentioned hips, just heart. Am I wrong in thinking hips are a bigger problem than hearts for boxers? I think I've maybe made myself paranoid with all the stories.

When you show dogs and win championships, are there tests like hip tests you have to do to show? Maybe that's what the story is as her dogs are beautiful champions!

 

[gmacleod]

Hips aren't as big a problem as hearts. Two reasons - one is that heart issues are more common (it's a huge % of the population affected to some degree - have seen estimates of up to 60% in North America). Second (and rather important) is that heart problems kill, they don't just cause a bit of arthritis. So if you HAD to choose between the two (you don't, but if you did), take the one screening heart diseases every time.

That doesn't make hip dysplasia a minor issue, by any means. Nor it is remotely a rare problem in boxers (a condition doesn't make it into the screening programme recomended by the parent club, and a requirement in some countries because someone thought it would be a nice addition It's because it's a serious problem and debilitating condition.) But hearts are in another league (financially, as well as mortality).

 

[ashp]

Hips aren't as big a problem as hearts. Two reasons - one is that heart issues are more common (it's a huge % of the population affected to some degree - have seen estimates of up to 60% in North America). Second (and rather important) is that heart problems kill, they don't just cause a bit of arthritis. So if you HAD to choose between the two (you don't, but if you did), take the one screening heart diseases every time.

That doesn't make hip dysplasia a minor issue, by any means. Nor it is remotely a rare problem in boxers (a condition doesn't make it into the screening programme recomended by the parent club, and a requirement in some countries because someone thought it would be a nice addition It's because it's a serious problem and debilitating condition.) But hearts are in another league (financially, as well as mortality).

I'm probably outstaying my welcome by posting so much in my own thread, but I definitely appreciate the above response, it clarifies a lot of what I thought but wasn't sure on.

The breeder I spoke to told me this dog has had 0 VPCs so that seems to be good news from my understanding, and I figure to be champion dogs you must have had some hip checks along the way, otherwise with hip dysplasia you wouldn't do so well, she'll probably explain the deal with that testing in her next email as she's really on the ball with all this stuff, far more than me!