| ebony:
Going the breeder route doesn't necessarily guarantee you anything because there are no guarantees for good or bad in life. I don't wish your comment "I would never go into getting a Rottie Blindly. It is one of the reasons I didn't rescue I couldn't afford another mishap" to be misconstrued. (First of all, I'm sure we're all agreed that one should *never* acquire a pet "blindly.")
This past summer we had to put our 8 yr Riga down from complications due to nasal carcinoma. Her mom had a string of impressive titles (including SchH III) and had all sorts of health clearances. Riga's father also was titled and had health clearances. Riga's mom just died at 14; her father died at 9 from cancer. Going the breeder route may improve your chances of getting a healthy dog, but please don't think it's a guarantee because genes are so much of a crap shoot.
Some dogs in rescue have their hips x-rayed when they're neutered or spayed. When our latest rescue was spayed, her hips were x-rayed. While Mox was around 6 mo old at the time & who knows what her hips will be like at 2, her hips now are excellent. You can get a perfectly healthy, fine dog thru rescue.  |