[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by TravisBlanchard

I have to speak up in the so-called BYB's defense as I am purchasing a pup from her and feel that some people rely too heavily on pieces of paper, which do not give you a 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong with your pup btw, and cannot as life is unpredictable.

Of course you can never 100% guarantee a healthy puppy. But you can try your hardest, by making sure your dogs have all proper health guarantees. Most genetic illnesses can be detected through special testing; if the mother and father have cleared, as well as their parents (and so on) the chances of your puppy having heart failure or HD drastically fall...in fact they fall so much the breeders are willing to guarantee the puppies for life! And if they do get sick, willing to pay for treatments ($$$$$)...and also, retire their 'breeding stock'.

Also, I have screened many so-called COE breeders both here in Canada and the U.S. and not one of them was willing to give me a 2yr guarantee against any health problems. Many peopler offer the 2yr guarantee that the pup will pass OFA examination but none have ever offered a 2yr guarantee against health problems

then you are calling the wrong breeders. A dog should be guaranteed against genetic disorders for life. Now if your dog falls and breaks his hip...of course, that has nothing to do with breeding.

The point I'm trying to make is that yes, you do take a risk buying from a site such as Kijiji, but buying a dog these days is risky no matter what you do, you could have paid $3,000.00 for a pup from a world class breeder and then fed your dog that tainted dog food and he could have died.

First, for a pet quality dog...even from the best breeders in the world, $3000 is outrageous! You can get a health guaranteed, pet quality puppy for $800-$1500.
Second....the whole accidental death thing confuses me...what does this have to do about breeders?

I do not wish to show my dog or try to get any points on him, I just want a companion who will love and obey me and I dont think you need a dog that costs $1,500.00 solely because it comes from a Champion sire or dam.

You do not need to pay anything in order to get a dog that loves and obeys you. The issue here is, what if you buy a dog that loves and obeys you...then you have to euthanize him at 18 months because of severely displastic hips. .

If you get a dog, even if it is from a puppy mill or a bad home which can be just as bad if not worse than a puppy mill as so many rescue dogs come from, if you are willing to invest the time, money, and love then you can pretty much turn around any dog and make it happy and a loyal companion.

yes, you can make most any dog into a well behaved and loyal dog...but that does not mean that he will live a long, healthy pain free life.

I am getting my dog as a pup and I will be taking him to the vet regularly, I am going to enroll in obedience classes, and I am even going to put off getting a summer job and spend my savings just so I can be there for my pup for the first 3 or 4 months of his life, and if anything medical ever goes wrong I will do all I can to help him so in the end he will be just as healthy and happy as any dog you might get from a registered "COE" breeder and I will not have paid the extra 500 or so just for the ability to brag about how he has Champion bloodlines.

Taking your dog to the vet does not prevent HD, heart failure, joint disease, or eye disease...all of which are very common in our breed...and can be prevented through careful testing and breeding. Sometimes no amount of $$ in the world can fix a dog .

Finally, the so-called BYB waited to know more about me and my knowledge of the breed, and took more notice in that knowledge than half of the registered, "COE" breeders I contacted, including the American.

because they want your money. most COE breeders have waiting lists...and are often times busy with their dogs (showing, whelping, training, testing)...so they may not have all that time to discuss puppies at that very second.

Originally Posted by TravisBlanchard

Just because the parents were registered and given OFA ratings does not guarantee that the pup will be free of such disorders as HD or SAS.

umm...actually it does, if done correctly (multi generations)

And the way you slam a breeder who doesn't have papers, is the same way that a person who has a Rottweiler from Romania or Germany can slam you for have a Canadian or American Imitation of the "real thing".

No one "slams" dogs due to the country they were born in.

Just so you know where I'm coming from, there are new studies suggesting that genetics do not play the role they were once thought to play when it came to pups forming such conditions as HD. Nothing is conclusive but some suggest genetics play no role, some say only 25%, and some still believe that genetics have everything to do with it.

please...list the sources to this information

Also there is a question as to how effective and accurate the current hip/bone screening process is, as used by the OFA. There are tests being done with a relatively new process called PennHip, and hips can be screened as early as 4 months.

PennHipp is more than 15 years old
Frequently Asked Questions

And yes, if something does happen where my pup dies or has to be put down the breeder will replace my pup, it is in a written contract, but no it will not be from the same parents..... I never once was pressured to buy a pup by the breeder, while other registered breeders were trying to push me into putting down a deposit. I realize that there is a chance I may regret going with this breeder, but then again you can get a pup from the best parents and still have something go wrong so really, what kind of sure fire way is there to guarantte 100% that your rotti will be healthy and nothing will happen to it?

You may not want a pup from the same breeder after the heartache she/he caused you the first time
If indeed you did talk with COE breeders, perhaps they were pressuring you b/c they have other interested parties??

I truly wish you the best of luck. I know many byb rotties who lived a long, healthy life...but I know many who didn't . Good luck in whatever you decide, but please be cautious.

Please keep in mind that MANY of the members here have purchased a dog from a BYB. Though they love(d) their dogs, they wish they had chosen a different breeder. Many of the activities you see yourself doing with your pup may not be possible if he has HD or heart issues.