OVC certs

[Dimitri]

does anyone have a photo/scanned imaged of what a OVC certification looks like?

[brunie's mom]

Very few good breeder do only OVC certs...most of them do OFA's also.
Is this breeder a member of the RCC?

The OVC certs is just a big piece of paper...with OVC letterhead. I don't have one...but I have seen them.

Gina

[Ayoka]

Since one can't link to breeders....do a search for "OVC certification" in google Images and one comes up. It's on U of Guelph letterhead.

They now have an online database but not many rotties are on there yet..maybe because they need owner permission to post results or else rottie breeders just don't use it that often.

http://hipdysplasia.ovc.uoguelph.ca/SearchAdvanced.cfm

[Dimitri]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Since one can't link to breeders....do a search for "OVC certification" in google Images and one comes up. It's on U of Guelph letterhead.

They now have an online database but not many rotties are on there yet..maybe because they need owner permission to post results or else rottie breeders just don't use it that often.

http://hipdysplasia.ovc.uoguelph.ca/SearchAdvanced.cfm

okay now i feel dumb, thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[Dimitri]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

Very few good breeder do only OVC certs...most of them do OFA's also.
Is this breeder a member of the RCC?

The OVC certs is just a big piece of paper...with OVC letterhead. I don't have one...but I have seen them.

Gina

Yes, the breeder in question is a member of the RCC

http://labontecanine.com/images/900/Eddy-OVC.jpg

[brunie's mom]

That's why most of the good breeders go to OFA...they at least get a grade of Fair, Good, or Excellent. For OVC, it's one vet's opinion....for OFA, I believe it's 3 vets looking at the x-rays.

Glad to hear that they are at least a member of the RCC...but that does not mean that all members are good breeders. For litter listing to be posted on the RCC website...the breeder must present the OFA 's of sire and dam of the future litter...and it must be for hips, elbows, eyes and heart.

Gina

[Dimitri]

Gina,

they are members of the RCC and they are in good standing order with the CKC. I called them (CKC) up and asked for information on the kennel and to see if there were any blimps on the screen. the CKC came back to say that they have been registered for nine years and they do not have one complaint on file. I believe this is a positive step forward, though i will be grilling him and her a bit more as they plan on being at the Barrie show this upcoming weekend. Right now I'm still digging around and making sure I don't leave any stone unturned in finding the dog I've always wanted. I wish I could speak to you offlist as so I could pick your mind, but posting of emails are against the board's rules.

[Dimitri]

also, how update is the OFA website with all the its certifications? is it updated on a daily/monthly/yearly basis?

[rottcrazed]

Jewel was OVCd before I OFAd her. I have not bothered to list her OVC numbers on the OVC site (they were done in 2004), but they are listed on her OFA page so I don't feel the need (that, and I only plan to do OFA in the future anyway) ....

Kristi

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

That's why most of the good breeders go to OFA...they at least get a grade of Fair, Good, or Excellent. For OVC, it's one vet's opinion....for OFA, I believe it's 3 vets looking at the x-rays.

Glad to hear that they are at least a member of the RCC...but that does not mean that all members are good breeders. For litter listing to be posted on the RCC website...the breeder must present the OFA 's of sire and dam of the future litter...and it must be for hips, elbows, eyes and heart.

Gina

Not to be picky ( OK I AM being picky ) BUT the RCC COE says that breeders must "Breed only dogs whose hips have been certified clear by the OVC, OFA or an FCI-recognized authority and, if born after Jan 1st, 2005, whose heart has been OFA certified."

Also the web site does say that if no clearance #is available (i.e. imports tested in home country) then copies of the clearance/certification must be sent to the webmaster before a litter is posted.

In fact you will see a litter listed with no OFA clearances...but from parents that have been health tested.

I don't know about any real study that has gone into how the same exact x-rays are evaluated each system but it would be interesting. OVC tests at a younger age but I'm not sure even with OFA prelims how many ratings actually change from 18 months to 24 months.

I found a dog that is certified under both OVC and OFA. OVC says elbows clear of displaysia when the dog was 24 months old and OFA says DJD in one elbow when the dog was 45 months old. It makes me wonder if the DJD was missed or could have occured in that 24 month period between x-rays...it IS a degenerative disease.

In another interesting aside, OFA lists OVC numbers...which show up in a dog's profile if it is certified by both organisations

Would I trust a RCC COE breeder with OVC'd (or other certification)dogs? Maybe if I could trace the puppy's ED & HD pedigree. If the breeder could demonstrate to me a low (or even better NO) incidence of these diseases in a puppy's pedigree I would be satisfied that they had done their homework and were seriously interested in inproving the breed.

[brunie's mom]

I've heard of many breeders that had OFA elbows, and one elbow come back with DJD 1, then send the x-rays to OVC come back as normal!

There is a complaint that OFA does not take into consideration a few things with elbows such as a poor quality x-ray that may show a slight smude...and then OFA considers it DJD.

I believe that elbows and hips can be certified by 18 months for OVC.

As I said...most good breeders in Canada...do OFA and some do both.

Gina

[rottcrazed]

For litter listing to be posted on the RCC website...the breeder must present the OFA 's of sire and dam of the future litter

Not true - they just have to have hips, hearts if born after 2005. I am the webmaster, I put up the listings. I need to be able verify what people say the dog has been tested for, but it doesn't HAVE to be for the 4 big ones.

As to the OVC passing some while OFA fails them on their elbows, that is my Jewel (DJDI UL). She was OVCd at 19 months and OFAd at 42 months. However, dogs with DJDII via OFA can and have passed OVC. My thinking is that there are WAY TOO MANY discrepancies in how elbows are graded .... that said, I also know of a dog (I know the dog and his breeder so this is out of her mouth) who passed OVC for his hips but who came back moderately dysplastic in one hip through OFA.

Kristi

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by rottcrazed

Not true - they just have to have hips, hearts if born after 2005. I am the webmaster, I put up the listings. I need to be able verify what people say the dog has been tested for, but it doesn't HAVE to be for the 4 big ones.

As to the OVC passing some while OFA fails them on their elbows, that is my Jewel (DJDI UL). She was OVCd at 19 months and OFAd at 42 months. However, dogs with DJDII via OFA can and have passed OVC. My thinking is that there are WAY TOO MANY discrepancies in how elbows are graded .... that said, I also know of a dog (I know the dog and his breeder so this is out of her mouth) who passed OVC for his hips but who came back moderately dysplastic in one hip through OFA.

Kristi

The discrepancies are kind of scary...no matter which registry is "better". With one pass & one fail, either dogs that aren't OK are being bred or dogs that are are being removed from the genetic pool. If I was a breeder it would be a tough call to "pick" which certification I would believe.

I'd like to put the OVC reviewers and OFA reviewers in a room with the exact same x-ray and listen to THAT conversation!!!

[Dimitri]

this breeding business is getting to be more and more confusing as I go along. here i thought horse breeders were the worst of them all, but it would appear that the dog world is not far behind! Can't we just have one good standard?

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

If I was a breeder it would be a tough call to "pick" which certification I would believe.

If I was a breeder (which I'm not), I would err on the side of caution. I would also note that 3 separate opinions trump 1 opinion alone.