Correcting an overbite

[Eros]

My girl has a slight overbite, and her breeder suggested to give calcium supplements, such as cottage cheese. So, I've been giving her about a tablespoon of cottage cheese once a day. Any opinions on this? Is there a way to correct a slight overbite?

[rottcrazed]

Not to my knowledge. A bite problem MAY correct itself, but it is generally considered a hereditary fault and these puppies should never be bred.

How old is your dog?

Kristi

[BostonRott]

Overbites may correct with time, underbites almost never do.

I've never heard of calcium correcting an overbite, and the amt of calcium in 1T of cottage cheese is extremely negligable. If your dog is only for companion purposes, don't worry about the overbite, thousands of dogs live with them and have no problems. IF the dog is a show/breeding prospect, then the breeder needs to be kept appraised of the situation, and if it does not correct, she needs to fulfill her contractual obligations.

[Eros]

Because of this fault, I do not have plans to breed her. In fact, I can't get her AKC papers unless she is spayed. At first, I was giving her cottage cheese, but I didn't think it would make a difference. I haven't given her any in about 2 weeks, and I was wondering if it really does make a difference. She is 14 weeks.

[BostonRott]

It is illegal for a breeder to withold AKC registration papers. AKC frowns upon this greatly. The breeder can set you up with limited registration, but she owes you registration papers. I'd either be in contact with the breeder, or failing that, drop the AKC an email.

[Eros]

Wow, BostonRott, I had no idea that was true. The breeder did mention my dog would be under Limited Registration, but I didn't know she owed me registration papers right then. Thank you for this information. I will call this breeder right away!

[Eirian]

Perhaps the Breeder has a clause in your contract stipulating that your AKC papers will be provided to you upon proof of Spay or Neuter. If that's the case it wouldn't be illegal for the Breeder to withhold your Registration Papers. This is the way it works with the CKC.

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by Eirian

Perhaps the Breeder has a clause in your contract stipulating that your AKC papers will be provided to you upon proof of Spay or Neuter. If that's the case it wouldn't be illegal for the Breeder to withhold your Registration Papers. This is the way it works with the CKC.

AKC will issue Limited Registration papers no matter if the dog is spayed, neutered or not. Limited Registration simply prohibits any offspring of the dog to be eligible for registration.

If I were you and if you wanted to see if the bite would correct (we have had overbites correct as late at 20 months of age) I would simply ask your breeder for the Limited Registration papers (there should be no question of them issuing the Limited Registration papers) and wait to see what happens. If she is truly a show potential pup in all other respects, it is worth the wait.

[Patinka]

Please stay on topic. Start another thread about registration papers.