Michael wrote: << Why should a puppy have to continue to eat something she actively dislikes with the exception of live preserving medication? Why? Because the breeder said so? With all due respect to all the breeders out there, but surely diet recommendations should be just that - recommendations. To facilitate matters for both puppy and new owner. To make it a STIPULATION what another person's dog - and yes, if the puppy has been sold it IS another person's dog -should and shouldn't eat is dictatorial and is taking matters too far. What a breeder chooses to feed his own dogs isn't gospel nor should it be. I think we can safely say that there is more than one decent brand of dog food on the market and that many dog owners are a lot more educated about diet than some breeders. >>
Michael, As a breeder, I read your post and cringed. From a PO perspective, you made some points I'm certain many POs would make. I've been a PO. And I'm now a breeder. Things look much different from a breeder's perspective. I was glad to read that you understand the concept of quality food versus non-quality food and that there are many diet chocies available. But it was apparent you do not understand the impact a specific food choice can have versus another food choice on a growing large breed puppy. Further, growth rates can vary depending on pedigrees. A wise breeder will know which foods/diets work best with the pedigrees they breed. This is why a PO should pay close attention to their breeder's diet recommendations. Equally, a good breeder will understand the value of working with a PO toward a diet the puppy/dog prospers on. And this should be done with the understanding that one diet choice probably may not be the permanent solution. A good breeder will have many experienced alternatives to suggest and be most concerned about finding a good solution for that puppy. >From talking w/many other breeders, I find a common pet peeve for breeders is when a PO decides to'do their own thing' about diet choices. Then they return to the breeder (or rescue puppy placer) at a later date, and ask why is their dog's ortho or gastric system or fur coat, etc. all messed up (as if they are not at all responsible for the food choices they made which helped create the situation). Your point is well made about the ownership of the dog: certainly the PO is the owner. But my point here is that if that PO respected that breeder enough to purchase a puppy from, then perhaps an intelligent response should be to also respect diet choices from that respected breeder, too. The question is not 'who has the power to make the decision'. The question is 'who is better qualified to make the decision'. Having said that, if I were a regular PO who bought a puppy from a breeder, and that breeder absolutely refused to work with me about diet choices that my puppy would actually eat, then I'd be a PO who found another quality breeder to mentor me about diet choices. And I would listen to them, realizing they are more qualified about Berner diet than me. I hope I wouldn't be ignorant enough to think I knew best about diet for my puppy irregardless of what either breeder told me. And if they don't have the answer, its unlikely that I, as a regular PO, would have a better answer. At that point, I would seek the help of a professional, licensed canine nutritionist (NOT a vet). A good breeder spends much time educating POs on everything from diet, to crate training, to behavior problem-solving, etc. It can be exhaustive, especially when you consider how many POs a breeder deals with. While the PO has the ownership and daily decisions to make, its a wise PO who chooses a good breeder to mentor them in these things. And that's a puppy with a great chance at a happy future. If your dogs have prospered on whatever you've fed them, and you've never returned to your breeder with diet-related problems, good for you and great for your dogs. But let me assure you that there are plenty of POs where the opposite is true. Just chatting from another viewpoint, Esther Wilson Wilpower Kennels __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
