Hi, Winnie,
Winnie Clark wrote:
> Given the fact that health is obviously a huge concern (or should be) and a
> 'hot topic', I would think that those who DO test would certainly be screaming it
You know, I do have a problem with this. The problem is that testing
does NOT guarantee ANYTHING. If I sell you a pet or show pup who was
bred from parents who were heart clear at 2 1/2 and whose grandparents
were clear at age 5 it only means that the parents were clear the day
that they were tested. The next day (and for an unknown year later)
they could have developed a heart murmur. We, who test and don't yell
about it, do so with the thought that we're hoping against hope that it
will help delay onset of MVD and perhaps provide our breeding program
with the benefit of better and sounder dogs in terms of hips, eyes,
etc. After all, what breeder really WANTS those problems in their
dogs? Most good breeders aren't breeding to breed pets. I'm sorry to
say it that way, but we are striving to improve on what we have and
breed to have the next show prospect/breeding prospect for the next
generation. We are surely not breeding for sick dogs either.
So, then we care very much about the health of the dogs, but some of us
also care about the disingenuity of selling them as "tested" as if they
are now "free and clear of all problems for life". Even if I educate my
buyers and inform them of all that can go wrong, they will walk away
with the feeling that somehow I'm doing something better than other
breeders. And that is not true. And..............MOST
importantly.....it isn't worth more money to buy from breeders who
advertise "healthy pets" if they are simply doing the testing that
should be done. It should be a "given" in our breed that we have
cardiologists listen to our dog's hearts. For sure you should ask about
whether health testing has been done. You may well want also to ask
about longevity in the breeder's lines. But for heaven's sake, don't
think that the breeders who advertise are the only ones who test and
therefore pay more money for their prospects.
We, who don't advertise "healthy" pets are just a bit more circumspect
about genetics and false promises.
Winnie Clark wrote:
.......and using all their persuasive powers to encourage others to do
the same.
>
Now that is a VERY different thing with which I surely agree.
Suze
Winnie Clark wrote:
> Given the fact that health is obviously a huge concern (or should be) and a
> 'hot topic', I would think that those who DO test would certainly be screaming it
> .......and using all their persuasive powers to encourage others to do the same.
>
--
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
"...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
"Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
=========================================================
"Magic Commands":
to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
to start it up gain click here:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
