Myra wrote <Ok. I'll agree Charlotte, if you can help me to understand why it's okay for me to breed to the 9 month old, completely untested dual registered boy next door, but not okay for me to use an untested AKC only boy. Also, please tell me which tests would be required, and who makes the decisions about what tests are appropriate, what guidelines would be used, etc. At what age do we accept a murmur, at what age do we accept arthitic changes in the joints, at what age do we accept a cataract and at what age can the patellae start slipping? Who decides these things? Will a letter from your vet stating that he thinks there may have been an injury to the hip work, or just a letter from you? Which tests are most important and at what age should they have been administered in order to most correctly predict the genetic baggage that the dog is carrying versus age related disorders? Do we have to test for clotting disorders and diseases of the thyroid? Help me to understand how a bunch of laymen are going to determine all of the guidelines for health testing. I already asked this question once today and got not a single answer. Can you help me? Myra
Of course they can't help you Myra, because they are considering this issue through a tunnel. From the outside looking in I can tell you that it is not a pretty sight. Most of these people will never have sat up all night waiting for a bitch to whelp, had the heartbreak of seeing still born puppies or puppies that no matter how much effort and how many sleepless nights you have, you just can't save. Or witnessing the horrible things that mother nature can throw at you in a litter. Or having to hand rear a whole litter of puppies, run a house, hold down a job and remain sane. How any person can claim to love this breed but support a system that may not allow the best dogs to be used in a breeding programme is beyond me!! In the above example you forgot to include a fully tested cleared 10 year old male that is 30 pounds and has eyes the colour of a weimaraner. Being a breeder is about making the best choices to ensure that you bring typical, healthy in body and mind puppies into this world and yes sometimes even the most ethical get it wrong but it's not through lack of effort. And finally I want to say this to you, I really think that on the whole Cavaliers are a robust, healthy wee dog. Yes they have some health issues but in my almost 30 years in the breed I have found that if they are kept at a good weight and exercised that they live a good quality life into their teens. The odd one may get a little joint stiffness as they get older (9+) they do get a bit deaf and their eyesight may not be 100% (11+) but they are not this feeble, weak breed that some of you portray it. And before you jump in and say well it is not a healthy breed in the US then perhaps you should look at the club who has been the supposed caretaker of this breed for the answers. You'll note that I have changed the subject line, because again from the outside looking in that is all it is and as anyone knows there are seldom winners in a war. Janine King Nidra Cavaliers Invercargill, New Zealand [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.nidracavaliers.com ========================================================= "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 2002 by its original author.
