Genetics and Temperment Flaws

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oldandnew

Active member
We seem to get a lot questions throughout the forum about seemingly inherited negative physical/or physiological traits in dogs, ranging from seizures to sharp unstable dispositions. I even consider some cases of gunshyness to be passed down through the genetic line. Bad hips, are the original example, used to see a lot of bad bites, in field pointers. Degenerative eye disease, in retrievers. It seems to me that the buyer of a pup or dog should have the reasonable expectation that all has been done, PRIOR, to breeding that will assure a long living sound companion. As an example, I have a french britt, dog is a fool for water, has ear canals which do not drain effectively, he's otherwise a star, I won't breed him because I don't want to be treating ear troubles 3 generations from now. I want to know the opinions of the forum participants. Some of you have bought dogs which have issues, Some of us sell dogs as well. How do we address these issues, I for one would not buy a dog from stock which was "preliminary clear" through OFA, though I see that very ad frequently in sporting dogs. How bout it forumers?
 
I basically feel the same way. I am not getting what you mean with the OFA deal other then you mean people breed the dog before the two year maturity evaluation. If thats what you mean I am with you. How ever I did that on 1 occasion where the dog had CERF, PRA,PFK testing and has all the tools and physical traits you want to pair with. My dog was a Male actually Odie. He was going to be 2, less then 1 month after the breeding. I opted for a prelim. It was excelant. So I did the breeding. This was an exceptional circumstance, and I did not want to wait 1 year for that month. I did the new xray a day or so after his Bday. He was slightly tipped to one side, which made me mad, and it was good. Thats the only time in history I did that. Had it been a bitch or more months, I would not have. I won't breed them unless they at least have a score of Good.

Many traits can be inherited. Many can be man made as well. A dog that is snappy for example can easily be created by human error and poor treatment by man or beast. This is a good reason to find someone you are comfortable getting a dog from that understands these things. Most times you will see the same bad trait in more then just 1 or 2 of the offspring. Most things are mapped out pretty well if a person just looks for it.
One way to put it, if you look for a dog with that "It" factor, You look and see a National field champ you like. That dog has a hundred pups that compete, none did well. You have another successful dog but never placed in a National, he has 100 pups, but 60 became champions. Which one would you buy into.
 
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