Any Breeders out there??

Question

I have noticed that a lot of health questions are asked about certin breeds and their suseptible disease ex: I bred bullmastiffs, they have several direct health related issues that should be checked for and guaranteed for if bought from a breeder. This question is to help others get direct information about health problems in certin breeds.

I invite every breeder to respond with their breeds pro's and con's to help further educate the general public.

Also include behaviours such as same sex aggression, dominace and trainability. What works for them and what doesn't work. Give every interested owner on this network a chance to know your fav breed in both favoritble and unfav. light perhaps eliminating some of the hearsey and myths

Its great to hear the cons with the pros from everyone. This is what I was hoping for. I hope this helps some of you out there.

Bullmastiffs

Pro's: inactivity makes for great apartment dog. Non vocal, minimum shedding. great with kids and livestock. 100%loyal and great personal watch dog as they don't make good kenneled dogs perfering to be with their family and will go bad if left alone. Patient and kind easy keeper.

Cons: hip and joint problems, bloat, eye problems, sever allergies in southren regions. Sinus problems due to short muzzel. Bad for hot and humid locations or exterem cold. We live in northern Alberta Canada and the dogs need constant heat during the winter. Their short noses cause breathing difficulties. Short noses cause them to freeze up more readily. Fertility and procration problems with high number of death amoung new born pups and high c-section rate. Problems with natural breeding leading to higher AI be it surgical or otherwise.

They are stuborn and same sex aggressive. My alpha will tolerate male border collie pup but not our other female bully. However, they are easily corrected with voice which makes training easier but also makes for a more sensitive dog which has its own pro/con b/c dog will be great to control with voice but may become spiteful or obsessive compulsive like Kenya who will do something(including peeing on my side of the bed)if I leave in only my jeep which she considers hers. Not the truck or other vehicals but just when I leave in the jeep. They are patient and kind. Great for small children and babies. five stars and two thumbs up!

Their life expectancy is low and drooling is high so only true lovers will see their charm. Did I also mention expensive? Not only purchase price but cost of caring for this dog can reach thousands in vet bills over a life time

Answer 1

Breed: Siberian huskies

Pros:
Beautiful, athletic, intelligent. Easy keepers -- don't require as much food as other breeds of similar size. Friendly toward dogs and people alike. Affectionate.

Cons:
"Blow coat" twice a year; can be noisy and destructive if bored; not loyal (highly independent); small animal killers; MUST be fenced/on-lead at all times; require a lot of exercise.

Major health problems in the breed:
Eye disease (juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, glaucoma); some incidence of hip dysplasia; epilepsy and thyroid problems are becoming an issue (genetics or environment? Still out.). Irritable bowel problems in poorly bred dogs. I've also seen kidney problems in poorly bred dogs.

Trainability:
Excellent, or poor -- depending on who you ask. :) They learn very quickly, but will only do things if they see a "point" -- very much a "What's in it for me?" attitude. You being the "master" and telling them to isn't enough. They will refuse to come when you call them, but learn that a treat means, "Sit" faster than any other breed I've seen.

This is not the breed for everyone. Research carefully, and screen your breeders even more carefully!

http://www.shca.org/shcahp2b.htm
http://www.shca.org/shcahp2a.htm
http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/huskies.html

Answer 2

Well, I breed St. Bernards and if they are not bred properly they will have hip displasia.

I haven't really seen any aggression with my St's except when they have their babies. Normally the mother & father are really protective of their young if they have direct contact shortly after birth.

My St's are well behaved because we started teaching them things when they were very young. I had one that was house trained at 7 weeks. (Female's are easier to house train.)

They have wonderful temperments, and though they may have a big bark, my St's are never aggressive unless they think me or my husband are in harms way.

We've also got other breeds of dogs meirly for pets, and the St's love them and we have never had an aggression problem with the with the big dogs against the smaller dogs.

They are also great with children, and they are always gentle. :o)

The life expectancy for a St. Bernard is only 8 years, but if you keep them healthy, with plenty of space to exercise (To keep them from getting over weight), then you can expect a longer life out of them.

One more piece of info, some St's are wet mouths, which means they drool, and some are dry mouths, and this means they don't drool.
All of my St's are dry mouths, so the drooling stereo type isn't always true.

Answer 3

I have a Coton de Tulear, this breed does not shed or have dander. There are very few problems with this breed of dog. Most of them are not health issues. Like blue eyes, not brown or a taller version of Coton and silky coat not a cotton like coat (in which they were named). They are relatively health dogs with no major health problems but some common test would be CERF, thyroid, OFA (patella, elbows, hips), cardiac and blood panel.

Answer 4

I have the pit bull terrier, i know alot of people say or think that this breed is very agressive.

I truly believe that it really depends on the breeder, i have had
lots of differnt kinds of breeds of dogs big and small. personally i think the chihuahua is more agressive. my husband and i used to run a small dog shelter from our home and worked with all kinds of personalities.

most dogs had been abused and with the right amount of time and paitience, you can change any animal into a well behaved loving one.

in the end we decieded to just shelter the pitbulls and rescued a couple that had been mistreated. it was very hard to socialize them, but after gainning their trust, they did turn out to be loyal dogs. i never placed some in homes because they showed signs of displacment.

i do recommend that if looking to have a pitbull to be sure and do plenty of research b-4 committing to buy. there are a lot of breeders out there that do not know what they are doing.

breeding dogs the wrong way could cause health probablems like : car sickness, breast cancer (after having puppies), under bites, and sometimes an untrainable dog not a stupid dog, but one that needs more attention.

i have also seen that do to nature some dogs will always be more agressive than others. some call them the alpha male or female. this does not mean the biggest puppy of the litter. being alpha certain puppies will take charge over just about anything including owners. It is very important if choosing an alpha do not plan on getting another dog unless that of the opposite sex.

the pitbull adult alpha will sometimes accept another dog only if opposite sex and if same sex if still very small puppy. please be aware that even if the alpha accepts same sex puppy there can always be very seriuos problems once the puppy has matured into adult life.

i have had problems with both male and female adult pits eating food that contained red food dye!!!! this is very inportant, both sex were affected by the red dye and only the female was found to have cancer in her lower intestine. signs of this include:
-less eating
-water not being taken in
-vomitting
-bloting of the stomach
-inactivity
-bleeding (either from stool, urine, and vomitt)

my veternarian has informed me not to feed any dog food that contains red dye to any bully breed, because of the increased chances of devloping cancerous cells.

thank goodness that my male was alright and my female was able to recover after surgery with no problems.

i curently have bother blue pits in my back yard, and had no problem until they reach adult hood. even though they are very obedient, and trained to do my every comand, they have tries to test each other to the point that i had to place shock collars on both dogs, to prevent furthur agresstion to each other. after 3 months of training, both have shown a complete change in character towards each other.

i also have a female that has been fixed and shows no agresstion what so ever.

my other female however was raised to be a guard dog due to suspicious behavior in the neighborhood. And has been trained to be on guard, stand by, or leave depending on the situation. She will not attack unless to do so by me or my husband.

I also have a carver alpha male that has taken well with all other dogs unless one that does not belong to me. he is my oldest dog i have and also very spoiled. when adopted he was very agressive and would not take to anybody, or any dog. he now currently barks at people but once entering my yard will roll over and begged to be scratched.

the other male we just accepted and is almost adult. we are curently working with his hyperness. he is also very sociable, like a baby most people have disbcribed him. this one has been the hardest to train but is getting better.

all dogs have been given the time and attention needed to get them to be what i needed or wanted them to be. all dogs are trained not to leave the yard even if gate is left open. and all dog are sociable on command.

most females show sign of bladder leaks when puppys and only when excited or being corrected.

i personally love this breed and have found them to be very smart and sometimes difficult to train. i advice not to commit to this breed unless absolutly have the time to spend with them. childern are ok around the breed as long as dog does not show any agression toward property like food/water bowl, toys, or dog house, including seeing child as property.

also note that not only the pitbull is posessive, any breed can be. The pitbull does have a bad rep. due to the media and those bad seeds that choose to fight them. the pitbull is considered very dangerous due to the fact that they do lock their jaws shut. no other breed can do this, and if they choose to they can unlock it. if you have any ?s please feel free to ask [e-mail] i will be happy to answer ur ?s

Answer 5

Here's the information that I gave to new owners with the Great Dane puppies that they got from me. It's a lot of information, and it's just the tip of the iceberg from the packets that I provided to them. If I put it all here, it would overwhelm most readers.

Today, correctly bred Great Danes have a gentle and loving disposition that makes them a wonderful family companion. Their primary asset in training is their desire to please. It is imperative that your puppy be well socialized from the time you bring it home; kindergarten puppy classes for puppies three to six months old are strongly recommended. These classes should be followed with a basic obedience class. Your puppy will grow as much his first year as a child grows in fourteen years. It is vital that you provide it with the basic structure and consistent training that every puppy needs to make it a happy and well-adjusted member of your family.

Great Danes should be raised in the house as a family member; they do not do well as yard dogs, although they do need a fenced yard for exercise and playtime. Just as you would not leave older siblings alone with a baby, young children should never be left unattended with your puppy or dog. Because a puppy is not a toy, children must be taught the correct way to interact with a puppy; fair play and respect are a must. Puppies often think of toddlers as other puppies since they are close to the same size and make similar sounds. As the parent, you must teach and monitor correct behavior on the part of the child and the puppy. Puppies chew on each other, wrestle, and growl to determine their pack structure. With correct and consistent training, your puppy will learn that your children are not puppies, but small humans. Quick movements and high-pitched squealing will excite a puppy or dog while loud, harsh corrections will confuse and intimidate it. Dogs learn through consistency and repetition, with love and positive reinforcement. The adults in your household must assume the role of pack leader in order for your puppy to grow up secure and confident.

We also recommend crate training your puppy. The crate, when placed in the living area of your home, will become your puppies "den." Keep soft, washable bedding and toys in the crate; newspapers just inside the crate door can help with the baby accidents. The crate door should be left open while you are at home with the puppy so that it can go to the den at will. Children should be taught that they are never to bother the puppy when it is in its den - this is a safe place. The puppy should also sleep in its crate until it is old enough to sleep through the night without accidents. If you do not have room for a crate in your bedroom, be sure to leave soft music and a large, stuffed toy for it at night so that it does not feel completely alone. You should also use a crate or seatbelt harness in your vehicle for the same reasons that your child rides in a car seat.

Great Danes are predisposed to a number of health problems. An ethical private breeder will screen his breeding stock for specific diseases and make clearance certificates available to prospective puppy parents.

We recommend that you have your puppy spayed or neutered before puberty. Many behavioral problems are hormone related. By making the responsible decision to spay or neuter, you will make your pet much easier to train and protect it from mammary or prostrate cancer. You will also not produce unplanned puppies and set a very good example for your neighbors and friends.


The Great Dane Club of America Web Page (http://www.gdca.org) contains a great deal of useful information. We also recommend the following books:

* The Great Dane: Dogdom's Apollo by Nancy Caroll Draper (no longer imprint - check the library)
* Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog and Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence by Carol Lea Benjamin (Howell)
* Super Puppy: How to Raise the Best Dog You Will Ever Have (Super Puppy Press)
* The New Complete Great Dane by noted authorities (Howell)


Inherited and other health concerns in the Great Dane

The following health conditions have been identified in the Great Dane.
Items so marked () can be identified through testing.

Screening tests are not currently available for the other conditions listed. Conditions thought to involve significant & direct inheritance are noted. For those purchasing a pet or intending to breed: it is important to know the health status before breeding any dog or *****. Clinically affected dogs, i.e., those dogs exhibiting symptoms for conditions considered serious and heritable should generally NOT be bred and health screenings (where available) are certainly recommend. Please note that the text below is intended as an aid to those seeking health information on the breed, and should not be used to form a diagnosis replacing regular veterinary care by a qualified veterinarian.

DCM: CARDIOMYOPATHY - is suspected to be an inherited disease in the Great Dane and current (preliminary) research indicates that this disease may be sex-linked in our breed. Research is ongoing. An echocardiogram of the heart will confirm the disease but will not guarantee that the disease will not develop in the future. Regular exams on breeding stock are recommended. There are some congenital heart defects also occasionally found in the breed. For an in-depth article on the subject, see "Heart Disease in the Great Dane."

K9HD: HIP DYSPLASIA - is an inherited disease with multi-factorial expression. Clinically the disease may be seen as simply poor rear end conformation or lessened athleticism to such malformation of the hip joint that the dog becomes crippled. It is recommend that breeding stock be Xrayed as normal. OFA and PennHIP both offer certification programs.


HYPOTHYROIDISM - in dogs is generally the result of a heritable disorder of the immune system. This condition results when the thyroid gland is not producing enough hormone to adequately maintain the dog's metabolism. Happily, it is easily treated with thyroid replacement pills. Thyroid testing (T4, TSH and autoantibodies) on breeding stock should be performed on a routine basis. Finding autoantibodies to thyroglobulin is normally an indication that the dog has autoimmune thyroiditis. Low thyroid dogs, manifested by a high TSH and a low T4, should be treated and monitored on a regular basis. Dogs with confirmed thyroid abnormalities should not be bred. See the Hypothyroidism update article.

CATARACTS - although not common, cataracts have been described in the Great Dane and can be blinding. Eyelid abnormalies (e.g. entropion) are also not unheard of in the breed. For breeding stock a CERF exam can insure that the eyes are normal in all aspects. See CERF data for the breed.

GDV: Bloat - is the number one killer of Great Danes & Great Danes are the #1 breed at risk for bloat. For reasons not fully understood, in certain deep-chested breeds in particular, the stomach distends, then has a tendency to rotate, which cuts off the blood supply to various parts of the body, as well as effectively shutting down digestion. This condition is extremely painful as well as a true emergency that is rapidly life-threatening. A dog with a bloated, twisted stomach (technically called "Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus") will die in great pain in a matter of hours unless drastic steps are taken: surgery is normally necessary. The reasons for GDV are currently not understood, however most would agree that multiple small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes can help reduce the chances of bloat. Many breeders and owners of Great Danes consider a surgery called a prophylactic gastropexy ("preventative tack") which can help prevent some of the more serious aspects of GDV. Discuss this with your veterinarian and your Dane's breeder.

CVI: Wobblers - is a result of pressure on the spinal cord in the neck region and results in a "drunken" gait & increasing instability. It it thought to result from a combination of nutritional effects and inherited traits and is considered a form of DOD (Developmental Osteodystrophy) along with such as OCD. Great Danes are considered at risk for Wobblers. CVI stands for Cervical Vertebral Instability.

HOD and Pano - these are painful conditions of the bones that occur during the rapid growth phase of puppyhood causing lameness and general malaise. By far HOD is the more serious one and can be deadly. Pano is usually self-limiting and may not need treatment. HOD stands for Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. Pano is short for Panosteitis.

Recommended health certifications - see the AKC-CHF's CHIC program for GDCA recommended health certifications.