First Dog

[Laird Lugton]

So I am in the market for a Labrador pup. We have come across a Kennel Club registered litter which all looked great until I asked about Hip, Elbow and Eye scores of the parents.

 

They've never been done because the pups grandparents were tested and all fine. I have the KC docs for the lineage of both parents but what are your thoughts on this?

[bigbird]

Depends what 'fine' is. If they were 0/0 for the last three generations on both sides I would bite their hand off... But that's unheard of.

I would ask them for the scores that have been done on their ancestors and make an calculated decision.

Still no guarantee, mind

If scores were only done on all four grandparents I would be looking at their other progeny's scores. Tricky one..

[fenboy]

My personal opinion is that there will be more than enough puppies out there where the parents have been checked so I see little point in taking the risk .

I know people that have had pups with no background checks at all and they have been fine but I also knew one guy who had to have a 6 month old dog PTS because its hips were so bad.

[Laird Lugton]

Thanks for the input. The sire's parents have hips of 4/4 and 6/7 with eyes on both unaffected. The dam's parents hips have not been tested according to the KC website and the eyes on one (other wasn't tested) have come back "affected HC" which is Hereditary Cataract.

 

As you say fenboy there are plenty out there....

[al4x]

When you look at it why would you breed labs without doing the required tests, it just shows a lack of interest in what they are doing.

Personally I look for a dog with decent health tests and an owner who has bred for a reason. The best is for a pup and I like it to be someone who doesn't churn out litters every few months

[kent]

Forget that litter

Many non tested have had x- ray done vet takes a look and says not to great so it don't go off for scoring

Key wants should be hips and elbows both parents genetic testing on eyes at least one parent( eye certs just mean the dog wasn't showing signs at the time)

Most extra you will pay for a puppy genetically clear on eyes with scores on hips and elbows is £ 100 based on ten years that's a tenner a year

Even so there is no cast iron guarantee of good hips etc but you up the odds considerably

The labrador is the world's most popular pet and working dog in the world you can afford to be choosy

Myself I am still waiting of the right next pup started looking in September

[Laird Lugton]

Thanks for all the advice, I have decided to keep looking.

[JDog]

Apart from the financial gain I can never see any reason why anyone would breed from Labradors without good hips and eye scores.

[did i miss]

On that note what would be a good score for dam and sire to breed from

[fenboy]

On that note what would be a good score for dam and sire to breed from

 

Any thing from about 11 downwards taking the two figures together is a good starting point but the lower the better.

My latest pups dam and sire were 3/4 and 3/3 elbow scores should be much lower 0/0 being ideal .

[did i miss]

So sire 2/2

Dam 3/2

And elbow 0 on both sides is ok or not bad

[fenboy]

So sire 2/2

Dam 3/2

And elbow 0 on both sides is ok or not bad

 

Those would be very good.

[did i miss]

Thanks for that mate iv asked this befor but have you or anyone no what the letters are after the dog sire and dams name meen

Dogs name (ar2)

Dams name (ap1)

Sire name (ag2)

[fenboy]

Thanks for that mate iv asked this befor but have you or anyone no what the letters are after the dog sire and dams name meen

Dogs name (ar2)

Dams name (ap1)

Sire name (ag2)

 

No sorry I am not familiar with those letters / numbers , hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly !

[did i miss]

Thanks fenboy looks like i may have to ask the kennel club

[PERCE]

ar = 2014 ap = 2012 I'm assuming that you're looking at a KC pedigree paper?

[did i miss]

Thanks for that been bugging me for ages that has

Edited January 29, 2016 by did i miss