Cane Corso
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Please take your time to educate yourself first before you go to pet store or look into the newspaper to buy a puppy. There are breeders will not test their stocks for genetic defects. You may come home with a sick puppy and later realize you didn't get any supports from your local breeder. Questions To Ask Your Breeder Plan ahead...Original article written by the Rottweiler Club of New Mexico and modified with permission by Liz Bauer.
1. Are both the sire and dam of the litter O.F.A. certified?
Correct answer: Yes, both sire and dam are OFA certified. I can show you copies of the OFA certificates. (You should also ask for the OFA numbers and you can cantact the OFA Registry)
Incorrect answer: Oh, no, we don't have an OFA certification, but the hips are "clear". Our vet checked them out. I don't really know if the sire's hips are ok or not. Hang up the phone and end the conversation here. If the hips were not certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, then you don't know if hip displasia is present or not. Many "breeders" will tell you the hips are "clear" meaning they had a vet who was probably not a Board Certified radiologist look at the hips and say they looked OK. *Unless the Vet is Board Certified, he doesn't really know what he's looking at.
THESE DISEASES ARE THE RESULT OF COMBINATIONS OF MUTIPLE GENES, THEREFORE CERTIFICATION OF THE PARENTS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE PUPPIES WILL BE DISEASE FREE. ASK FOR A CONTRACT WHICH GUARANTEES AGAINST ALL GENETIC DISORDERS.
2. Are either the sire or and the dam titled in conformation or working trials such as Schutzhund, AKC obedience, German or AKC style conformation shows?
Correct answer: Yes, the dam has her C.D. (an AKC obedience title) and is in training for her BH (a Schutzhund obedience and temperament title) which we hope to complete next year. She has also been shown in the German breed ring and was rated V-2, I can give you a copy of her critique (German shows provide each dog with a written critique of the dogs conformation). The sire is pointed (in order to become an AKC champion, a dog must accumulate 15 points. When someone says to you that a dog is pointd that means that it has some points towards its championship title, but has not yet accumulated the 15 points necessary to be a champion), and has a Schutzhund three (a German title involving tracking, obedience and protection).
Incorrect answer: Well, no, we've never shown our bitch. We just bought her as a pet. But I know she's a good quality Rottweiler because she has champions in her pedigree, and we paid a lot of money for her. (Translation: We do not know, nor do we care about the future of the Rottweiler breed. We spent a lot of money for this dog, and we want to make money selling her puppies. We do not want to bother with hip x-rays, dog shows, obedience training, or learning about the strengths and weaknesses of our bitch's bloodlines because that takes time and money.....)
3. Why did you decide to breed your female?
Correct answer: We feel that she is a good representative or the Rottweiler breed and has something to offer to perpetuate the desirable qualities of the breed. For example, she has demonstrated her working ablility by earning an AKC obedience title. She has a lovely head, which you don't see very often in a bitch. She has a very dark eye, nice small ears, full detention and a scissors bite, an iron topline, and very fluid movement. Both of her parents are titled. She comes from a litter of 6 puppies and of those 6, 4 have already finished conformation and/or obedience titles, and 3 have earned Schutzhund titles. Also, of the 6 puppies, 5 are OFA certified. We searched for a male that complimented her and found one we like in Chicago, so we sent her there to be bred. We didn't want to breed her unless we found the right male for her. The sire of the litter has produced several schutzhund, obedience titled and champion offspring, so we know he has the ability to pass on his good qualities.
Incorrect answer: We spent several hundred dollars for this dog and we wanted to get back some of our investment. Besides, she's a beautiful bitch. She has perfect markings, and she has a great pedigree. There are 20 champions in 5 generations! We also wanted to keep a puppy for ouselves. (What this person is telling you is that he/she is only breeding their dog for the sake of making money. They may not be doing this maliciously... But they by no means have taken the time and effort to prove this bitch's quality, and he probably bred to the closest and cheapest male. He may even own the stud dog as well. When someone says their dog has a "championship bloodline", they usually meant that the great-grandparents have a championship title. Seldom will the parents or the grand-parents be titled. The great-grandparents are too far removed genetically to have a great influence on the quality of these puppies. Once again, hang up!)
4. Have both the sire and dam been tested for genetic defects such as hypothyroidism, cataracts, sub-aortic stenosis, or von Willebrands Disease (a bleeding disorder)? Is there any history or entropian or ectropian in the bloodlines?
Correct answer: Yes, both sire and dam have been tested and are certified free of the above defects. I'll be happy to give you the number of my vet so that you can call him/her and inquire about my dog's health history. I can also give you the name and phone number of the stud dog's owner so that you can get the same information on the sire of the litter. To my knowledge, there is no history of entropian or ectropian in either the dam's or the sire's bloodlines as far back as the grandparents. (NOTE: Hypothyroidism is very prevalent in the Rottweiler. In some cases, an affected dog will be bred, but only to a partner who has a normal thyroid as well as a strong genetic propensity for normal thyroid. A low thyroid animal should only be bred if he/she is an outstanding specimen in every other repect. Although it is not desirable, and we don't want to perpetuate the problem, Hypothyroidism can be inexpensively treated with drugs. On the other hand, a dog with entropian or ectropian, that is eyelids that turn inward causing the dog great pain, or outward, causing pus to constantly collect in the dog's eyes, can be corrected by surgery but at a significant expense...)
.
Incorrect answer: Hypothyroidism? What's that? Cataracts? Our dog can see fine, Entropi what? What is that anyway? No, I don't think our dogs have any of those things....( This "breeder" is obviously not interested in preserving the breed and may be passing on hereditary defects that may cost you hundred of dollars to remedy. He is most likely only interested in your money...definitely hang up on this one.)
5. Do both the sire and the dam have correct dentition (all of their teeth AND a scissors bite)?
Correct answer: Well, of course they do. I wouldn't breed a dog with a disqualifying fault such as missing teeth, or an undershot, overshot, or wry bite. Breeding a dog with faulty dentition will eventually ruin the head type because, you see, the teeth are actually a part of the skeletal structure. Changing the skeletal structure changes the head type. In order to preserve the correct head type, only dogs with correct dentition should be bred.
Incorrect answer: Well of all the things........We've never counted her teeth! What's that got to do with anything?! She can sure as heck still bite somebody pretty good!
1. Are both the sire and dam of the litter O.F.A. certified?
Correct answer: Yes, both sire and dam are OFA certified. I can show you copies of the OFA certificates. (You should also ask for the OFA numbers and you can cantact the OFA Registry)
Incorrect answer: Oh, no, we don't have an OFA certification, but the hips are "clear". Our vet checked them out. I don't really know if the sire's hips are ok or not. Hang up the phone and end the conversation here. If the hips were not certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, then you don't know if hip displasia is present or not. Many "breeders" will tell you the hips are "clear" meaning they had a vet who was probably not a Board Certified radiologist look at the hips and say they looked OK. *Unless the Vet is Board Certified, he doesn't really know what he's looking at.
THESE DISEASES ARE THE RESULT OF COMBINATIONS OF MUTIPLE GENES, THEREFORE CERTIFICATION OF THE PARENTS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE PUPPIES WILL BE DISEASE FREE. ASK FOR A CONTRACT WHICH GUARANTEES AGAINST ALL GENETIC DISORDERS.
2. Are either the sire or and the dam titled in conformation or working trials such as Schutzhund, AKC obedience, German or AKC style conformation shows?
Correct answer: Yes, the dam has her C.D. (an AKC obedience title) and is in training for her BH (a Schutzhund obedience and temperament title) which we hope to complete next year. She has also been shown in the German breed ring and was rated V-2, I can give you a copy of her critique (German shows provide each dog with a written critique of the dogs conformation). The sire is pointed (in order to become an AKC champion, a dog must accumulate 15 points. When someone says to you that a dog is pointd that means that it has some points towards its championship title, but has not yet accumulated the 15 points necessary to be a champion), and has a Schutzhund three (a German title involving tracking, obedience and protection).
Incorrect answer: Well, no, we've never shown our bitch. We just bought her as a pet. But I know she's a good quality Rottweiler because she has champions in her pedigree, and we paid a lot of money for her. (Translation: We do not know, nor do we care about the future of the Rottweiler breed. We spent a lot of money for this dog, and we want to make money selling her puppies. We do not want to bother with hip x-rays, dog shows, obedience training, or learning about the strengths and weaknesses of our bitch's bloodlines because that takes time and money.....)
3. Why did you decide to breed your female?
Correct answer: We feel that she is a good representative or the Rottweiler breed and has something to offer to perpetuate the desirable qualities of the breed. For example, she has demonstrated her working ablility by earning an AKC obedience title. She has a lovely head, which you don't see very often in a bitch. She has a very dark eye, nice small ears, full detention and a scissors bite, an iron topline, and very fluid movement. Both of her parents are titled. She comes from a litter of 6 puppies and of those 6, 4 have already finished conformation and/or obedience titles, and 3 have earned Schutzhund titles. Also, of the 6 puppies, 5 are OFA certified. We searched for a male that complimented her and found one we like in Chicago, so we sent her there to be bred. We didn't want to breed her unless we found the right male for her. The sire of the litter has produced several schutzhund, obedience titled and champion offspring, so we know he has the ability to pass on his good qualities.
Incorrect answer: We spent several hundred dollars for this dog and we wanted to get back some of our investment. Besides, she's a beautiful bitch. She has perfect markings, and she has a great pedigree. There are 20 champions in 5 generations! We also wanted to keep a puppy for ouselves. (What this person is telling you is that he/she is only breeding their dog for the sake of making money. They may not be doing this maliciously... But they by no means have taken the time and effort to prove this bitch's quality, and he probably bred to the closest and cheapest male. He may even own the stud dog as well. When someone says their dog has a "championship bloodline", they usually meant that the great-grandparents have a championship title. Seldom will the parents or the grand-parents be titled. The great-grandparents are too far removed genetically to have a great influence on the quality of these puppies. Once again, hang up!)
4. Have both the sire and dam been tested for genetic defects such as hypothyroidism, cataracts, sub-aortic stenosis, or von Willebrands Disease (a bleeding disorder)? Is there any history or entropian or ectropian in the bloodlines?
Correct answer: Yes, both sire and dam have been tested and are certified free of the above defects. I'll be happy to give you the number of my vet so that you can call him/her and inquire about my dog's health history. I can also give you the name and phone number of the stud dog's owner so that you can get the same information on the sire of the litter. To my knowledge, there is no history of entropian or ectropian in either the dam's or the sire's bloodlines as far back as the grandparents. (NOTE: Hypothyroidism is very prevalent in the Rottweiler. In some cases, an affected dog will be bred, but only to a partner who has a normal thyroid as well as a strong genetic propensity for normal thyroid. A low thyroid animal should only be bred if he/she is an outstanding specimen in every other repect. Although it is not desirable, and we don't want to perpetuate the problem, Hypothyroidism can be inexpensively treated with drugs. On the other hand, a dog with entropian or ectropian, that is eyelids that turn inward causing the dog great pain, or outward, causing pus to constantly collect in the dog's eyes, can be corrected by surgery but at a significant expense...)
.
Incorrect answer: Hypothyroidism? What's that? Cataracts? Our dog can see fine, Entropi what? What is that anyway? No, I don't think our dogs have any of those things....( This "breeder" is obviously not interested in preserving the breed and may be passing on hereditary defects that may cost you hundred of dollars to remedy. He is most likely only interested in your money...definitely hang up on this one.)
5. Do both the sire and the dam have correct dentition (all of their teeth AND a scissors bite)?
Correct answer: Well, of course they do. I wouldn't breed a dog with a disqualifying fault such as missing teeth, or an undershot, overshot, or wry bite. Breeding a dog with faulty dentition will eventually ruin the head type because, you see, the teeth are actually a part of the skeletal structure. Changing the skeletal structure changes the head type. In order to preserve the correct head type, only dogs with correct dentition should be bred.
Incorrect answer: Well of all the things........We've never counted her teeth! What's that got to do with anything?! She can sure as heck still bite somebody pretty good!
I agree 100% with Banjo here....puppies and dogs have feelings and they are living creatures. I think it's cruel that the breeders want to murder puppies just because they are not perfect.