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Neo Owners :: Forums :: General :: Bulletin Board		<< Previous thread \| Next thread >>
Ready Again after losing Beowulf, Don't want to make another mistake with a bad breeder

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Moderators: maximus, jessica, All about Eva, Igmuska

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HapkidoRN

Wed Jul 14 2010, 03:28PM

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It's been a long time since visting the site. A very, very painful year. After poor Beowulf's illness last August, which led to an inadvertant bite to my daughter's head, I had to give him to a trusted friend or face my daughter's father's wrath. Fortunately, Beo has a very loving companion, but at 8 months, his new guardian sent me photos and told me that the vet said both hips were displaced already and Beowuld was already in pain and having problems walking. The vet recommended euthanasia, because surgery would be upwards of $6000. Beowulf's new owner, last I heard, was leaning toward the surgery. I was so angry...I thought I did all the right research, thought I picked a good breeder. Now I know better than to take someone's word for it that her dogs were Penn-hipped and 'never had problems'. Now I know I need to see the parents on-site rather than have a puppy shipped without seeing the environment.
Since then I have found out that this "breeder" (probably a puppy mill) goes by the email "the puppy pusher" and breeds 4 or 5 different kinds of dogs in Arkansas...hardly possibly to keep up with good bloodlines/good care in my opinion with that many whelpings. Someone breeding that many different breeds cannot possibly be paying attention to the standards of health/features/disposition AND paying stud fees and vet bills, culling poor quality pups out of the stock and earning a livelyhood at the same time - not unless they are running a freaking puppy mill and just don't care what the bitches birth, as long as they sell.
Anyhow, it's taken a long time to heal from losing my poor Beowulf, and his big brother Chou Chou a month earlier. I've kicked myself over and over, and I must get it right this time. I'm in no hurry. I just want as much information and advice as possible before embracing another Neo. Please...help me bring the right Neo home, from the right, ethical breeder. Any tips are welcome or any experiences you all had when choosing your Neo's, if you don't mind sharing. Thank you so much.

megladon

Wed Jul 14 2010, 08:26PM

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I am so sorry that all that happened to Beo and I hope he does well.

MastinoCharina

Wed Jul 14 2010, 10:34PM

CORRADO

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Sorry to hear what has happened. It sucks to loose a pup a such a young age.
I think weird things can always come up with any breeder that we cannot control and do are best to prevent problems in the future but I think your assumptions of your breeder are correct.

Good Luck!

HapkidoRN

Wed Jul 14 2010, 11:18PM

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Thank you. I'm looking forward to making a new neo a part of the family, but grieve over poor Beowulf and his littermates. Although I only had him 5 months and he was my first Neo (but not first Mastiff), I caught Neo fever and became very attached to him. Any advice on choosing a breeder besides going to the site and seeing Penn hip certificates?

Igmuska

Thu Jul 15 2010, 02:21PM

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Hips scores are not everything. Be aware that regardless of parent scores, you can end up with an unhealthy dog. We had a shepherd from 3 generations of HD free. He was severely dysplastic.
I do feel for your situation. It is a lot of heart ache that I know all to well. The key is to finding a breeder who knows their lines, the lines faults, and selects for overall health. I would suggest someone who has their research in or is several generations into the line. Find someone who cares about the breed and their dogs. I hope this site and others can help you along your search.

HapkidoRN

Thu Jul 15 2010, 03:25PM

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Igmuska wrote ...

Hips scores are not everything. Be aware that regardless of parent scores, you can end up with an unhealthy dog. We had a shepherd from 3 generations of HD free. He was severely dysplastic.
I do feel for your situation. It is a lot of heart ache that I know all to well. The key is to finding a breeder who knows their lines, the lines faults, and selects for overall health. I would suggest someone who has their research in or is several generations into the line. Find someone who cares about the breed and their dogs. I hope this site and others can help you along your search.

Thank you for the information. Are you sort of saying that with the hips it's kind of a shot in the dark even with healthy sires and dams?The pup I choose does not have to be show quality...i don't mind a white patch where there "shouldn't" be one, or too broad angulation in the muzzle stop, things like that, but hips are just too important!

Igmuska

Fri Jul 16 2010, 08:37AM

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Well, yes and no, lol. I wasn't talking about show dogs, just breeders who know certain lines very well, and understand where they are lacking, health and other wise.
Yes, you can get a HD affected pup from parents with good hips, like I did. I am not preaching, you should just be conscience of the facts. Yes, consistently checking hips is the way to breed dogs with better hips, but this has to be done in whole litters, breeding dogs, and lines religiously, which has not happened yet in this breed. Because of the explosion of size (as well as other factors) in the breed within the last 40 years, there is quite a high instance of HD and ED in the breed. The genetic factors that determine the disease is also very broad, and we fully don't understand it. Look at it this way, science has been able to consistently produce HD or ED through breeding, yet they have not been able to fully eradicate it by breeding.
I guess what I am saying is with a responsible breeder, not only will health testing be done, but the lines known well, and there should be some sort of agreement about congenital diseases. You may see the disease again, hopefully not but if you do, I hope you have the support of your breeder.

jessica

Fri Jul 16 2010, 10:45AM

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=*(
You poor thing, I agree with what Igmuska is saying here... HD can come from more then just poor genetic's. BUT knowing what behind your animal, as well as giving it proper exercise and feeding can help make a difference with your dog as well. Glad to see you back! We will do our best to send you in the right direction.

HapkidoRN

Fri Jul 16 2010, 11:35AM

Registered Member #158

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Thanks again for the support. OK - I know I'm still learning...but I'm guessing that ED doesn't stand for Erectile Dysfuction, like it does in humans?

Igmuska

Fri Jul 16 2010, 09:56PM

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Location: Michigan
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LOL, Elbow Dysplasia. LOL. Medical Acronyms are numerous and VERY confusing. Trust me, I have to know quite a few of them.

Stinky-Mastiff

Sat Jul 17 2010, 08:49AM

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Location: East Coast
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Erectile dysfuntion in an un-neutered male isn't necessarily a bad thing if you aren't interested in breeding. My pup loves to show his red rocket to anyone and everyone including the cat. People are quite disgusted by it.

HapkidoRN

Sat Jul 17 2010, 03:26PM

Registered Member #158

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Thanks for the clarification! Stinky Mastiff, thank goodness your boy isn't human - sounds like he'd be breaking some decency laws!

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