Hi Tracey, I'm sorry your puppy has been diagnosed with hip dyplasia and that as a result of your personal experiences you have a dim view of the breed but the Berner does not deserve to be extinct, there are many strong healthy Berners living with a true zest for life that enriches their owner's lives.
When researching you need to ask about family history, siblings of ancestors need to be considered. Whatever breed you decide to investigate if they have a list such as this ask questions about problems and seek out a mentor who can tell you about important dogs in the breed's history and which of those are noted for their excellence in passing on the traits you deem important. You need to see more than a three generation pedigree in order to see how closely related the more recent ones are and then ask as to whether this has been a positive thing or not. Outcrosses can be a stab in the dark but not all close breedings are necessarily a good thing either. Ask loads of questions and check back with others for accuracy. All the best with your puppy and your future choices, I hope your breeder(s) have been supportive to you. Rose T.
