>> What I said is that I don't ADVERTISE healthier puppies due to testing. I am still haunted by the couple I saw this weekend who believe that their three year old dog will somehow overcome early onset MVD because her mother who got MVD at three was TESTED. Somewhere they got this illusion; they were not stupid people. You say that you will take dogs back etc........do you think that they want to return their three year old dog for a refund? That is the crux of my problem with the "premier" site and other ads like it. Yes, it is important to do testing for MVD and other genetic problems; I, and LOTS of other breeders do it. NO, I don't think it should be touted as unusual or special to so do.
Suze, You should go back and thoroughly read the Premier site. NO WHERE does it say it guarantees anything--in fact it says the SAME things you are saying (sometimes in quite similar language!). I have never told a single person my testing guarantees ANYTHING--except that I guarantee my puppies will develop MVD. Others are no more able to *read between the lines* of what the Premier Site says, than what you say. If they want to do so, then they will do so regardless of what you say too. The Premier Site goes into detail about MVD. It clearly states that only clear dogs before age 5 are used and other paragraphs mentioning the age 5. If someone believes a dog with MVD at 3 that was tested is going to produce *healthier* puppies--I have no clue how they came to that conclusion as it just does not jive with anything the Premier Site says or anything I've heard a Premier Site member say.. So far as returning a dog--we all take back dogs. This has nothing to do with a problem and in no way do any of us *demand* it. It is not part of a contract. Not a single one of us has ever taken back a single puppy from someone like that. The only ones we have taken back are ones the people voluntarily gave up--usually for extreme reasons (deaths, etc.). If someone wanted to return a dog because of a health problem however, will would take it back. So far as saying we fully test--well, I'm sorry, but FULLY testing all breeding stock and using only phenotypically clear dogs at the time IS in the minority so it is unusual or special just like advertising obedience dogs, BOB and up show wins or saying one has typier dogs than others. Everyone finds their niche. From my end, it seems that a lot of people (maybe more) on this list are just as *guilty* of singing *my dogs are typier than your dogs* as *I do more testing on my dogs than you do*. Remember, this thread did NOT start with a Premier member. In fact, it never has to my recollection. We do however feel compelled to defend our way because we honestly feel we are following protocols the experts have strongly suggested. But, I can't help but wonder why the *my dogs are typier than yours* group brings this subject up time and time again. At the mere mention of the words health, hips, MVD, whatever, by quite innocent new people, the *my dogs are typier than yours* group seems to take *offense*--I can think of no other word that fits. It really seems to push buttons, however, remember we are powerless to stop that from happening. The websites and books are out there--people are learning--it IS going to happen AND with more and more frequency! Laura Trunk Roycroft Cavaliers ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
