RE: OFA Litter Submission

[Rose Tierney]

Hi Mary-Ann,
Do you include the anticipated cost of xrays in the purchase price of the
puppy? I have written out contracts requiring purchasers to comply with
xraying their dogs but very few actually do. I have considered adding a
refundable fee to the purchase price but I like the idea of collecting the
money upfront and then paying the vets directly.

Rose T.

Re: OFA Litter Submission

[Mary-Ann Bowman]

I agree 100% that we need all puppies in a litter x-rayed and so to make
sure that happens in a timely manner, we pay for it (unless we have a
special arrangement with the puppy owner). Our first litter of nine was two
last July. We made arrangements with the various veterinarians for payment
and all the owner had to do was show up with the dog. All nine puppies were
done on schedule. We made the same arrangement with the second litter and
expect that when they are two, it will work in the same way.

Mary-Ann Bowman
Utah

OFA Litter Submission

[RM Johnson]

As a new breeder, I want to comment that getting a litter submission on 
our first litter of 3 puppies has been a lot of work!  I gave all of our 
puppy owners a heads up last fall.  I contacted each of them again in 
December when the pups were 2 but since it was the holiday season, we 
decided to give everyone a break and make it a March 1st deadline.  I 
got one set of x-rays on time.  The other set took a few more weeks.  
The final set took several emails and several long distance calls to 
finally get them sent to us.  By now it was the end of April.  So much 
for a March 1st deadline!  The main thing I know is that we persevered 
and got them all.  Except that the late one didn't have the proper OFA 
paperwork with the x-rays.  So this morning I got a call from OFA saying 
they needed this and that information.  Of course the owners aren't 
home, so I had to make several long distance calls, to get the 
information needed.  Voila!  Finally, I have it all together and OFA is 
happy.  So am I.

I strongly believe that 100% data collection on test results (hips, 
elbows, eyes, etc...)  is imperative for the breed and for breeders to 
succeed.  It is a lot of work though and we only had 3 puppies in our 
first litter!  I'm already thinking ahead 18 months - then I'll have 6 
sets of x-rays & CERF's to collect.  Maybe I should start now!!  ;-)

Go kiss your breeder if they get 100% (or very nearly) data 
collection!!!  They are worth their weight in gold. 

Ruth Johnson
Tundra Bernese
Anchorage, Alaska
Ch. Sunshine's Tundra Terra CGC CD Pet Partner, 4 1/2
Sascha's Woodman CGC CD, 9 months
Tundra's Bells 'n Whistles, 6 months