You know the ones? Where people get annoyed about what constitutes a good breeder and get annoyed when posters insist it needs to be about more than just - They’re not mistreating them?...
This is one reason why...
This is Brock
The humans that bred him, by a lot of peoples’ reasonings weren’t bad breeders, they were nice pet owners who looked after their dog, but they also had no knowledge about what they were doing.
So having a healthy dog with a good pedigree was enough of a reason to breed puppies.
Except they didn’t know anything about confirmation and how that works, about health issues that can be common in the breed that aren’t usually tested for and that some lines that have shown well have issues in them.
So what they bred was a puppy (probably a whole litter according to medical professionals) with so many health issues that from he’s been on painkillers since he was 4 months old and had to have enrichment activities instead of long walks and games since he was 2...
And yesterday I sat and stroked his face while the vet put him to sleep for the last time, at 6 years old... when he should have only been halfway through his life and able to run and bounce as much as he wanted to.
So if you see me on threads saying, look for a good breeder, don’t settle for good enough, know that it’s not about being judgemental or snobbish about pedigrees or thinking that anyone not at crufts is a puppy farmer.
It’s about knowing firsthand that breeding is much more complicated than your average pet owner realises and that the consequences whenever it goes wrong are that dogs suffer.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
You know those threads that start/end up being about good breeders
tabulahrasa · 11/12/2018 10:16
Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this 
I've always loved your posts on the doghouse. We got our pup from a breeder but he was one who came well-recommended and our beagle had all the relevant health tests and we get loads of compliments on his temperament, looks and build. But it look us months of research and I get so frustrated at people who go to look at pups and bring one home the next day because they're too impatient to wait
A dog should ideally be a companion for over 10 years of your life, surely a healthy, happy one is worth waiting for?
I’m so sorry tabulah, what an awful thing for you both to go through. But how lucky that he had you to love him.
I am so sorry to hear this story but if sharing it makes one person rethink their search for a puppy it could make a real difference.
I’m often slated on here for my stance that people need to do their HW and proceed with great caution when looking to buy a puppy. This is why. And if you get a healthy pup? Well that’s great but what about the parents?
I love my dog. She is a prize winning pedigree bitch. I’d be a shit breeder. I don’t know enough about confirmation, co efficient of inbreeding, health issues with pups (liver shunt in the breed) and pregnancy and birth for bitches.
So I won’t breed. If I want another dog I will be unselfish. I will wait for one to be available from a breeder I trust. One that aims to make the breed better.
Brock I’m so so sorry. You didn’t deserve to be in pain.
“It sounds like you made his life so very much better and happier than it could have been.”
A lot of people say stuff like that, to be fair he was very hard work to own, but he was also the happiest most enthusiastic and funny dog I’ve ever had...
It’s just sad that he didn’t get the life he should have and it’s not because anyone was uncaring, they just didn’t know any better.
“And if you get a healthy pup? Well that’s great but what about the parents?”
And their littermates, and other litters?...
I figured I could have just posted going, my dog died and I’m sad, because both those things are true 
But I also thought, well maybe if anyone reads it and it makes them rethink a bit how they’d go about looking for a puppy, now or next time they’re looking - at least it might be a bit helpful.
I know it’s awful. I keep in touch with our breeder and often have meet ups with my girl’s littermates. My pup was endorsed to make sure a newbie owner couldn’t breed without at least a discussion and agreement from her breeder. The breeder is concerned for the future of “her” line and the health and welfare of each member of the extended family.
It makes me sad/angry when people shop online and pick up their new pup without any thought or any questions being asked by the breeder.
I’m not surprised you’re so sad. Not just for your loss but also the life he should have had.
God I'm so sorry but you absolutely have a point. I was at my hairdressers (she works from home) the other week and she had bred her dog and had puppies. She knew literally nothing about breeding and the mother nearly died because they didn't deal with her properly in labour. Oh but that didn't matter because selling the puppies would cover the cost of the vet bills. It was worrying.
I'm a cat person but have pedigrees and know the importance of safe and appropriate breeding. My oldest cat is ten and I'm still in touch with his breeder, they have a whole genetic profile done on their cats and it's quite rigorous. This is what is needed to breed healthy animals.
I'm really sorry for your loss and his suffering 
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