This is where a good breeder can give you good info. Your boy might pump 'em out like Fertile Tertile. But, he could have thyrodid problems, STD's, only 1 testicle, be a carrier of genetic syndromes/diseases/deformities. Those things have to be tested and be cleared before EITHER parent is bred. Say, you bought a little male-he is 8 months old and starting to be interested in doing "That". You notice he has a slight limp in his back leg. Off to the vet; x-rays needed. "Oh, doc, how much for that?" well, we have to anesthetize him so he will not be uncomf. "Oh, doc, how much for that?" maybe $250.00 for the o.r., the assistant, anesthesia, pre-asnesthesia and the actual X-ray (Now, we have to add the X-ray tech's charge, cost of the film and using the machine). kA-CHING kA-CHING The diagnosis "Sorry, your boy has LCP disease1" "what is that" Legg-Calvin-Perthes disease of the hip. and, oh, by the way, it is genetic AND HE SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR BREEDING!" by NOW, YOU HAVE THE $1000.00 PURCHASE PRICE, his care and up-keep for 6 months, your heart is breaking (priceless) so maybe a total of $1800.00-$2500.00 and you still cannot breed the dog. And he will get worse and surgery to remove the hip joint is around $2000.00. So you find a wonderful vet tech who will love him, give him to her, pay what she pays for the surgery and then hope he walks fine without that hip joint and makes a therapy dog.
BTW, this is the story of one of my little boys a few years ago. Could somebody hand me my cane so I can hobble down off the soapbox again? |