One or no testicle...this is something that I've heard a lot about lately. To me, a breeder should deduct the cost of the neuter since these can be cancerous.

They sure should. Wouldn't you say that a lot of murmurs have been caught by babies being taken to the vet while still with the breeder. How many of you have bought a dog that has never been to the vet for one single check up? Read the ads in your local paper and call- you will be amazed at how many puppies first vet check will be with you the new owner.

My contract is very standard. It covers 1 year hereditary or congenital. If a situation comes up I address it individually. I use my contract as a guide. Not to say well it's been a year so your Yorkie has LP now or LS too bad so sad..NOOO...I will be more than happy to look into it and have vet proof that is from hereditary and work on a compromise from there. A reasonable time frame like 2 or 3 yrs over my standard guarantee..I don't anticipate many problems. I have my parents screened before breeding. I do not compromise anything. So far I have not had any issues. No LP or LS and I've had 20 pups so far. The only thign that did come up was a cocci episode..and I paid for that. Even though my contract said I don't have to. It's all about being fair. And standing behind your pups.

As for LP my vet has told me that LP is hereditary it is not something acquired as a result of an injury. Now the same symptoms can result from a knee injury from jumping etc..to be certain if it's hereditary or injury related you need ot have Xrays done. Now, my vet is a reproduction specialist; the leading one in this country. He knows his stuff. So breeders may want to consider xraying to be certain it's a hereditary defect or as a result of injury.
My pups are evaluated 3 times at least all 3 times special attention is given to the knees. I also do a full blood panel and at least 3 full stool exams to cover cocci, giardia and othe rparasites. It's still not full proof but I am doign all I can to ensure the pup is health before leaving my home.

I also take a check list to my vet, he goes through and initals each thing he has checked. That' helps in showing that I do have everything examined.

Good thread kath!!

Hugs,
Irene

This is what I have done. I purchased a little male who did not drop his testicles. I placed him as a pet with full disclosure of the problem. They wanted him as a pet and were going to have him altered. They took him to my vet- I paid the differance between what they would have paid for altering the dog and what they were charged. It was $65.00. Some vets will charge you out of sight fees. So be careful.

Kathy, Kathy, Kathy...LOL! You sound kinda pi$$ed today. you doing okay? ;)

I bought a pup once that had anohter pups health certificate. I knew this simply because the DOB and weights were wrong. The pup also ended up have grades 2-3 LP in BOTH knees..I was told 'oops, I guess my vet missed that'..crooks i tell ya!!

All my male pets leave with out both testes..I have them neutered..rofllll

YIKES! Oh, my...I'll leave my choice words out of this! :thumbdown

It was clear the pup wasn't checked because she took the pup back w/out argument. She replaced it wiht another pup that was only 6 wks old..younger than she told me (same health cert as the pup i returned mind you). That pup passed away from hypoglycemia while I was at work. Another tough learning experience..Needless to say I lost lots a money from that deal...but it was an expesive lesson well learned....this happend a few years back when I was still trying to accquire my foundation..

HOLY, MOSES! A hard lesson, indeed. :thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown

I think alot of dishonest breeders live on the hopes that they can fool you about the health of a pup/dog upfront and by the time you have had it vet checked, you will be too attached to it to give it up, allowing them to keep your money. :eek:
I met a breeder when looking for Trixie who tried to sell me...well, I don't know WHAT she tried to sell me...and told me just to take it home and if I didn't fall in love with it she would give me my money back. :eek: :eek: Needless to say, we high-tailed it outta there!

i'm not a breeder and not even a dog guru so i don't know all the terms and abreviations used to describe certain things so i'll just put it in the most simplistic terms. this is what i'd like to see:

- the puppy should be delivered, as described, in optimal health requiring no special care upon arrival other than an exam from the vet to confirm health and wellbeing of the pup. side note: sure the pup can get sick on the flight in cargo, but if that is a possibility, then maybe the puppy should not be shipped. i think the well being of the pup should remain with the breeder until i receive the pup, not end when the breeder puts the pup on the plane.

- warranty against conditions in the health of the pet that can develop through no fault of my own.

- term of the warranty should span the time it takes for the pet to develop the health condition. ie, if it takes 3 years for a condition to reveal itself then the term should cover 3 years. maybe do a more comprehensive warranty for the first year and a more limited warranty after that.

- no warranty against conditions that are cosmetic in nature and will not effect the well being of the dog as a puppy and as an adult dog.

- no warranty against conditions that is completely within my control with proper care of the pet, its living conditions and environment.

- no warranty against conditions that may occur in pets through the natural course of aging unless it's considered a genetic defect.

- unless it's a local sale, don't require the buyer to ship a sick or dead dog back to you to receive a replacement. the vet's official report of the dog's condition should be sufficient. side note: but the breeder should require that the buyer work with the breeder on what should be the next step for the pet. Buyer should provide proof that the appropriate actions as discussed with the breeder have been followed. The breeder should follow up accordingly.

i would expect the breeder to spell out what's considered a condition that developed through "nurture" vs. "nature".

Very good question! Kathy I'm with you I do not guarantee floppy ears or even retained tesicles on a pet male. For goodness sake these conditions are NOT life threatening and these conditions are what makes a pet a pet and not a show dog or a breeding dog. Doesn't at all mean they don't deserve a loving forever home.

as to what conditions are grounds for a refund or new puppy. Leggs perthe disease, livershunt, PPA (eye disease) PDA (a heart disease) are among the most notable in Yorkshire Terriers. A breeders contract should (IMO) be written for the benefit of the buyer and not the breeder. If one reads the contract of most breeders carefully. You will find the puppy MUST die or if it's a life threatening condition the puppy MUST be given back to the breeder. Now doesn't it stand to reason that a puppy owner is not going to give a puppy back after bonding? Sure it does and most breeders know this. It is a pretty save bet that the breeder with contracts of this nature will never see the pup again. For goodness sakes if you as consumers do not start holding breeders responsible for the "product" they produce then nothing will ever change in regards to breeding dogs. Nothing! If the breeder refuses to give you a 100% genetic guarantee whether the animal lives or dies then you should walk away. No matter how much you want the pup walk away. And the guarantee should also guarantee against life threatening (but not fatal) genetic diseases. Do not be in a hurry to buy the first puppy you see. Most of todays problems are based on the "buy it now" mentality or "I want it now" mentality with little or no thought given to what happens after the sale or what has happened to that puppy in his short life BEFORE the sale. Find a breeder you like and trust then get on his/her waiting list. You will be so happy when that healthy specimen arrives and you can take your bundle of joy home. The internet is a wonderful tool to use when looking for a puppy. But I think nothing takes the place of face to face meetings. Please do not just go to the airport for your bundle of joy sight unseen. The breeder has your money and you are in no way assured of the health of the puppy.

So 1) check for genetic diseases in the contract. Some are common and some not so common, but a vet must provide proof of such disease. 2) check the length of guarantee. Something longer that a normal 3 day well-ness checkup. You need a guarantee of at least one year for genetic disease to become apparent. some breeders offer 2, 3, or 5 years. Some breeders even offer a lifetime guarantee for genetic disease. 3) Determine what if anything the breeder is required to do when notified the puppy is ill!

I agree with wnalegria. I do not cover patellas in my contract either. Only the 3 or 4 grade is considered even close to genetic in nature. A puppy with this severe of a condition would never leave me at 12 weeks. I guarantee SOUND knees at 12 weeks or at the time puppy leaves me. But not after. It can be an envirnomental issue. There is no way for a breeder to guarantee the enviroment of the puppy after he leaves. So NO Patella guarantee from me. I have even had VETS push the patella out when examining and then claim it was a genetic condition!
Earmites mange etc. Geeze at what point does the buyer take any responsibility. Some of these conditions can be determined by a novice buyer by inspecting the puppy and his surrounding before purchase! there is really no excuse for any buyer to accept a puppy with these conditions.