For Our Info

When you’re into dog breeding, you should be aware that there will always be potential hereditary problems. Although this is not true all the time, you should be on the look out for such problems because it can be passed on to the puppies. Keep on reading and you will find out what these hereditary problems are.

Firstly, you need to learn as much information as possible about the particular dog breed you’re handling. Thorough screening is needed so that you can prevent additional problems in the future. Make sure that you also look into the bloodlines of your dogs. This is necessary to ensure the health and condition of the pups.

Eye problems are the most common dilemmas encountered by most dog breeders. These problems are:

1.) PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy – if this problem is not addressed at an early stage, your dog can suffer from total blindness. Some breeds are affected by PRA once they reach 2-3 years or before the breeding period. In some cases, dogs tend to suffer from PRA when they are already 4-8 years. If you’re breeding Irish Setters, you’re in luck because there is already a PRA test which is available to those who want to breed them. It is vital that breeders identify if their dog is a carrier of the eye problem. You see, late onset of PRA can affect breeding programs.

2.) CEA or Collie Eye Anomaly – collie breeds can be affected by this eye problem which can include the border, bearded, smooth, rough, and closely related breeds. The condition varies wherein some dogs are hardly affected but others get completely blind. This problem is hereditary. Even if the dogs you’re breeding are not suffering from the CEA but serves as a carrier of the problem, it can produce a pup that is severely affected by CEA.

3.) Retinal Dysplasia – eventual blindness is the result of retinal dysplasia. The problem can start as early as the puppy days of the dog but late onset of the problem can make it hard to identify which dogs have it.

4.) Entropion and Ectropion – try to look closely at the eyelids of your dog. This problem refers to the eyelids turning in (entropion) or out (ectropion). This eye problem can cause pain.

5.) Cataracts – you need to identify if your dog has juvenile cataract; if this is the case, find another dog to breed. Cataracts have different causes and they are also in different forms.

Every year, dogs should be checked by a vet certified by the AVCO. Visit the CERF or Canine Eye Registry Foundation if you live in the United States. Dogs registered under this foundation are free from any eye problems. It is vital for dogs to be checked annually to ensure that they are free from eye problems which are considered hereditary. There are times when the problems show up late but if you consult with CERF, you’re guaranteed to breed to a dog without potential eye problems.

Dog breeding is serious business. Even if you’re only doing it for pleasure or as a hobby, you should ensure that the puppies are in best condition. Who would want to purchase a pup with eye problems? It is your responsibility to make sure that the parents are not carriers of the eye problems or are not presently affected by it.

• Dog Breeding – Puppy Care After your bitch gives birth to puppies, it is now time to care for them. Puppy care is not as easy as it looks. It entails a lot of responsibilities that you need to attend to as a breeder. Dog breeding does not end when your female dog gets pregnant;......
• Dog Breeding and Joint Problems Hip problems with different dog breeds should be identified at an early stage. If you think that smaller dogs are safe from joint problems, you’re wrong. Joint problems can attack any breed of dog at any point in time. Since you can’t be too sure if your dog is suffering......
• Hypoallergenic Dog Breeding Who says you can’t find hypoallergenic dogs? Some individuals are quite sensitive to pets, even pet dogs. Here’s good new for you – there are hypoallergenic breeders of dogs and it’s quite easy to find them. You should be extra careful when choosing pet dogs because there are dishonest dog......
• Dog Breeding – Genetics Suppose breed x and breed y were mated. Both dogs are purebred and were able to meet with their specific health standards. Do you think that the breeding will result to healthier pups as compared to breeding them with the same breed? In dog breeding, this question is often......
• Different Dog Breeding Methods Dog breeding is not as easy as you think. Many pet owners prefer to get purebred dogs these days. Even on the same breeds, breeding lines tend to produce different traits and types of dogs. As you can see, dog breeding is a complex undertaking and without adequate knowledge, you......

• Why Your Dog Isn't Your Friend [/caption]Your dog isn't your friend. This may fly in the face of conventional wisdom - "dog is man's best friend" - but a better word for a dog is "companion." Why is this? Is it because I hate dogs? Hardly. When it comes to dog training, one of the first......
• Noblesse Oblige: Obama’s Dog Gets Own Plane on Vacation Trip Sunday Paper - July 18th, 2010 The Morning Sentinel, a small paper from the state of Maine, has a travelogue story of the Obama’s vacation in and about Maine today. It has a very interesting little tidbit in it that should enrage every American. It is something that really shows......
• Breeder vs. Shelter or Animal Rescue [/caption]What is the best place to find Jake or Buffy? There are some things you will want to concern yourself with to ensure that "Buffy" and "Jake" are healthy when deciding where you find your dog, where this be from a breeder or a shelter. Are their shots current? At......
• Boar Hunting Dogs If you ask someone that specializes in boar hunting what the best dog breed is for the job, you are going to get a differing opinion than when you ask the next boar hunter that you come across. There are a number of different characteristics that need to be combined......
• Proper Home Heating and Cooling Maintenance If you want to keep repairs at bay, home heating and cooling maintenance are vital. Rather than ignoring your appliances until you reach the point where they cannot be repaired, it is important that homeowners worry about consistent upkeep. A little bit of simple maintenance is usually enough to save......