Pennynewf

Poofy i have to say i mostly agree with you, and i find that no two breeders will agree on everything all of the time, it is very diverse, and also hobbit, thanx! i thought it was a kelpie! i looked for a webpage in your profile before asking, thought you might have a website on your herding. :) BTW i mostly outcross.

Hobbit what breed is in your avatar, he/she is handsome. also just curious, do you breed or have you?

Show me the marker for CHD, and prove it is strictly genetic. yes it may be, or it may not be.

One more thing, mixed breeds dont ofa or penn hip, nor do they much care to test for anything, that is why you never hear of them having problems, becouse they just throw two and two together or the accidant will make a nice pet for someone. i on the otherhand require at least a prelim at a young age before the growth stages so that we can guide our puppy people on the proper care, diet etc... that goes into owning a giant breed pup.

Well now i must say this, i have seen just as many mixed heinz 57 with luxating patellas and hip displaycia, and eye problems and awful bites and allergies and other problems just as much as purebreds, i am sorry but that just does not sit well with me, i have seen some with eye disease that is awful or cocker mixes with horrid ear problems, i am a groomer of 15 years, boarding dogs also and worked at vet clinics to see many variety of canine, you just cannot say that to me and have me agree with you that the heinz 57 is healthier, how many people have hips that are bad or knees that are bad or feet becouse of the JOB they do, environment plays a huge role as well diet in CHD

carriers of cystinuria can be bred to normal, and eventually we can breed it out, affecteds never should be bred, i am not sure this works the same for the post about acd dogs and pra disease

you might want to pick a breed you are interested in, and than go study the different lines, and the different things those lines focus on. for instance, in newfoundlands there is one kennel in particular that only breeds for performance and working and stays away from conformation, i try to do both, but try to stay away from the lines known to change with the latest fads, i also have studied years the different lines in our breed and certain ones are tried and true. what you say does make sense to an extent, good luck science doc.

The Book People Pooches and Problems written by one of the Monks of New Skete is fantastic for people have troubles with their dogs. i also would go back to obedience classes. we go all the time, even with our 8 1/2 year old newf, it is good for refresher and your dog gets one on one attention that he may be craving. the attentione he may be craving is different from just that being in the house.

Take her to your vet, he can tell you what her hips are like, it could be as simple as poor structure. xrays are the most definitive way to say if it is or is not

My puppy people are required to ofa prelim or penn hip, this is so they are aware of what their hips are growing like, and they take precautions as they grow becouse they are giant breeds and becouse giants have bones that are like cartilege until they are 18 months of age. a newf pup can be subluxed in one hip at 6 months and than at 2 years they can be ofa good. the awareness raised on hips for normal pet owners in turn helps me to coach them on proper care and excersise i use both penn hip and ofa

Starting them as a pup is ideal and only with a group that is experienced, many people do training on their own with no idea of what is involved, go read some pages on my website, the first link, there is plenty of information there, many seasoned handlers have started older shelter dogs and have done many good searches with them. SAR is very hard work and not what many think it is, it is like a second full time job. you need to know much more than working your dog. a good book is "READY" written by susan bulanda, or "So that others may live" a book written about caroline hebard.

Just becouse they have a CH doesnt mean they are up to standard, there is so much political BS that is in the dog show world that it stinks, yes there are worthy dogs out there, but i would rather judge a dogs movement in its own environment, moving natural and comfortable, without the blown out open coat that the majority of newf owners at shows do to their newfs, hiding faults. i would rather see a newf in action working than in the conformation ring, though that to is important, only if they are not judged becouse of politics, and i have heard the arguement that it is not political, go ahead and tell yourselves that, it truly is, and those that deny it the most are the ones who probably just dont want to see it. i dont have CH in front of some of my dogs, becouse of lack of time to show, but i do have time to work them, i cant do everything, but do make the effort to study structure and movement for years before ever starting my program, and i also studied the standard inside and out, and refuse to breed for the latest vogue in the showring. i can say more, and somehow feel that this is a very contraversial subject.

i agree with the others and would like to add, that if you have a kennel club near you, the best thing is to go, find out everything you can, sometimes show people can be so distant with newbies becouse they are concentrating or distracted, and some just plain dont want to be bothered, try to zone in on a friendly face preferably after the newfs are done, follow them to their grooming area, and ask them for some help or tips. we have a show upcoming this weekend and next, sydney is out of coat, but i will still show him for the heck of it. and morgan will go the next day for her 2nd leg for her CD we also will be showing UKC conformation wich is much more laid back and friendlier people abound from what i am told, that also may be an option for you to "get your feet wet" make sure your newf is up to standard, you can read the breed standard at the NCA website. try to find the faults your dog has, EVERY dog has faults, there is no such thing as a perfect dog, as there is no such thing in people either. good luck and learn a lot