What to do with - Page 5

 I have read it in the past. I just wondered about the timeframe as far as what age you would take responsibility for the hips up to. I think that was part of the issue in this situation. The dog was 31mos. old when it was xrayed for the first time...if  I did my math right. Tough call for the breeder. 

Not to be nitpicky, but he was 30 months according to OFA (2.5 years) lol (actually, that is super nit picky).  I could go into excuses as to why it took me so long, but we all know what excuses are like.

People can point fingers at me and say its my fault my dog has HD.  Maybe its true and maybe it isn't.  Maybe Robby suffered an injury at the breeders?  Maybe I failed to notice an injury when he was with me? Maybe running him a few times in grassy terrain after he was 18 months old caused it?  All I can really say is that I tried really really hard to protect his hips; but something has gone wrong despite my best efforts to follow the advice of experts.  Sucks for me, thats all.  No pitty party intended.  I love my boy despite a weeker bond and have always looked out for whats best for him

Thank you to those who have said he should be good to work into his older age.  Ortho vet didn't know how long until Robby would have to stop.  It makes me feel better about keeping him and training/working him.  I received an unpleasant email from someone I respected stating that I was not looking out for the best interest of Robby and that I would needlessly be aggrivating his hips and causing it to be worse if I continued to work him.  Before, I was uncertain about the work/don't work him.  Now it is clearer.

Took me along time to convince hubby to let me have another dog in addition to Robby and Brad (BC).  I put a deposit on a pup before I knew of Robby's hips.  Shop is full for me.  I hope people don't judge me negatively for considering a new home for Rob in order to open up a space.  Again, I feel better about keeping him after what many of you have said.

Prager,
I commend you for having one of the most no nonsence, objective hip warrenties.  I bet you have to sometimes pay for the stupid mistakes others make.  And maybe other times it is a legitamate claim.

I agree with Prager and others in that their is no reason not to continue to work the dog. If you need a certification for personal validation then send into SV and the dog should go NZ. I have seen many many dogs with hips like those that have worked well into  7,8,9 years of age. When I was in the military they accepted dogs with up to grade 1 hip dysplasia. Many of these dogs were working at 7,8 years of age. Of course with the military you don't deal with the owner syndromes you do in regular society. So my advice is enjoy your dog and continue to do Sch with him.JMO

mfh27--sorry I am late to the party. My west German workingline male was OFA'd at 31 months, & came back mild dyplasia unilateral pathology right hip. I have a question for you, & don't be offended, I am still trying 'figure out' what happened to my boy. Did you notice any gait abnormalities as he was growing? Any wobbles? I rerun Beckett's developement in my mind every time I think about it, & there were signs. In fact, when I had him at a work shop, everyone 'ooo'd & aaaah'd' when I brought him out of his crate to the field, he's a handsome dog; but when the judge took him from me & led him up the field at a quick clip, his back leg bobbled, to the point that the woman next to put her hands over her mouth, jumped up, & asked me, "Oh my God, what's wrong with his rear?" She was a breeder, & the breeder who bred Beckett turned to me & said, "He just hit a clump of weeds, he's fine. She won't let any one be proud of their dog when there's one of hers around." But honestly, I saw the bobble, & I had been seeing bobbles & making excuses for them since he was 8 weeks old. And, although I had a warranty, I knew what it was worth, too. And what could be done? I love the big dopey dog. I considered rehoming him for a while, 'cause he, too, is taking up my last spot for a dog. But I let a couple other people work him, (& may I say he works like a house on fire, he doesn't give a hoot about his hip), & they all said the same thing, "He keeps looking for you." So, I guess it all adds up to...maybe he would pass in Germany, if I had the money, I would try it....I'll never know why he is dysplastic...I know that he would have super pups, but I'll never breed him. It sucks. It really sucks. And it still hurts like hell. But I can't rehome him. No matter what is known or not known about a dog's consciousness, I saw the look in the eyes of a pup that was 7 months old when he went to his forever home, & I couldn't do that again....confusion & shock were what I saw....(& he's fine now, he's got a great home) but I just couldn't do it. Yikes, sorry for the rant, but this is a very sore spot for me. jackie harris BTW, if someone knows what lines to avoid, would they mind PMing me those lines, I'd like to see if they're in my boy's pedigree, thanks.

Just to play devil's advocate:

If Robby's HD is environmental, then it is ok, health wise, to breed him, correct?  If it is not genetic, then he wont pass it on to his pups.

your last paragraph was exactly what jenni was trying to convey
by showing you that article
i think.
that it is a shame alot of good dogs
are taken from the gene pool
because of something environmental
not genetic.

Kalibeck,

I'm sorry this has happened to you too.  Emotions have been/ are intense for both of us.  I noticed Robby from a young age changed gates ( I think that is the word for it changing the lead foot )when going from a full on sprint run to more of "gallop" run for lack of better terminology.  Looks like a skip.  I don't think that is a sign of HD though.  I looked for bunny hops. That was what Bradley (BC) showed at a young age and she had hip problems too.

Hubby reminded me tonight of how Robby worships the ground I walk on,  Robby gets sick when I have to be away for a day or more, and Robby begs for training by grabbing his prong collar and handing it to me.  How could you give away your "Rob-Beasty Boo"? he asks.  Breaks my heart.

I have a 4 1/2  year old female rated OFA severe hd.  I too struggled with the should I continue to train and title her as I didn't want to cause her pain.  My vet, trainer and breeder all said as long as she enjoys the training and shows no signs of discomfort, then continue.  That was almost 2.5 years ago and we got our Schutzhund I in May and are working toward our II.  So, no reason not to continue.  I had her hips xrayed again when she was spayed last year and reviewed with my vet to insure her hips had not deteriorated anymore than would be expected.  Luckily no changes, so we are still enjoying the time we spend together on the field training. 

I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

Cheryl

I always thought that Beckett had a 'to die for' pedigree, and he has nice conformation, & a real fire in his gut for the work. His very favorite thing is tracking, & vehicle search. I had this fantasy of what a bad guys face would look like when Beckett showed up to search his car, LOL! He has always protected me, he is intelligent, good instincts. He is the total package. He was supposed to be my stud dog....& you've heard about castles made of sand. One little hip joint changed everything. Lots of people made me feel like I ruined his hip, somehow. I did the best I could do for him. Limited play, no rough-housing with bigger dogs, no road running...I did feed a higher protien meat based food, so maybe that WAS it......who knows? But I know that I also saw those wobbles & bobbles, & after calling the breeder & voicing my concerns when he was just a couple months old, ( 'cause my GSD female never took a wobbly step -ever- in her entire puppyhood), & she told me I was being paranoid. If I knew that his dysplasia was enviornmental, I would breed him. Who would want a puppy, I don't know...it would need to be a litter of one...but I'll never know, so I'll never be comfortable breeding him, because I could never be 100% confident that a bad hip wouldn't turn up, & maybe a lot of bad hips. And that would just be awful. jh

What to do also depends on the dog... I had a Bernd daughter a zillion years ago, who could jump straight up in front of a 6' gate and have her head above it.  Had thigh muscles like a suma wrestler... She was given to me by another breeder who was cutting back, and failed OFA with basically NO sockets, and NO heads.  Never took a lame step while with me... but I placed her as a pet to be spayed as I felt that any amount of work would damage already fragil hips. Heidi was one heck of a dog... *sigh*  Also had a 4 year old Golden/GSD X who raced on my Dog Sled team and had unilatteral hip dysplasia... She ran on team til she was 7, and retired to a pet home with a neighbor who LOVED her as an only dog and his 24/7 companion... she lived to be 17.

BTW... I do find it extremely interesting that almost EVERY TIME I've had with just one bad hip it was the left one.  Same for several other Shepherd fans I've talked with... Not sure why that is.   wonder if it's true in other breeds as well??