A colleague of mine (I do have a lot) said to me he was thinking of 'putting his boy out at stud'. His boy is a very, very, very common breed and currently only 6 months old. He said it wouldn't be for a while yet if he did do it.

I explained to him what health tests need doing and he thought that the dog had been hip and elbow scored, I explained not possible as can't be done until a year old and all the dog had was a vet check it turned out.
I then explained about the eye testing too.

I then explained that the bitch needs these to be done as if puppies are born and have a hereditary defect and you could of prevented it, well..

I said do what you will, but please if you are going to allow him to be used in a breeding programme then at least do it right.. He is considering training him in the field as he is from working lines..

His last words were - You've put me off now..  :-)

Congratulations.

Hopefully if he still wants to breed he'll come back to you with more questions about doing so responsibly.

Good one. :) :)

I've just found a brilliant bit of reading material on the local breed club website about health testing..

http://ksslrc.co.uk/  Have to post it as very informative when you click on the health testing link :-)

well done sj

Well done!

Yeyyy well done & someone who actually listened to what you said & learnt from it..hopefully... :)

Education not legislation .

Well done! I still feel pleased every time I groom the dog whose owner wanted to put him to stud, he is a lovely boy but already a cross of 3 different breeds. I said if she wanted to do it responsibly she'd need to get all his health tests done for each of the breeds, and warned her it might make him hump stuff or other dogs or change his temperament around other males. Next time I saw him he'd been neutered..... ;-)

> he is a lovely boy but already a cross of 3 different breeds

Why on earth would someone think it was a good idea to use a mongrel at stud? I can sort of understand why people might think it ok to breed from a purebred registered dog but a mongrel??? Who do they think would use him? Gobsmacked!

Just the usual not knowing any better, they think 'my boy's really sweet, I'd love puppies from him'. :-)

I've seen an ad for a one eyed crossbreed. Not a desirable cross either.

> Just the usual not knowing any better, they think 'my boy's really sweet, I'd love puppies from him'. :-)

While I have no direct experience of this, I have read & heard about dogs that have been used at stud on a casual basis, changing temperament.

I think the best argument you can give is "Do you really want him to turn into Benny Hill?"

I don't think Henry changed temperament, but I've heard it does happen and it seemed a good way to dissuade them from the idea. But I don't know who Benny Hill is.... *blushes*

>>But I don't know who Benny Hill is.... *blushes*>>

Lucky you :-D

He's a comedian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e1xvyTdBZI