My little Minature Schnautzer has an overbite. (bottom teeth protrude slightly in front of top) Will this cause problems in the future, is it hereditary, should I not allow her to be mated?
Comments welcome please......

An undershot bite in a dog which should normally have a scissor bite is a bad fault, and very difficult to get out of a breeding line once in. To be honest I'd say this fault alone makes her a 'pet' only and not a potential brood bitch. Sorry.

But people do dont they as we all know - even when aware of this being passed on
Lel

I always find the term overbite interesting, as in fact the mouth is Undershot when the bottom teeeth come in front of the top. A slightly overshot bite in a puppy where the teeth at the top are too much over the bottom ones often corrects as the bottom jaw grows longer. this is the reason say that your dog when you bought her may have had a perfectly accptable bite, but has now gone Undershot.

Please please do not breed from her, as has been said it is a dificult fault to eradicate, and will pop up generations later (as has happened here is she is from a reputqable breeder) because someone in the past chose to ignore the fault and breed from a dog with it.

Hi thanks for the replies and for reinforcing what I had probably already decided.

I was brought up with dogs, and all my adult life I have had a dog of my own, However, I have never had a bitch and to be honest when I first started to look for a mini Schnautzer it was always with the thought I may want want to breed from it.(my brother has a beautiful, perfect, male black and white mini )
But, once I got her the reality of the whole thing was different, I worried that she may not be good enough to breed from, or, that none of the pups would find good homes, or that I simply would not be able to part with any pups !!

From the information I have read on the breed I had, in my own mind decided not to let Shushti have pups because of her over/under bite. (it is actualy her bottom teeth which protrude),
When she was at the vet for her 5month worm treatment the vet said 6months of age was the time to consider getting her spayed so, she will probably be done next month.

I have decided I would like to get another Mini Schnautzer in about a years time, one that I can show and perhaps eventually breed from. (all things being ok) I would love to be part of this Mini Schnautzer world and go to shows and stuff, and also I think having two dogs would be nice for Shushti.
So if anyone can point me in the right direction of a reputable breeder I can approach, I would be eternally grateful.
Thanks.

Shame it isn't a standard you were wanting as someone I know has just mated their CC winning bitch.

I would contact the breed clubs for a list of breeders that have just mated, or planning to mate their bitches. If you are hoping to have one to show you will need to get near the top of so9meones waiting list.

It would do no harm to take your current puppy to ringcragt classes, even though with a poor bite she won't do anything at shows, you will make friends and learn how to show a dog, also you may be able to get tips, and be able to practice correct coat care in preperation for you next dog.

Attending shows, especially the breed club ones as a spectatorwil enable you to meet and learn about the various bloodlines and compare your bitch to these, so that you will know what to look for, and which lines you prefer.

Thanks for quick reply.
I have seen mention of ringcraft classes. where do you find out about them?

If you conatact the kennel Club they whould be able to send you a list in your are. The list is County based, so if you are on a border ask for5 both counties. Tel 0870 606 6750

Thanks, will contact on Monday.