A question for those of you with bitches, wishing to use a particular stud dog because you like his lineage, health test results, confirmation, what he is producing etc etc.

How would you feel if the owner added, say £300 onto the stud fee but this would be returnable if the puppies were eye tested and microchipped before leaving you (or if no pups were produced of course)?

Christine

I'll assume that for "eye-testing" you mean 'breed-relevant tests', and for "microchipping" you mean 'permanent identification'. With my breed pups should be hearing-tested before sale, so I wouldn't object to that. Microchipping - what if the breeder prefers to have pups tattooed? If it was a breeder's choice as to either, then fair enough I suppose. After all, I can always use another dog if I violently object.
:)

Okay, will change to permanent identification on the assumption that the breeder will then be responsible and traceable as pups breeder during their lifetime, and to breed-relevant tests.

Christine

I would be happy to undertake this obligation - provided that the stud contract was written so that the stud owner also took joint responsibility for traceability during the pup's lifetime. I do realise that for the stud owner this could be more of a responsibility (the owner of the bitch would be responsible for, I would hope, no more than 3-4 litters, whilst a stud owner could be responsible for as many as 100 litters).

Is this what you were meaning Christine?

Margot

Good point, Margot. The stud owner would have to accept half the responsibility. If that was the case, I can't see any particular problem with the idea.
:)

I don't necessarily agree that the stud dog owner is equally responsible although they do bear some responsibility.

However the reason for my question is that although bitch owners say they will get certain things done to/with their pups when the mating takes place they can then decline to do it and the stud dog owner has no come-back on them. However if there is a large sum of money involved I wondered how many people would then be willing to deposit this so they can reclaim it once the conditions have been met - therefore giving as full health results of the dogs offspring as possible to his owner so they can keep track.

Christine

Christine - couldn't you withold your signature on the KC registration document until you have proof that the puppies' breeder has microchipped/tattooed & eye-tested?

It's just the same for the owners of bitches when we sell pups, - people can say that they don't want to breed, but then do - you can see that from postings on CD from time to time.

Personally, I know that the owner of the stud that I have used feels as responsible (and proud) of "our" litter as I do!

Margot

Trouble is, Margot, most tests need the pups to be registered, and the pups can't be registered without the dog owner's signature.

Of course - thought that was too simple an idea !

Margot