I spoke to my mother on the 'phone earlier and apparently my brother and his wife are thinking of getting a dog, a labrador. I told her to tell them to make sure that the parents are tested for hips, elbows and eyes and to check that anything else they need to be tested for has been done. He reply was "he saw some in the local paper for £250" I told her to let them know to be VERY careful as this is cheap for a lab pup and they said I didn't know what I was talking about. Apparently she doesn't want a BC as "they can turn on you". Her father has 4 (!!!!!!) that live outside and work with cattle and sheep! I told my mother to make sure that when I visit in October that she tells everyone of her friends to stay away just in case one of my three lick them to death! I shouldn't be surprised really, when my sister in law was told that Kel had HD she responded by saying that "collies don't get HD, either the vet is conning you or you are lying"

Why are people so stupid?

sorry rant over, just really winds me up!

Don't families drive you mad my mother in law was horrified to hear we had another dog what was I thinking of getting two I explained I don't drink, smoke, gamble or do drugs so why shouldn't I have something that makes me happy some people don't get it.  Why would you lie about your dog having hd i don't understand some people:rolleyes:

>>Why would you lie about your dog having hd i don't understand some people<<

Exactly! It's their comments about BC's that are so laughable, they turn on you?:rolleyes: ANY dog can be problem in the wrong hands, collies are no different. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if she said it cos she knows my mother would tell me:rolleyes: I know she doesn't approve of me having collies for agility as they are "working dogs" even though her dad thinks that agility is harder than herding sheep as everything they are asked to do has to be learned, nothing is natural. Seems to me that he has far more experience about such things ;-)

My mother thought I was mad getting my second dog, and then my third. LIke you I don't smoke, gamble or do drugs, I hardly drink and rarely go out and I live alone so my money and time is mine to spend as I please. She says she is not a dog person but I know that she loves mine and in particular the dog that has the imaginary HD ;-) I just don't understand why people say and do such things:rolleyes:

They are not the sort of people to pay for something like insurance for a dog, if they don't make sure the parents have health checks then it could be a disaster waiting to happen and it is the pup that will suffer  :-(

Daft aren't they!! :rolleyes:

My Mother in law won't visit the house because of the animals so they are useful in that direction as well breath slowly and yes I feel for the puppy to oh well fingers crossed.

that reminds me of when we got our dog, we contacted many litters and didnt pursue them  due to lack of hip scoring, etc and eventually felt we had made a good choice and paid the normal high price for a good dog only to be told by the inlaws that we could of got one out of the gazette for £100:rolleyes:

my mother in law wont visit because of the dogs either- neither my sister in law! so yes, they are useful for that!

:rolleyes:
I have to bite my tongue sometimes. My sons friend breeds from his staffy, no papers, no tests etc. When I tried to explain the difference my son told me I was a snob

My lab wasn't hip scored and I paid 250 for her - but that being said I saw the parents, grand parents, all siblings etc and all were fine as they were working gun dogs so took the risk that seeing as none of the other dogs had problems mine wouldn't (and at 4 yrs she hasn't had anything wrong with her)

As long as people go into things with their eyes open...

My lab wasn't hip scored and I paid 250 for her -
If you bought your dog as a puppy ie under 12 months it couldn't be hip scored & seeing the relatives doesn't really reveal the state of their hips My severely dysplasic BC never had any problems with his hips or movement but he did have bad HD

Sorry - I obviously wasn't clear

My lab came from work dogs that all worked every day and had no physical problems so took that as a sign that she was going to be ok - as far as I am aware all that happens is that a vet checks out the parents to see if they hae any problems and then pass that info on

as far as I am aware all that happens is that a vet checks out the parents to see if they hae any problems and then pass that info on

My BC was from working dogs didn't stop him having HD-the only way to know is to score HipCoring isn't justa vet assessing the clinical signs of HD the hips have to be x rayed & assessed by experts who have to undergo training in assessing hips(& elbows)

Labs like BC's should also be DNA & clinically screened for eye problems

sorry wasn't implying any vet did the check!

What I was trying to get at was that even with testing things can still go wrong.  If like me you are happy with you dog then what's the problem?

My main concern is that people quote that you should go to a reputabale breeder etc to cut out the dogy ones and stop puppy farms but these places only exist because people charge a fortune for pure bred dogs - we can't have it both ways

puppy farms but these places only exist because people charge a fortune for pure bred dogs

Puppy farm puppies by & large in't cheap but they do have puppies always available & intodays world of see one want one it is the buyers that keep the puppy farmers in business

Dogs shouldn't be cheap & if you can't afford the price you shouldn't be thinking about buying a puppy. Consider the designer dogs they are usually more expensive than the breeds using in the crosses(locally lab are £450-£500, poodles £600 -Labs x Poodles-£750 upwards !!! no health tests done of course)

>these places only exist because people charge a fortune for pure bred dogs

False premise: puppy farmers frequently charge more than reputable breeders. The 'advantage' they have is instant supply. In today's 'have-it-now' society that's all that matters. :rolleyes:

and they take credit cards etc!

LIke you I don't smoke, gamble or do drugs, I hardly drink and rarely go out and I live alone so my money and time is mine to spend as I please.

Isn't it funny how we feel we have to justify the life-enhancing (potentially for two species) interest of dog ownership by comparing it with  habits like smoking, drinking etc. just because it costs money (and time and commitment and love). After the recent tragic case with the Rottweilers I wonder if having a dog will soon be regarded as being on a par with owning a firearm.

My daughter has a very hard time accepting that her father and I choose to spend our money and time on dogs (and grandchildren) rather than going on cruises, having an awning fitted or installing a walk-in bath, all of which is now compulsory for people over fifty apparently.  Oh dear, yet another failure of motherhood.

(Sorry to highjack the thread.  I am compiling a long and very boring report for the Local Authority at the moment so look out for similar interuptions  throughout the day.  You have been warned.)

A friend bought a brown labrador from a back yard breeder, after deciding he liked the look of lab puppies. That was the extent to his reseach into the breed of dog he wanted. :rolleyes: . His words were "It was so easy, I found one for 250 quid, called the lady and went to pick him up". Months later, after some challenging behaviour he said he 'didn't realise different dogs had different traits - I thought they were all the same".

He was then discussing getting a Jack russel because 'he saw some puppies in the paper and they were only 150 quid"

I actually hold my head in my hands sometimes.

After doing as much research as I could, basing our choice on a breed that my husband had had experience of in his family, I spent considerably more on our GR, for which I get very snide comments about. He also constantly try's to compete with Roxy in an attempt to show me I've wasted my money. Nothing will ever, ever will make me think that I did anything but the right thing in spending time, energy and money in getting the right dog for our situatuion. Some people just will not be told.

My in-laws told us that we were wasting our money spending £500 for our lab, whos parents were hip, elbow and eye checked aswell as making sure the genetics of the two lines worked. Turns out it was the best £500 we've ever spent, he's worth his weight in gold and is really healthy.
In-laws on the other hand bought from dogs r us , they have 2 dogs and have spent literally thousands on treatments for skin disorders, growths, incontinence, and other bahavioural problems.

Sarah

Hmmm, and assuming the folk who buy from puppy farms then claim on the insurance to pay for treatment from the various ailments - that'll be why its so flipping expensive these days then!!

My neighbours (highly educated people) were appalled at the thought of even buying a dog.  She actually said to me, "I'd never BUY a dog."  They got their Lab girl from a friend and she is so much like my girl the other neighbours, and we ourselves sometimes, can't tell them apart.  The problem?  They got their pup with specific activities in mind, one being that the dog run with them as they train for the MARATHONs they run.  We go to the same Vet and he cringes to think of this poor dog doing that much running with her extremely straight hind legs.  There is practically no bend at her hocks at all so all the shock goes up to her hips.  The Vet is just waiting for some really bad hip displaysia to show up; amazingly, it hasn't yet.  The dog is also basically untrained and while my poochie-girl and I walk over to the bush to cross-country ski the neighbour woman has to drive because she can't control the dog and carry her skiis at the same time.

When my husband visited his sister and was telling her that we were getting another newf puppy in a couple of months her reaction was a tiny bit negative, she actually said to him. "What on earth are you getting another one of them for? Oh so your wife just snaps her fingers and says I want anther £1000 dog and you, you fool are going to buy it for her. Can't be bad for some, anyway it will be dead in 10 years what a waste of money. Why don't you go on holiday instead?"

Husband pointed out quite firmly that I love dogs (he does too but he's too manly to admit it.), 10 years of love is worth the heart break when they die, a holiday lasts for 2 weeks, :rolleyes: AND I was buying it not him. Needless to say she kinda shut up, but she rarely visits because she doesn't like hair or spit, (there is a lot of that in my house) so there is always a positive side.

Izzy, that is quite shocking, does she have any children? You could try asking her why? After all, they cost loads of money,restrict your life for years, cause you absolute misery when they become teenagers and then eventually they join the human race but you are still stuck with them. Perhaps she shouldn't bother with them and have a holiday instead? Or maybe she should get a dog, £1000 and 10 years? she could have a dozen and it would still cost less! ;-) <VBEG>

I have a rich aunt and uncle that think they are poor, they have no concept of what poor is! They constantly make comments to my mother about "how can she afford 3 dogs, we had one and she cost us a fortune!" when she told them I feed them raw meat they almost exploded! ROFPMSL My mother thinks it is funny as she can see the bigger picture and knows exactly how I can afford it. They also ask questions like, "do you think the dogs enjoy agility? The inferrence is that I am forcing them to do it somehow:rolleyes: Apparently though I still know nothing about dogs and once again I have been told that I wasted my money getting Sol hip scored because collies are working dogs and they don't get HD............. someone please point me in the direction of the wall so I can bounce my head off it! Or maybe I should just wait for them to turn on me?:rolleyes:

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

At training last night one of the members announced she is using another members GSD at stud on her bitch-both obtained from a local rescue(not our GSD one)no health tests at all & why does she want to use this dog ? no one with a health tested stud was interested & anyway only KC registered dogs have health problems !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say they are both longcoats & maidens & their owners are also first time breeders  & of course they have no idea how old there dogs are !

Even if they had pedigrees neither is a good example of the breed(both way oversized for a start)when I raised the health issues I was told I was jealous Like right I have a puppy BC booked for 18 months or so time & a GSD in 2010 or after(depends when my friend breeds) both from fully health tested parents & the GSD from Germany so I must be really wanting a LC from two rescues who could be brother & sister & who both have obvious breed faults(including their temperaments which are v unpredictble)

All I can hope is that they don't get a mating or the bitch doesn't conceive otherwise there will more unwanteds in our rescue in a year to 18 months time