My girl went to the vets to have a hip score yesterday. The vet rang me after taking the x-rays and said that her hips looked really good. However with Dobermann's the breed average is low (10). What would be a good enough score to allow her to be breed from? If it was 10 and you breed her to a 0:0 dog would the pups then have good hips or doesn't it work like that? I won't get the results for a while and I'm really stressed!!!

Any advise would be great. Debbie

I dont know what dobermans scores in general are like. However don't worry.
I just my girls back and they took three weeks her score was 3:2 our breed average is 13. Have a look what the parents and grandparents of your dog were. However even with score dogs that are low hip dysplacia can appear. Its not just genetics either. Bad diet or over exercise before a dog is one years of age can make a difference to what the score is. It is always better to aim for a low score when breeding, but like in many breeds the over all picture of a dog is needed before considering to breed. They may have hips of say 0:0 but have the wrong bite. So look into every aspect of the sire.
Just try not to worry. Its always better to score than not at all. In my breed although the average is 13. Some breeders breed often with scores above
13 and above 20. I add I dont, but some do. Perhaps a dobermann expert will be able to give you more of a guide. But my advice is well done that you have had her scored, at least you will know soon. Let us know how you get on. Remember when looking for the right sire that he must compliment your bitch and don't choose the first dog you come accross. Make sure they are everything you want and if you have to travel to get him. Well so be it.
Nutkin

Hi Debbie

This is theory - not practice remember :)

If you take a 0:0 male and a 5:5 female and also the breed average of 5:5 add them all together = 20 divide by three = 6 .2/3 this is in theory the score you should get, it does not always work in practice though as there are so many variables including diet and environment as well as parents genes..

Do you know the hip scores of your bitches ancestors - if not let me know her name and I will look them up for you (I have all reported results on Dobes)

With regard to breeding her have you also had her eye and von Willebrand tested as this could give you other things to look for in a stud dog

Good luck with your results - you should know within the month or even a week if you have caught them at the right time

Whatever you do, don't get stressed as there is absolutely nothing you can do about the outcome and bitches don't have to be bred from to make wonderful companions.

Christine

Thanks for your replies.
I had booked her in to have her Vwd test at the same time but as it is quite expensive my vet wanted me to wait for the hip score results just to be on the safe side. She will also be eye tested. Then my search for the perfect partner will begin. Plenty of show visits I believe ( what a shame).

Thanks again Debbie

Hi Debbie

Please DO NOT use your vet for the vWD test as they use an Elyssa (?sp) test and this is not accurate but is, I am told, expensive.

There is a DNA test available where the results are: Clear, Carrier or Affected and I have just finished running a Clinic for this whereby we get the test for $99 instead of $140 if we can get 25 dogs participating. I posted it off this morning but if you are interested please contact me ASAP.

Have fun with your show visits.

Christine