I am in the process of trying to find a stud for our eigteen month old Staffie, she was born with a hair lip and I wondered if anyone out there has been in the same situation. She has been at the vet and had her full check up regularly and has never had any problems and the vet has said it would be no problem to breed her and that it isn't hereditary. I am however curious to know if anyone else has been in this situation and if there are any problems I should be aware of when breeding her?.

Many thanks in advance, 

If she were mine I would not consider breeding from this bitch. Hare lip is closely associated with cleft palate. Although cleft palate is possible in any litter, I think this particular bitch would have a greater than average likelihood of producing pups with cleft palate, as well as pups with the same deformity as their mother.

My advice is, don't do it.

In any case you may well have difficulty in finding a good stud dog whos owner wished to be associated with a litter from this bitch.

Dawn R.
PS I do not agree with your vet.

I dont agree with your vet either. I am firmly convinced that it is hereditory in both dogs AND HUMANS.

Regards, John

I have to say that i totally disagree with your vet and am 100% convinced that hairlips are hereditory

theres absolutely no need at all to breed from a dog with a deformity such as this

there is every likelyhood that the pups would have the same deformity as the mother
some or all could even be so bad as to need putting to sleep by the vet within a few hours of birth

i certainly wouldnt breed her if she was mine
neither would any stud dog of mine be involved in such a mating

get in touch with your local staffy club and discuss it with them
im sure that they will agree with what has been said

Z

If you do a google search on 'cleft lip and palete heredity' you will find plenty to keep you busy reading for hours - according to most of the papers it definately can be inherited - if the parent is affected then the children are likely to be too, and the severity is not predictable - just because the parent has only a cleft lip doesn't mean the children won't suffer from cleft palete.  Heredity in humans is more often than not mirrored in dogs (for example dentition)

Where on earth was your vet trained??

i know what its like when you really want a litter you can get into the trap of being blinded and become tottaly irational,  i know i had a bitch who had a hereditary skin condition but she was a top winning bitch and i really wanted to keep a bitch from her, but i had to be unselfish and remember that health comes before type. i had her spayed and kept showing her and she is a lovely pet. i started all over again with a lovely pup who is the picture of health, probably not the best show bitch, but will make a good brood bitch.

Like the others, I would urge you not to go ahead - as someone said you will not find a reputable stud dog owner, so you will be faced with using an inferior dog to add to the problem of your bitches hare lip. Please tell us you have changed your mind, as the possible heartbreak isnt worth it. Please also tell us you have changed your vet! 

I wouldn't breed from her, I think the chances of having pups with cleft palate/harelip would be too high. Talk to your breed club and see what they suggest.
Also have you had her eye tested - that too can be a problem with staffs, decent stud dog owners will insist on it :) .

I agree with the advice given. You should consider just keeping your bitch as a pet dog. Losing puppies to cleft palate is not a pleasant experience :-(
love your dog for who she is, but dont breed from her

If you really really want to breed, why not get in touch with the breed clubs and go to the shows? :) That way you will be able to find the best bitch available to breed from and get her tested and shown so that you will have a choice of really good studs :)  Breeding puppies is hard work and risky for the bitch and your pocket.  If you're going to breed then you want to end up with the best possible pups.  If you can't afford a really good bitch then you can't afford to breed anyway - its an expensive business ;)
The bitch you have now isn't breeding material, just enjoy and love her for what she is - your lovely pet :)

I wouldnt, even though i bet shes lovely etc its just not worth passing it down the lines is it?keep her as a pet and she'll be great!!:)

Have you researched your bitches pedigree? There are likely others in her family tree who have been born with cleft palate/hare lips, have you spoken to the breeder who you got her from? I know of at least one very famous Staff who has thrown litters with these hereditery defects, I would not breed from her at all. Just love her as you have done, and look into getting a pup from new lines if you really want to have another dog. Bringing a new litter in the world with possible defects will be heartbreaking for you, and very difficult to sell on. :(