Posted by attitude on 3/6/2009, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Re: first time corso buyer"
173.34.177.179
"Things to Ask
1) Ask for HARD proof of health testing
These will include the minimum of:
: Hip and elbow certification from OFA,
Pennhip or OVC
And may also include : CERF testing
: Heart
: Thyroid
as well as others
2) Ask just what health guarantees are offered.
Keep in mind that some genetic illnesses don't evidence until later in life. Although hips can and have been certified at young ages most professionals recommend certifying a dog at 2 years or older and as such the guarantee should cover the dog until it's second year.
Check and be sure that the sire and dam were in fact old enough to even be having puppies. masiff breeds do not really even mature until their third/fourth year.
3) Are the parents of your prospective pup on site?
4) Can you see them and interact with them?
5) Have BOTH the parents had all the proper health testing done?
4) Have both sire and dam been temperament tested?
5) Do the parents have working titles? Corsos ARE a "working breed" and brood stock should be proven
6) Do they have conformation titles?
The Corso is still meant to be a WORKING breed if a breeder is producing litters without first testing temperament, working ability and structural soundness then they are not looking out for this breeds best interest nor trying to better it.
7) are the parents, and in turn, your pup registered?
With whom? There are numerous registries out there and they are not all created equal, nor are they all reputable.
8) How long has the breeder been involved with this particular breed? All breeds are not the same; each has its idiosyncrasies, and a solid understanding of what those are helps a breeder place the right dog in the right home.
9) What has the breeder accomplished with his dogs?
Working titles, ob titles, conformation championships? anything? Or are the dogs simply for breeding purposes? A breeder that does nothing to better the breed, again, is not after the best interest of the breed.
10) ask what problems DO run in the lines and what problems does this breed have. There is no such thing as a breed without issues of some sort. A breeder that will tell you so is not being truthful with you.
11) How many litters does/did the breeder have in the course of a year?
Does he keep pups out of litters for himself or is this just a "cash crop"
12) If you should ever run into problems (training, behaviors ECT) is the breeder going to be there to help you out? Should you ever have to give up your pup/dog can you count on the breeder to take him back and rehome him? Ethical breeders ALWAYS want to know puppies they have produced are safe and happy and are always willing to take back a dog should problems arise and you can no longer care for them. It is the horror of any ethical breeder to hear that one of their pups has ended up in a shelter. if a breeder is more than happy to take your money but doesn't want to hear from you after they are not looking after the best interest of this breed.
Do your research, take your time, a dog is a life time commitment and there is nothing more heart breaking than finding out your companion is unhealthy or unsound"
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