Horsefeathers!

[quote name='SexxieRacerChik']But what if someone who is allergic to dogs wants a dog and really doesn't like the way a poodle looks? Maybe (for example) they like goldens.[/quote] It's hard for me to buy that simply because there is no more versatile dog in terms of what it can look like than a Poodle. Here's a Poodle that doesn't look like a Poodle. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YACeAqseFfQhJNSjCczJkHlJqIMZFLIceatfZwShFlIkwCqyJZseeAHgXx472Gx1U6dXz5rQUv5LW2Q8aICzOplKFDlcEgJ!HnpIfDaMScaq89LVFpLI8zAKLplGx0Nha19Ln6IUFRm6ch4CTW96aQ/Perry%20pose.JPG?dc=4675400218523457213[/img] They can be shaved head to toe to look like a big hound, they can be styled to look like many other breeds (Bedlington Terriers, or any number of terrier trims, Bichons) or they can be custom styled to look like nearly anything someone would want, so the "looks" thing, to me, doesn't justify it. If someone wants a dog that looks like a Golden, they should get a Golden. Not a Goldie-Poo or Goldendoodle, or Goldie-doodle-doo, or whatever cute name they have. Besides, I really don't think it's responsible to buy a dog based solely on its looks. That may be an appeal, but it certainly shouldn't be the sole reason someone chooses a dog. Disclaimer: I'm not saying that Poodles are the perfect dog for everyone and every situation. I'm only expressing my displeasure and disgust with the "need" for "poo" and "doodle" mixes. [quote]The people out there breeding these type dog mixes seem to be trying to find a pet that appeals to these people so they can have a pet in their home they are happy with..[i]not what they had to settle for.[/i] I dont think it's very fair to tell someone with a disability that because of it they are just out f luck and will have to settle for what they can get. [/quote] Again, I disagree. By going the rescue route, I "settled for" two Standard Poodles bred down from the '91 Westminster champ (Ch. Whisperwind On A Carousel). These are everything Standard Poodles could be. Their only flaws are what could only be pointed out by a judge, or someone familiar with the breed. It was worth the wait and research to me. I wouldn't have as big a problem with it if people were actually researching it more closely rather than impulse purchasing... "I want it and I want it now!" or "Hey, that's cute! I'll take it!" with no regard to anything other than their own instant gratification. It dismays me that one would even think that adopting a dog means [u]settling for[/u] less. [quote]It's compicated and shouldn't be done by just [i]anyone[/i]. But someone who is truly after the good towards society and the breed. It's just uncommon these days for people to create new breeds because there are so many already...but society changes year after year and people want different things, and because people do no genetic testing on themselves before having offspring they "breed" more and more genetic faults into themselves...which causes them to have way different needs from , let's say, someone 10 years ago. And since people have minds of their own and are free to make hoices/decisions for themselves...these new breeds are being made for them.[/quote] If these people had a purpose other than simply capitalizing on fad breeds as well as the people capitalizing on the breeding of poor quality purebreds, I would certainly support it. Unfortunately, it's almost solely about money. THAT is what I have a problem with. I have no problem with freedom of choice. I only wish people were more responsible in the choices they make. I'm not a rescue Nazi, but it does pain me to see people so careless in the choices they make that affect so many other lives... not only the dogs, but the people who are left to try to take care of them. I only wish people would at least [u]consider[/u] adopting dogs before making an impulse purchase. That very post pretty much validates my concern that people generally have the mistaken notion that adopting means settling for an older, sick, special needs, problem dog. If a dog is being obtained simply for a pet, not to work, not to show, not as part of an effort to better a breed, I can't wrap my brain around why people wouldn't give more consideration to adopting. All I'd ask is that they at least research it rather than impulse purchasing. These people with these cutesie fad breeds and poorly bred purebreds are simply capitalizing on people's unwillingness to put any effort into obtaining a pet. Where do we start to make a difference... with these breeders, or the general public?

Wow, step away from the computer for a couple of days and miss a good "debate." Hillside, I'm soooooooooooooooo glad you addressed the thing about Poodles being stereotyped. I do truly get frustrated at the overbreeding and capitalization on all these "poo" and "oodle" breeds when I hear the excuses for breeding them. As pointed out, Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, working dogs, are no/low shedding and as "allergy friendly" as is possible, and do come in a wide array of colors and sizes. All it boils down to is people don't want to be stuck with that image of having a she-she, girly foo foo dog, so they feel better by having a diluted Poodle and calling it a "poo" or "oodle." I reckon that dilutes the girly foo foo stereotype. For its purpose (low shedding, intelligent, choice of colors, good watchdogs), there isn't a better MIX of "poo" and "oodle" dogs than just a plain Standard Poodle. If that's too much dog, they come in different sizes. I have to admit that I do get really frustrated at the intentional breeding of Poodle mixes when I just can't see a purpose to dilute them to begin with when people are wanting what they already offer. Anyone else see the catch 22 in this? Poodle rant over there. I am as pro-rescue as a person can be. I KNOW there are wonderful purebreds in the shelters and rescues. However, I really don't have a problem with people who buy responsibly (which "responsibility" could be a debatable topic, itself). I do have a problem with impulse purchases, commercial breeders (any purebred or fad mix) and backyard breeders (another long debated topic and each person has their own definition, I'm sure). I do believe IN GENERAL that anyone wanting a specific type of dog as a pet should check rescues and shelters first. However, for those who have specific requirements such as needed for a dog intended to work, or other specific purposes, that's where responsible breeding and buying would come in. I just hate to see people buying dogs plucked out of newspaper ads, flea markets, that sort of thing. In short, I'm all for the choice to own whatever type of dog one desires. I just think that, far too many times, those choices are made irresponsibly, supporting commercial breeders and people of questionable ethics.

Science_doc, your post made my eyes water up. It really does my heart good to know that you and Hailey found each other in this world. All things for a reason, I always say. Thanks for that. :angel: SRC, thanks for the tip on taping, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that Pauly would not put up with it. His ears were hurting so bad, he would cry and drop on the floor just when I'd lift them to look. I don't think he'd tolerate the taping. Thanks for the thought, though. I do keep them shaved out on the inside (if that makes sense) to take some of the "bulk" off and so they can get a bit more circulation. On the bright side, Pauly-NO seems to be feeling better. Whatever magic potion Doc made up (some concoction he created), it's working like a charm. I did save the recipe for the blue power stuff just in case this becomes a chronic thing. The hubby thing... he's going for an MRI scan next week. When I asked the doctor what we're looking for, he said "growths" or "masses." :o Oh well, one day at a time. :wink:

Do you have a checking account, or know someone who does that trusts you enough to make good on a check? Most vets I know will hold a check for up to 30 days. I hope your dog makes a full recovery, physically and mentally.

Thanks for the input. I was mulling it over today... nine dogs, eighteen meals a day. Wow. Double wow when you factor in that I do not cook at all, period. My husband is in charge of the kitchen simply because I'm a hazard (give me a vacuum, washer/dryer, dust cloth and I'm ok, but the kitchen... ack!). I am allowed occasional microwave privileges. Seriously, I've been supplementing a bit of cooked with the kibble for quite a while, but I am now considering doing the full meal deal with three of my more "problematic" dogs (allergies, innard problems). I just went to town and bought up some veggies and tub on top of tub of yogurt and cottage cheese and have taken down some chicken with the intention of getting in the kitchen this weekend and having a go at it (under close supervision, of course). I just don't think it's feasible for me to try to go about putting all nine on a solely homecooked diet, though they do all get a bit of cooked in their kibble. Better than nothing, I reckon. Heck, they eat better than me. I can eat at Burger King and never give it a thought, but when my kid sister offered a french fry to one of my dogs one day, I told her, "don't give him that crap!" She still has "issues" with the fact that I "love" my dogs more than her ("you eat that crap, but don't give it to my dogs"). :oops: Of course, I can't win because my husband thinks a dog is deprived if it doesn't get supplements of cheese puffs and cookies. :-? Anyway, I digress. Sometimes my mind takes these trips and I have to go out looking for it. Thanks again.:)

I don't know... my gang responds pretty well to ^$* #%!$+! +)*&%! and that has many syllables. Seriously, Pauly does respond better to Pauly-NO (which is his honest to goodness name as it's listed on all his records and medicine bottles :oops: ). Besides, if you are a deep South native, it's virtually impossible to say ANYTHING in less than two syllables. I mean, even three letter words get drawn out into two syllables... reyud = red, siyut = sit, ayut = out, dayum = d*mn, shiyut = well, use your imagination. Anything I call my dogs is going to be at least two syllables. They often respond well to shiyut heyud which is four syllables. Perhaps my gang is just brilliant (perhaps I've bumped my heyud). I reckon that blows that whole polysyllabalitical thingie out of the water. I mean, our dogs listen as well as anyone else's (when you can get them out from under the porch).

[quote name='courtnek']I dont think it will hurt Freebee, dogs have a natural antibiotic in their saliva, (that's why they lick themselves when injured) and God knows, she has licked dirty feet, dirty ears, cat accidents, even raided the litter box, with no repercussions... she has licked wounds on me, that never became infected...I cut myself once, and while I was bandaging it up, she jumped up on the counter and licked it. I tried to stop her, but she got quite a few licks in before I could. It healed, with no scars, and no special tending. She thinks she is a med-tech...lick the wound clean, that's the ticket!! :o[/quote] I'm sure I'm just a weirdo. I absolutely positively can !!NOT!! stand it when my dogs begin licking each others' ears, eyes, privates, or whatever. It makes me nuts. They HAVE to do it when I'm not here because I can't stand it. I tell them all the time, "I'll be doing the ear cleaning, eye washing and butt scrubbing around here! :o " I know it's natural and I hate to damage their little psyches by quashing a perfectly natural behavior, but it's just one of those little things that makes my skin crawl (ever watch Monk? if so, you understand). On the flip side, I don't mind a good "foot massage" every now and then... :oops:

I used to clean my own dogs' ears with alcohol several years ago. What broke me from it was the first time I cleaned my own ears with it. Holy balls, does it burn (or maybe I'm just a weinie)! I do still use a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and vinegar for regular maintenance ear cleaning at home (on Devin, whose ears are itchy, but not infected, I add a tiny splash of mouthwash). I keep some in a mason jar... it looks right like an ol' fasioned jar of 'shine. I have also used witch hazel. It doesn't bother my ears too much, so I guess that's how I gauge it for the dogs. :oops:

Many times, ear infections don't necessarily cause that holy moly, good grief, what died in there smell (but the ones that do... hoo boy!). Pauly's ears don't smell particularly bad, either (not particularly great, but not so bad). Did the vet mention where the blood was coming from? Was it perhaps just some sensitive tissue that had been rubbed raw? It's a really sensitive area and easy to abrade. Maybe call the vet back and ask about a good flush. Perhaps you can just flush her ears really good, skitch it in there, and let her fling the rest out. It's usually great for loosening up gunk and goo and you can wipe away the stuff that comes up. If not that, give that blue power recipe a try. I don't think Freebee licking Laurel's infected ears is a good thing (is it?)... at least not for Freebee :-? . Could you perhaps dab a bit of Bitter Apple (or something similar) on your hand and then just rub a bit on Laurel's ears... enough to deter the licking?

I call a lot of my guys "Da Man" (you know... "the man"). Then again, maybe I just sound really stupid when I say, "come on, Da Man... let's go outside..." :-? I like Darris as a male name. Of course, I like [u]Devin[/u], too. 8)

M4M, any way to play that off? Sasha looks like she could be a Collie/Lab mix for all I know (two "safe" breeds). I'd cancel probably just for the principle of it, but you never know where bsl may pop up again. It's nice to know you have a "safe" mutt with that Collie/Lab mix 'n all (even if it is a stretch... who could prove otherwise?)... I placed a gorgeous Chow/Shepherd mix once with a lady who vowed that she would never have a Chow. He became a Collie/Shepherd mix and has been this woman's best friend for a couple of years or so, black spotted tongue and all. I don't place a lot of faith in the black tongue thing being a surefire way to tell a Chow. I groom plenty of Poodles, Cockers and a variety of other dogs and mixes with black speckled tongues. Ah, the glory of having mutts. They can be anything you want them to be.

Since that ear canal is L shaped, you usually don't run a great risk of damaging anything unless you're really just driving it in there (which I seriously doubt :lol: ). Still, if their ears are really tender, I really don't like using cotton swabs, or vigorously digging (which I inadvertently ended up doing in an effort to "help" :oops: ). We are battling a major yeast infection in Pauly's ears right now and the vet told me to STOP cleaning so aggressively at this time (not aggressively as in rough.... aggressively as in thoroughly cleaning them twice a day, digging out the goo) and we are going with just a flush. Pour the stuff in, skitchy skitchy skitchy (you know, where you massage the base of the ear and can hear that stuff skitching around) and then let him shake out the excess and whatever has worked its way outward. I do wipe away whatever goo I find on the outer areas of the ear that are easily viewed and easily wiped. I imagine I was inadvertently making his ears more tender by constantly digging in them. He seems a bit more comfortable already. Really, I believe if you ask 10 different vets the best way to clean ears, you might get 10 different answers. My personal opinion is that if Laurel's ears are tender, I'd avoid too much digging around in there unless it's just absolutely caked in. If this keeps up, I'm going to be trying the blue power stuff that K and Cassie posted about in the other thread (I don't have the link handy right this second :oops: ). I have heard wonderful things about it. It might be worth you checking into? Does Laurel have chronic problems, or is this an isolated thing?

So you feed it cold/thawed, no reheating? I was thinking of making one all inclusive (except yogurt) batch and freezing it into separate meals. I hadn't thought of just freezing it raw and heating to serve. Wouldn't that affect the veggies in it then, cooking them with the meat when heating? What I had planned to do was just drop the vacuum sealed baggies of mixture into boiling water to heat. Maybe more feasible to just prepare veggies and meats separately and then put together at mealtime? I'm really trying to make it as simple as possible for me because (I'm really simple minded?) if I could make it practical, I am considering switching all nine of my dogs over to primarily homecooked instead of just the three. Sorry to say I lack the *ahem*cough* "ambition" to cook for all nine now, but I think I could be motivated by simplicity. :oops:

Do you think it would alter the quality of a cooked diet similar to that above if the meat were lightly cooked, frozen and then reheated by boiling? What I'm wanting to do is cook up big batches at a time. I have one of those vacuum sealer food saver thingies and was thinking about lightly cooking the meat, adding the veggies and the egg with shell thing (hey, I like that!), vacuum sealing and freezing it and then later reheating it by boiling the sealed bags. Do you think that would be counterproductive? Right now, we are feeding Canidae supplemented with cooked/fresh foods, but I am thinking of going solely homecooked for three of them. If lightly cooking, freezing, reheating by boiling is feasible, I could easily make up batches on the weekends. I guess my question is more like... will it alter the quality by effectively cooking it twice? (Sorry, Crested, for just butting right in :oops: )

Pauly's ears were swabbed today and he does have a major yeast thing going (which I, of course, took as a personal failure :oops: ). I've been cleaning and medicating every day, but within 12 hours of being clean, they are black again and he's still shaking his head. Doc gave me some other stuff. K and Cassie, I've heard of that treatment before and only casually looked it over in the past only because I've never really needed it. Until now (*mutter*), I've never had problem ears in any of my dogs, even the Standard Poodles who are so prone to them. They each came here with yeast infections, but I've never had one develop after initial treatment. I'm certainly going to look that recipe over more closely now. As it turns out, I may need it after all if this is going to become a regular thing. :-? Thanks for posting it. Razzle is holding his own right now, but he's still not well. The vet thinks he may need a neurologist. The puppies in the neighbor's yard were confiscated by the local shelter today (of course). Thanks for the virtual hugs. You guys are great. Today is a different day and life goes on. I reckon a vent does a mind good every once in a while.

I really didn't care much for Advantix. Every dog I used it on, from my short haired Pit Bull mix to my full coated Lhasa Apso, had a big greasy stripe for weeks after application... the Lhasa's entire back is greasy now and I applied it two weeks ago. I apply small drops down the spine right to the skin to keep from applying too much in one place (for just that reason and I feel it gives better coverage) which works fine for us with plain ol' Advantage. We've also had a few people come through the clinic complaining that it didn't work as well on fleas as the regular Advantage. The only thing I can surmise is that it just doesn't disperse as well on some dogs (since it has the same flea medicine). I know it doesn't seem to disperse well on any of my dogs. Then again, I really don't have a problem here with ticks (fleas and mosquitoes, on the other hand...). I reckon if I really needed to control ticks, too, I might be a little more apt to put up with the grease blobs.

Thanks, courtnek. Thing is we don't know why my husband's vision is diminishing. He's been blind in his left eye since childhood (some nerve thing that can't be fixed). It's only been in recent years that his right eye has started going bad. At first, glasses helped, but the glasses he has now are barely over six months old and he already can't see well with them. He also has a "haze" over his eye and he said it sometimes hurts. He's been seeing a specialist who has run every kind of test I could imagine and is still scratching his head. He has ordered an MRI scan to look into his whole head to see if there are any growths, tumors, whatever. That's kind of scary to me. His family does have a history of glaucoma, but the doctor says that's not the problem (yet?). I guess sometimes I just get overwhelmed. I know I come off like a tough ol' broad sometimes and I have always been Miss Independent and made d*mn sure he knew it, but the truth is this guy really takes care of me in so many ways and I count on him for so much. He's been my rock for so many years (16 total... 14 married). I mean, I don't mind one bit the idea of taking care of him, but he's so.... well, "manly" and independent. He LIKES being able to fix this, plunder here, diddle with that. He's the type of man who will probably work in some form or other long after retirement. To be totally honest, he's also a recovering alcoholic, sober for over 10 years now. I'm so afraid that if he were to ever become unable to work, he'd pick up again and that is a scary thought. Thanks for just letting me vent. My life is ordinarily so dull and boring and predictable (which is just the way I like it) that I find myself easily overwhelmed sometimes when "out of the ordinary" things happen.

Very good training. 8) Mine are trained to leave it until I give the ok, but they are all like coiled springs. I certainly don't have to cajole them into eating. They sit there intent and just waiting for the slightest hint that I'm going to give the ok. Then the coiled springs just sproing into action. Actually, I could set a bowl of food down and put nearly any of them into a sit/stay and walk out of the room and trust them to leave it until I got back except Pauly. So far, he's gotten the "sit" part down, but he thinks "stay" means just until I'm not looking or I'm out of reach (to be able to snatch the bowl up). That dog always acts like he's starving right to death. I never feed him without a leash on him as I want him to be able to leave a bowl in mid gulp when I tell him and go back when I release. The leash just gives me a bit more control. He's not quite getting the idea. :-? You should be proud of your well behaved feller.

Some days I swear I really don't want anything else to do with rescue and fostering, or even getting out of bed. Sometimes it's so overwhelming... like the bad always seems to outweigh the good. There are a gazillion more people that DON'T care than those who do. Just in the last week, I've dealt with: * a breeder of "teacup" Poodles who casually mentioned she also had a white Standard bitch. "Oh, you have one, too? *eyes light up* Males??? Oh, let's breed yours with mine!!! They sell for $900 each!!!" Let's not and say we did. :-? *a person who believes her Schnauzer is just the greatest and could I please help her find someone with a female so she can breed them and get her a free puppy (sure, no problem, that's what I'm here for... breeder referrals :-? ) *neighbors behind me who are forbidden by local authorities to own dogs. After having many Pit Bull puppies impounded over the last year, they've decided to try their luck with Chow (mix?) puppies. I wonder what part of "NO dogs" they don't understand? These dogs will shortly be impounded. *the most heartbreaking dog related thing to me right now... Razzle (some of you know him... he was the Standard I fostered that has a seizure disorder) is very ill. Vet is stumped and more testing is in order, but it's not looking good for him at this time. I'm devastated as, like all "my" dogs, I love him dearly. *not SUCH a big deal, but am dealing with an ear infection in Pauly that just won't go away. In all these years, I've NEVER had a dog develop an ear infection... I've only treated some that initially came here with them, but until now, have had a 100% success rate at preventing it from reoccuring. He's so miserable and I feel so bad for him. *and just to put everybody all up in my bid'ness, my husband is having some serious problems that may lead to blindness. Specialists are stumped. Tests, tests, tests and never any answers. They pretty much say, "yup, there's definitely a problem... too bad we don't know what it is." It's been a tough week. I reckon I'm just having a one person pity party. I really just wanted to vent. I would appreciate positive thoughts for Razzle, though (and the ol' man if you take a notion). I'm so scared we may lose him and I have no idea what on earth I'd ever do with my husband if he goes blind. He's such an outdoorsy, go get 'em, independent kind of guy. :(

Way to go, Candy! Congratulations! :)

TDG, are you familiar at all with the use of cyclosporin for treating allergies? Any opinions on the longterm use of it (or Atopica)?

I hate door to door peddlers of any kind. My husband and I actually had to move once to get rid of some religious zealots. We had ordered one of those "free" Mormon book of something or other and they NEVER left us alone after that. No amount of begging, pleading, cajoling, threatening got rid of them. They came at all hours wanting to talk about that freaking book. We actually moved and changed our phone number to get away from them. It's not to pick on religion, though I find that especially reprehensible. Religion is such a private issue and to have someone come to my home to discuss it with me... I'd just as soon have someone show up at my door to ask about my feminine hygiene routine so they can tell me how I'm doing it wrong. It's that personal to me. Still, I'm just as annoyed at the people who, at the start of the school year, let their children virtually assault me with pleads to buy candy, candles, calendars and all kinds of other crap to support school programs (which usually gets me started on a rant about my taxes supporting schools, though I have no children to utilize those "services"... that's all you're getting from me, now shoo!). I find that as annoying as religious peddlers, door to door salespeople and, heck, telemarketers. Anything that involves someone coming to or calling my home to "present" something to me is invasive and unwelcome and, after the problem we had with the Mormons, I don't use niceties to get rid of them. I blatantly tell them I am NOT interested and that does NOT mean I'll want to hear about it later, so do NOT come back later. Around here, the Southern Baptists and Methodists are just as bad. Whenever they get on a kick to drum up membership, they resort to canvasing neighborhoods and handing out literature and wanting to just "chat." Maybe I'm just not a people person. :o I can't wait until I live sooooooooo far out in the boonies, they can't find me. :-?

[quote name='SexxieRacerChik'] There is no dobe rescue in Alabama. So anyone wanting a rescued dobe is out of luck. [/quote] I did a quick Google search and turned up some Dobe rescues in Alabama instantly. AngelFire Doberman Rescue Leigh Wesson, 5640 Pleasant View Rd, Adger AL 35006 (800) 625-0507 Saving Grace Doberman Rescue Sasha Trexler, PO Box 477, New Market, AL 35761 256-379-4942 Kusyk, Christine, Mobile, AL Phone: 334-342-9048,

[quote name='Kidwitch']Ok... Cropping is done not only as tradition and cosmetic but to reduce ear infection in some breeds. Many breeds are more prone to ear infection based on their enviroment and ears, so they are cropped. More light and air to the ear equals with MUCH less infection. [/quote] I know this is an old topic, one which I usually am kind of amibiguous on, but that statement typically amuses me. If I believed in that logic, Cockers would have cropped ears because I can't think of a breed with thicker ears and more prone to infection. More of the (American) Cockers that I see on a daily basis have ear problems than the ones who do not. :lol:

[quote name='SexxieRacerChik'][quote name='Horsefeathers!'] I would feel entirely differently about someone breeding Cockers, Poodles, even Dobes (sorry), or any other popular breed this way. I know, double standard, but I don't see much need for preservation of these breeds at this time as the shelters and rescues are just slopping over the brim with these dogs. .[/quote] This is a flawed statement. You have to take into effect each state is diferent. There is no dobe rescue in Alabama. So anyone wanting a rescued dobe is out of luck. 90% of your "good" rescue's will not adopt out of state. So people who want a dobe either have to buy from a breeder (which there are like 2 in the paper on any given day), from a pet shop(and risk gentic defaults), or someone like me..which there are also very few of. [/quote] Actually, the flaw I find in THAT statement is that there is life outside of Alabama. Just because there aren't Dobes nearby doesn't mean they don't exist. Also, I've helped arrange many adoptions between rescues and people in other states (I have two here that I adopted from a top knotch rescue group in another state, personally), so I don't know where you get those stats (90% of rescue groups refusing to adopt out of state). There are endless numbers of groups dedicated to rescue transports. I also feel that someone considering a longterm companion could be expected to put forth a bit more effort than buying a dog for convenience's sake (refusal to look further than the local paper, for example). Also, I don't believe that ANY responsible breeder would need to advertise their puppies in the local news spread. I'm not jumping on any bandwagons, or accusing you of anything. I've not commented one way or the other about your particular breeding practices. I'm only debating a point. Again, I don't believe that ch titles are necessarily the best or only way to determine if a dog is fit to breed, but I do believe more research should go into it than having two dogs of the same breed willing to procreate.