Question to breeders

[Ilona & Gina]

I don't know why, but In our community, we have a lot of dogs with allergies, especially atopic dermatitis.

However, many fellow dog owners have told me that breeders turned nasty when they informed them about their dogs' conditions. One of my friends informed the breeder that her dog suffered from atopic dermatititis. What she got as a reply was ranting and raving over the phone, "stop all that treatment, you'll kill your dog. It's all your fault. You are neurotic." and so on. My friend was crushed. A friend of hers who ahppens to be a vet comforted her with the words. "many breeders react the same way. They feel offended and think it is something against them."

I certainly do not want to offend breeders. Who says a disease is "their fault"? I simply think that, as a responsible dog owner I have the obligation to tell the breeder about diseases. And maybe they have some good tips how to manage. After all, it is about all the future dogs' health and happiness, and of course, about the breeders' good name.

Here my question to the breeders among us: Has ever somebody informed you about a disease in one of the dogs you bred? And if so, how did you react/how would you react? The thing is, as a dog owner you want to stay in close contact to a breeder and keep each other up to date, maybe get some tips how to cope with illness - or am I wrong?

[ursula wilby]

You are 100% right Ilona!
You should tell your breeder and as far as I know, all puppy-buyers that have had a problem of any kind with their dog, have told me.

But then I do call people from time to time during the first one - two years and ask how things are going. So it may be that buyers feel its OK to phone and let me know. And I need to know what is going on so that I can do something about it.
I also keep very good records of all the litters and have a fairly good overview how each combination turned out.
This enables me to perhaps help the next owner with whatever problem there may be.

As for allergies...I can not say that I think there is a lot of this in Irish setters.

[Ilona & Gina]

Thank you for your reply Ursula.

Yes, the vet told me that allergies in irish setters are rare.
I would never "blame" a breeder for an ailment. Some things just happen, the same as we can become ill.
However, I still believe that contact to the breeder is a good thing. After all, they know their breed and can give advice, whether it's a breed specific ailment or not.

[ursula wilby]

Dogs are not much different from people...you can HOPE, but you can never DEMAND that your child is going to be healthy for the rest of its life.

Yet quite often when it comes to dogs, there are some puppy-buyers will feel that if their dog is not 100 % healthy, they have been tricked by the breeder or that the breed is no longer healthy (and even there the breeder is somehow at fault).

Buying a puppy is never like buying a car or whatever.
Its more a matter of trying your best and keeping fingers crossed at the same time.

[Susan Stone]

Hi Ilona,

I agree, as a responsible dogowner you should inform your breeder of any problems your experience - and a responsible breeder should encourage puppy buyers to do so.

Having experienced such phone calls I think I know how a breeder feels at such a moment: Dismay, distress, upset, worry... all feelings that are in no way pleasant. Both breeder and owner wish for the best for the dog. It is a heartbreaking moment to be told a dog you bred has epilepsy or worse has had to be put to sleep due to a serious disease. But it is vital that the information is passed on to the breeder. It is also so very important to let the owner realize he/she is been taken seriously and to share some of the anguish felt.

But exactly this feeling of anguish is probably something we have difficulty with. Some breeders prefer to rebuke the owner rather than to take responsibility - I assume this is a form of self-protection, just as a fearful dog can turn aggressive... I am not trying to excuse this behaviour, just find an explanation.

I for one always feel tense when a puppy buyer phones me until I know the reason for the call. Is there a problem? Is all ok? Is it just a call to say all is going well?

I want to know of any difficulties arising - at the same time I fear them! But then, that is what breeding is about: trying to breed healthy dogs with good temperaments that are fit for life! To reach that goal, I need the information about the dogs I bred.

[Catherine Carter]

Well Susan, I would have said exactly the same as you.....except your English is so much better than mine.......you entirely express my thoughts!

[Susan Stone]

My english is better???? I very much doubt it being an 'ex-pat' since 1969!

[Catherine Carter]

yes Susan, but English is still your mother tongue....I may have to speak English everyday here but I think I still think mostly in French....or in a French way!!!!!!!

[Jo Ottinger]

Susan you always know what to say. I agree that if I had a litter I would like to know of any problems that may come up with the puppies. I have been lucky that the breeder of both Scout and Hawk has been so supportive with any questions or problems I have had with either boy. She was there throughout Scout's illness, loss and through Hawk's first year (he is already 10 months old). She never criticized me for any of the choices I made about Scout. I hope that any breeder I go to I have the same experience with.

[Ilona & Gina]

Hi Susan,

Thank you so much for your honest reply. Sure, it must be upsetting to hear that one of your puppies is not well. I can understand the stress when the phone rings and it's one of the buyers. I call Gina's and Anton's breeder just to keep her posted, ask training questions and tell her about the progress these two rascals are making and never thought about her stress when the phone is ringing and it's Ilona. I simply like to share happinesss and success with the breeder. At the same time, I want to be able to tell her when something is wrong. However, I would never blame her for Gina's allergy! That would be outright arrogant and rude. But of course, now I can understand, it must be felt like personal criticism - I am self employed and even feel terrible when a customer just asks me to make minor changes....

[Susan Stone]

Maybe I focussed too much on the 'stress factor'. I must now 'stress' ;-) that of course I am happy to hear from the owners about their dog, how they are getting on, what adventures they have had, the admiration they get for their dog, the mischief he gets up to - and sometimes even how good he is....!

When a problem has occurred I have never felt I was being blamed or personally criticised.
But still, as breeders we suffer with the owner. It is the feeling that most of us experience when someone - be it animal or human - is in distress and you want to help but can't.

I have said this before: as breeder I make the descision for these puppies to be born - that fact alone makes me responsible.

[ursula wilby]

I have never felt that I have been criticised for anything that might happen to one of "my" dogs.
But I have heard of quite a few cases like that from other breeders.

I think this is like everything else in life, we are all different and deal with problems in a different matter. Perhaps I am almost too much involved in my puppies lives. But then only having a maximum of one litter a year, I can handle this. It would be a totally different matter if I had several litters a year and all those familys to deal with.