Well I don’t know IF it was my post on the early spaying and neutering that stirred up this conversation, but as usual i can’t figure out how this forum works, even though I maintain several websites…
I am a former breeder of TOP IMPORT show line German Shepherds and have pups across the nation. 2002- jan of 2012 with a website that was on page one of google for 5 years. I bred 3 litters a year. Have NO kennels and didn’t sell to breeders, nor people who would not sign a contract that they would NOT breed my dogs unless the dogs were proven through some guidelines that they were breed worthy, yet they were not allowed to spay or neuter my dogs until AFTER the 14 months of age. (AKC offers a LIMITED registration for that purpose)
I’m used to contraversy about spaying and neutering, but I’ll try my best to explain my point of view.
And you don’t have to agree. And I don’t want an argument either…
I am the FIRST breeder in the World, yes World, to start testing for Degenerative Myelopathy, a neurological hereditary disease like ALS in people. This was in 2008 when the test became available after many yrs of research. I bred OUT the DM in my dogs from that moment forward making for very happy pup owners. I also only bred dogs who’s hips and elbows were rated by the German Shepherd club of GERMANY – the SV.
Health comes first – Happiness will follow
in my book, thus my dogs live in a pack and were / are happy campers, healthy, vaccinated very lightly and fed the best foods. Yes, I did not make money, this was my labor of love but because my dogs lived they way they do, does not make me a back yard breeder. Their back yard is 10 fully fenced treed acres to hunt and play on. And sleeping indoors, all of them.
At the first litter, of which Zuess is one, the affected dog with cancer, i noticed differences between the conformation of Zuess and his gorgeous sister Zaoa which i kept also, and their spayed and neutered siblings. IF you see exterior differences, then also the interior IS affected. DNA is DNA inside and out. I immediately started looking on the internet and found quite a bit of supporting data that it affects dogs health long term.
Let me put it this way: Would you sterilize your 3 1/2 your old child???
no…
because you KNOW that can’t be healthy but why?
you’re putting them in EARLY MENO PAUSE
Most times dogs are spayed is between 8 – 14 months
WRONG MOVE
as that is when they are in PUBERTY (so they are a bit more difficult – duhhh)
when the hormones testosterone estrogen etc they NEED are going nuts
we jank it out of them ?
only to make matters worse as we do not give them hormone replacement
as we do with human hysterectomy cases…
hmmm – does that sound right?
Zuess was given a rabies shot in Jan of 2012, neutered at age 5 as he was too tall for breeding, and
he was around females all the time and smart so I wanted ‘piece of mind’ and look what we got now,
six months after the rabies shot. Of course, we’ll never know, but I have seen inexplicable forms of
illness happen shortly after vaccinations and spaying and neutering.
If you need more info on how to find a good any breeder its all on my website
http://Kerschberger.com ck out the “how to ID a good Breeder” and the
“Buyer Beware” links – also ck out the DM link and help spread the word 🙂
Though I fully believe in rescueing dogs/cats etc, and I always will do that as well, you can’t blame
people for wanting a dog that comes with a history and a character manual. Many of my buyers
had rescues and in addition wanted a dog that didn’t have issues. Not that all rescues have issues,
most do not, which I rescued at least. But I know several do.
Its not good breeders or large breeders that charge a fair amount for their pups that create the pet over
population problem, because the ones I know, will take a dog back under most circumstances.
Breeders run into a fair share of shitty owners too that want to return a dog for no good reason
and more than once have ruined the dog, then want to dump it back. which is why my interview
protocol was strict without them knowing. BUT volume breeders can often not afford to be picky,
thus risking the dogs’ future, which I didn’t have to do, as I didn’t breed for the money.
So who are the problem makers?
The breeders across the world, who sell pups for next to nothing, who don’t know their breed, didn’t
do what is necessary for the betterment of their breed, (ie: spend money on them) and more often
breed mixed breeds which are given away after an accidental (yeah) breeding.
To my opinion, its those ‘buyers’ who buy from such breeders who don’t do their homework.
I waited till i was 40 to buy my first German Shepherd (Zuni) at age 3 because I knew it was going to be expensive
time consuming as its a high maintenance breed. I had to make time for him.
Until then I had only easy going rescues. Zuni clearly made his mark and I was right to wait for The greatest dog that ever lived
I hope everyone one day can have the dog of their dreams. http://noltevonderwienerau.com is his site
If you have questions email me directly because I spend a lot of time with my dogs and particularly
with “Zuess, son of Zuni”, as I always say.
I m reading myself silly on ‘how to’ make things easier on him so he can live a full live with his buddies and myself.
Take Care!
Gina , Zuess and the gang
raw4k9@…
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