DOn't get me started on the whole 'Designer Breed and puppy mill" and backyard breedr
ok, first let me tell u a bit about my pack I have a 2yr old, 150lb cane corso mastiff, Zeus whom is my mobility Service dog, a lab/irishsetter, so what, labster? 75lbs and 3 yrs old whom, when got her, were told she was fixed. never questioned that, till let her and Zeus out to go potty one morning in Sept07, around 5am, when went tolet them back in, small problem, yes, you guessed it, they were tied. SO,Dec2, 2007 4 hours after her water broke, we had 13 yes thats right thirteen pups! we did lose one. We kept one and at that time also had a just under year old APhrodite, whom we thought was pure corso, even had her papers. but, few days before her first heat., went from playing to attacking 4 mth old Bacchus, theone pup we did keep. he did make it and is now 75lbs. unfortunatly, her agression did not improve. mater of fat, was letting Zeus, Princess and Aphrodite in the door one day, she went after princess, bynow her cycle was well over. while breaking it up, she turned on me and went to snap after had knocked me down. needless to say, Zeus went into protection mode. oftenwhenpeople saw her they asked if she was pit. Well, after that I began to learn a lesson wish would have before got her.ALWAYS check out the breeder your buying from. are they a registared breeder? what specifically are they breeding for, how often do they breed the same bitch? etc. I remembered then he also bred pit bulls. After working with her, having her evaluated by a behavorist, whome said that clearly, she believed that not only was there some serious agression in her line, but that she questioned if she was really pure corso as much of her actions and manerisms appeared as more pit. SO had to wonder, did he breed her with his corso but maybe his pit, whome was the same exact cloloring as his male corso maybe get ahold of her also? whenhad called and told him about the attack, his comment was " so yourputting the pup down right?" I waslike, ah as of now no, if he can be treated and live a good life then why would I? well he then said yeah thats how theyget youto put out money tug at the heart strings. Then he sugested that we "get a beat down stick, beat her and put her in her kennel so she learns who's boss" I was shocked! well needless to say, there went my consideration of giving her back to him. it wasnt till then I remembered him mentioning to keep her away from the pups right after they were born, cause Aprodite's moms sister had gotten into his pits nursing area and Killed 3 of the pups . when Aphrodie was born she was oneof 7 but only 4 survived. she sat on 3 as they were being born. made me wonder, ok knew your dog was close to to giving birth, and was not keeping an eye waiting for them? I mean hell, Princess showed signs of heat around 2 that afternoon, kept eye on her, midnight she moved from the floor on the side of the bed, into the kids pool had set up for a birthing area, walked in, let her water break then went back to the side of the bed and started delivering. first pup was out at 1206am, number 13 was born at 4:15am. even our vet was shocked not only at the amount of pups, but at how quick her labor had been. WEll, we finally went to our vet with aphrodite to see if she had any thoughts. she had gotten the report from the behaviorist, whom did question if she was really pure corso as some of her reactions were more typical to a pit of her age. of course, only way would have known for sure would have been to o the expensive DNA lab work. but didnt. while waiting at the vets when first went in, she saw her agression first hand. another dog walked into the waiting area. she imediatly growlled, showing teeth and tried to get loose from my hubby. We knew what decision had to be made. we have a great vet and she was honest. her first concern was my safety as well as others, and said we did have a liability on our hands. the behaviorist had said in her report flat out, she suspected severe agression in her line of breeding. So itwasdecisiontrime. do we try to keep working, or say goodbye. It was a hard decision, but had to look at everything, the rest of my packs safety, our saftey, our guests safetly etc. SO, laying in my arms we let her go off to the summerlands. It really broke our hearts but know it was what was right, ciouldnt rehome her cause 1. would have to mention the agression, 2 what if next time it was a child she attacked? as well, as if keeping her away from the rest of hte pack, not letting her get out with other dogs etc what kind of life is that?
Now this whole new thing of designer dogs! ok, 10 years ago? the same combinations of dogs would have been called a MUTT! so what? suddenly they are not? give me a break! recently long story short, we added a new member to our pack after mother and son had jumped the fence. when got them a little terrier mix was with them. HE was in bad shape to say the least! underweight, black crusties in the corner of each eye etc. knew who owned him, at least 97% sure, but ehy had ben gone for 2 days. Iwas gonna just keep, hubby thought about the possibile issue with that when they got back and happened to see or hear him over here. so we did it the right way. noone either ever showed upto claim or they decided not to return him and is now named Apollo and is part of the pack. What is he? well, from appearences both Jill our vet and I think Cairnpoo, aka Carin terrier and poodle, a small poodle, aka lets behonest, APollo is a MUTT.
So, people, rather then going and spending what like for Apollo, go to abreeder orpet store that sells pups, which are usually from puppy mills and pay from like 300-1000+? or go toa shelter near you and get a dog that is already here, and needs a new home. do what is best! THe only way we will ever get these puppy mills to go away is
1) stop buying from pet stores! no breeder whom is breeding to better a breed, a pure breed is gonna sell there pup via a pet store. they want to be sure that they are getting what they feel is the best home for them. unlike puppy mills whom only care about a dog as long as she can still have pups every cycvle and the boys as long as they can still stud. after they are wore out and can't anymore, they are usually put down. not to mention they live there whole lives in a tiny cage.
2) Get better and stricter laws about this.
If you are getting a dog from a breeder, even if its someone whom has breed a designer if thats what you want and have the money to spendon it,
1) find out why they decided to breed, if its a pure breed, what hcarateristics arethey breeding for?
2) how long have they bee breeding
3) when there females are not pregnant, or not using the males to stud, where are they sleeping, ask to see the dogs area as well as the puppy area.
4. and this is a biggy!!! ASK FOR RECOMENDATIONS from others whom have gotten pups from them.
mind you, most of these questions should also be asked if looking for one through a pet store, and can almost guarantee you, they likely would not be able to answer you and likely could not go check out the area they lived in before getting to that store. Once when just popped in to get something and they have there display cases withdogs, they had a white bull dog for sale for 1800! could tell it had either a cold or a kennel cough. asked these questions and the guly was like, ah, I don't know, let me see if my manager does. Of course he can;t answer you eitehr but will tell you, oh we would not get a dog from a puppy mill ever!!! liers.
IT all boils down to this. if looking for a dog and not set on a certain breed or only want a pup that you will be its only owner,go to a shelter. weather county, humane society or breed specific rescue. save one of these dogs!
If only want the pure breed, check the breeder out! prior customers, are they registared for that breed etc.
hopefully one day, laws will be tough enough, thes pet stores will be gone and so will the puppy mills. Till then, people need to be aware and think when getting a dog.
BLessed BE
Deb
