Devata Kennels

Instinctive Hunting Companions

I don’t test because …...

The actual x-ray is the most costly part of this process.  There are two major organizations that certify hips; OFA and PennHip.  OFA x-rays run around $150 and PennHip can range between $250—$400.  Typically the fee for certification is around $20.  Why would anyone spend the money on x-rays and not to have them certified?    The only one I can think of is they are dysplastic.  Have them show you the certification—show you the money.

I had the hips x-rayed and my vet looked at them.  I didn’t send them in because it costs too much.

Below are just some of the comments I’ve heard from people who call me.  I thought I would add my comments about these statements to give you a different perspective.   The bolded statements are from other breeders.

 

Typically these are from people who are asking less money for their puppies, or who regularly have them or who just breed GWP’s without participating in any activity. 

It is recommended the bitch have her first thyroid test run after her first estrus cycle.  Sometimes that is before 1 sometimes not.  My girls usually are 8 to 14 months old before they have their first estrus cycle.  OFA certification is good for one year on all thyroid tests, so one for life is not enough.  I may not have one conducted yearly, but do before breeding and would again if breeding and the last test was around 2 years old.   

I had the bitch tested before she was one year old and there is no need to do it again.

All of the testing certification costs money.  I can spend around $400 per dog for their health certifications.  Two of them are good for one year.  People who don’t run tests don’t do it for two main reasons.  They don’t want to cut into their profit (what profit I don’t know) or don’t have an idea of what to do with the results and or how to manage the results. 

 

As a new owner, you have to decide if getting a new dog from a source that doesn’t test, can’t produce the test results or certifications is worth a higher probability of getting a dog with more health issues that may result in ending its life with your family earlier than you expected.  We never want it to end, when they have a normal life span, but earlier is tragic.

 

They probably have only two dog and is they rule one out of breeding because of not passing a test, they can’t produce dogs.  So not testing is easier because they can’t claim they are knowingly breeding dogs with health issues.