grantwit

Thanks for all the replies re the breeder. The only reason i have said im waiting to talk to the breeder is to see the results of the xray, whether it shows an injury and if it does whether it can then provide with with proof of the age of the injury etc. And i have made the decision to desex her (i was toying with the idea of showing her, but the problem with the tail has made my decision for me. I didnt buy her purely for the reason of showing, so as someone has mentioned on here that can affect any liability). You have all certainly provided me with some info to consider. But has anyone come across problems like this before though? Could something like this be genetic (shes one of the first litter from her dam)? I really want to achieve the best outcome for her (i dont just want to 'give up' without thoroughly exploring options and treatments etc)

Hi, Im new to this forum and have a 20 week old female German Shepherd (pedigree). I just stumbled across this thread and thought i might put in my thoughts on a few of the questions originally asked. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I grew up with German Shepherds, my father had 2 males that he showed. Ever since i was a kid i have loved the breed. I have one incident when i was about 5 years old and home alone. I felt nervous so i let these two massive male GSD into the house. We sat in front of the tv, one on either side of me and i felt so safe and secure. Since then that is the feeling that is evoked whenever i see a GSD. One of those two actually went on to become a police dog. What is the average lifespan? My thoughts are anywhere between 10 and 15 years, there are a lot of variables. What is the general temperament/personality? If you purchase your GSD from a breeder registered with the German Shepherd Dog League your GSD should have no temperament problems in general. Years ago there were problems with temperament within the breed and fear biting etc, but this has been successfully bred out. An important reason to only deal with a registered breeder. German Shepherds are also incredibly smart and easy to train. They love to play and learn as well as please their owner. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? It depends on the dogs environment, however this is a dog that needs stimulation via exercise. The dog should be walked at least once a day, if not twice. And not just a short walk around the block. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? If the first time owner was willing to put in the long yards with training etc. However this is not a dog that you just put in the backyard. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Yes and no. It depends on what stimulus you provide for the dog when they are by themselves. However if you are someone that is rarely home, why even bother getting a dog, no matter what the breed! How much grooming is required? Not a whole lot. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? I would say yes. This is a large breed and are large even as 16 week old puppies. When you combine the excitability of a puppy with the size of a GSD you can have problems with young kids and infirm people. They are boisterous and very strong. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? As with a lot of large breeds GSD can suffer hip dysplasia, as well as a blood condition. Always buy from a registered breeder! When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Always ensure the parents have been hip and shoulder xrayed. If they are registered with the German Shepherd Dog League they have passed all the tests (hip and shoulder scores, blood condition etc) so you are pretty safe in that regard. Then as with any breed view the parents, watch the interaction of the pup etc

No im waiting till i have all the information before discussing it with the breeder. The reason i have asked breeder liability, is that years back i read how if you purchase a dog from a breeder and that dog was later found to have medical issues, then the breeder was liable for vet fees up to the purchase price of the dog. However i dont know what jurisdiction this was in and it was a fair few years ago. And whether or not it was an accident, if confirmed it is what the vet thinks it is, the dog was sold to me with problems. I brought this dog as pedigree, and with this issue there is no way that she can be shown. There are some cases that have come before tribunals where the breeder has been found liable for their 'off spring', however no case where the problem was similar to this. As i stated in my original post. This dog is my baby, and will be no matter what the problems are. Im just after suggestions and advice.

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