Health Checks
All reputable breeders will carry out health checks and adhere to the guidelines recommended by the GSD Breed Council Breeders Charter and Kennel Club Accredited Breeders Scheme (See Below). Only dogs which have a satisfactory result and that are in good general health should be used for breeding.
As with any living animal,
things can still occasionally go wrong despite the parents having satisfactory health
checks.
Hip Scoring
Hip
scoring schemes are available, whereby the hip joints and pelvis
are X-rayed and evaluated for any evidence of hip dysplasia. The minimum age
for having the hips X-rayed and assessed is 12 months in the
Although
hip dysplasia is considered a hereditary condition, it must be remembered that
environmental factors, such as excess weight, over-exercise or even too little exercise can greatly
influence the problem.
Haemophilia
A
This is
a sex-linked inherited condition (the same as in humans) affecting German Shepherd males, whereby the
blood is unable to clot causing uncontrollable bleeding. All male Shepherds
should be therefore be tested and certified clear of the condition prior to being
used at stud. This condition is now extremely rare.
Elbow Scoring
Elbow dysplasia is a common condition affecting many large breeds including
the German Shepherd and elbow scoring schemes exist to assess the degree of
abnormality present, which enables breeders to ensure their breeding stock is
free from the condition. It is similar to the hip scoring scheme, although the
range of scores in the
More details of these conditions can be found in
GSD Health and Information
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Breed Council Breeder's Charter
The Breed
Council in the UK has what is known as a breeders’ charter, which encourages
good breeding and rearing practices, as well as strict guidelines for health
checks, the number of puppies bred in a set period (no more than eight litters
or sixty puppies in 2 years) and after sales care. The Breeders Charter is as follows:
The aim of the Breeders Charter is to
encourage good practice with regard to the breeding and rearing of the G.S.D. I agree to maintain the following minimum practices:
a) To maintain the best possible standards
of health, environment and quality of life for my dogs, not keeping more than I
can properly care for. I will endeavour to breed only to the GSD Standard and
before mating any bitch I will ensure that I have suitable conditions to whelp
and raise a litter.
b) To refuse to sell to any dealers or
buyers where I have reason to believe the dog will not be properly cared for.
c) To keep and to pass on to buyers of
stock accurate records of health, pedigree and registration and to advise on
feeding and rearing, and to suggest a Training or Breed Club.
d) If required by the purchaser to agree
for the puppy to be examined by a qualified veterinary surgeon on the Breeder's
premises to certify the puppy is healthy. (Buyer to meet costs).
e) To sell only puppies and adult dogs of
apparently sound health and temperament. Puppies to have been wormed twice and
will not be sold until at least 7 weeks (plus).
f) To replace any puppy (or refund
purchases price if no replacement is available) which develops an inherited
defect before 12 months old to such a degree that on the advice of two
independent qualified veterinary surgeons the puppy has to be put down. Breeder
to be properly notified before any action is taken.
g) Not to mate any bitch under 20 months or
before her third season or over 8 years without prior permission from the KC,
my own vet's approval and certificate of health for the higher age. No bitch
shall have more than one litter born in less than any 12 month period.
h) To refuse a stud service to any bitch
that I know to be suffering from any defect which renders it unsuitable to
breed good normal puppies. Nor do I knowingly use a stud dog which has these
failings, I will only breed from scored stock within the criteria laid down for
Class 1 and Class 2 in the Breed Council Survey or that which has foreign hip
grades passed for breeding in its own country. Outside this range I will seek
advice in writing from the breed geneticist. I will mate compensatory and will
include hip scores of Sire and Dam on pedigrees.
i) To limit stud services to a maximum of
60 per year per dog and not offer dogs at Stud until tested clear for
Haemophilia 'A' . I will not accept bitches for mating that have not been
hip-scored.
j) To allow a repeat service when a bitch
has failed to conceive, provided the stud dog is in good health and available.
If this is not possible to allow the concession with another dog owned by
myself whose stud fee is similar or less, providing the original KC mating form
is returned.
k) To allow an appropriate selected person
to visit my kennels if requested by the Breed Council, when notified in advance
and a reason given.
l) To restrict breeding to not more than 8
litters or 60 puppies in any two year period. This to include any puppies from
a Breeding Term Agreement.
m) To register all my puppies with the KC.
n) To endeavor to take back or assist with
re-homing any unwanted GSD of my breeding.
Kennel Club Accredited Breeders' Scheme
Introduction
of the Accredited Breeders scheme by the Kennel Club is designed to encourage
reputable breeders. Accredited breeders must adhere to the KC code of ethics,
identify all breeding stock by means of DNA testing, microchip or tattoo and
carry out compulsory health checks, which in this the German Shepherd breed is
hip scoring. Elbow scoring and eye
checks are recommended but as yet are not mandatory. The scheme is not
by any means foolproof and you would be advised to examine the results of any health checks,
as breeders can still be 'Kennel Club Accredited' even if the results are well
outside the recommended guidelines stipulated by the breed council and
regardless of how many litters or puppies are bred by any particular kennel.
Accredited breeders must:
1. Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered.
2. Hand over the dogs registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible. Explain any endorsements and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsements(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available.
3. Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters.
4. Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA pofile, Microchip or tattoo.
5. Make us of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions.
6. Socialise the puppies and provide written advice in the puppy sales wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training.
7. Provide written advice on feeding and worming programmes.
8. Provide a written record on the immunisation measures taken.
9. Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice.
10. Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Accredited Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure.
11. Draw up a contract of sale for each puppy and provide a copy in the puppy sales wallet.
In addition there are a number of recommendations:
Kennel Club Accredited Breeders should:
1. Make sure that whelping facilities accord with requirements for good practice.
2. Ensure that contract of sale clearly lays out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given (eg. time limit) and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms.
3. Commit to help, if necessary with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog's lifetime.
4. Follow relavent health screening recommendations.
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Concerns which are frequently expressed by pet owners
"Puppy has wobbly back legs"
Many
puppies
and young dogs can appear leggy, uncoordinated and loose or wobbly on
their
back legs and hocks and some may turn their hocks outwards when
walking. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the hips and it is NOT
a sign of Hip Dysplasia. It is often found in young dogs which are
shapely and have a lot of hind angulation and most will firm up with
age when 'they grow into their legs'. Swimming is an excellent form of
exercise and can also help alleviate this looseness.
"German Shepherds go off their back legs"
A
condition which is often confused with Hip Dysplasia is CDRM (Chronic
Degenerative Radiculomyopathy). This occurs in some elderly Shepherds,
starting with
lameness and dragging of the hind limbs, eventually leading to
paralysis. However, this
condition has nothing to do with the hip status of the animal. It is
thought to possibly be an auto-immune disease which causes degeneration
in the spinal cord.
" I don't like a German Shepherd with a sloping back"
Many
potential owners also express concern about the 'sloping back' of the
German Shepherd. The International Breed Standard states that the
topline is slightly
sloping from front to back and runs from the neck,
into the wither, along the back and croup and joins the tail-set
without any visible disruption in the flowing line. The GSD is posed in
the show ring with one hind leg extended behind him, a position a
Shepherd will adopt naturally when he spots something of interest
whilst out on a walk. Some handlers over-extend the hind leg when
posing the dog for the show ring, which accentuates the slope, making
the back-line of the dog appear somewhat exaggerated. As soon as the
dog stands square again the exaggerated sloping back disappears.
"German Shepherds have problems with their hips"
This
is generally not true. There are currently 12 other breeds with a
higher average hip score than the GSD and we are on a par with the Golden Retriever
in terms of average hip score. Somewhat worrying is the fact that many German Shepherds are
incorrectly diagnosed with 'bad hips' by veterinary surgeons, after their owners have
consulted them with concerns over normal puppy looseness and
lack of co-ordination.
Puppies which exhibit 'wobbly back legs' should be
exercised sensibly (swimming is an excellent example) and then X-rayed
and Hip-Scored by the BVA at over 12 months of age if concerns still exist.