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Permalink Reply by Charlie on April 28, 2008 at 4:47pm

Yes, both thyroid problems and bite/teeth problems can be genetic. Your breeder should not be breeding the dame. That does not necessarily mean that Mochi will get hypothyroidism, or other associated autoimmune diseases, just that her chances of problems are statistically much higher. I would find another breeder if you're interested in a second pup.

The major problem with BYB's is that some are only a couple steps above puppy mill in lack of care about the health, temperament, and conformation of the puppies they sell for profit. There are those on the other end who are a couple steps below reputable breeders who do care about the breed, health of the puppies, and the pocketbook (future veterinarian bills) of the buyer. The best will do the minimum health testing and not breed dogs with genetic illnesses or flaws. It is up to us buyers (if choosing not to use a reputable breeder) to do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions of our breeders.

Your vet make want to make a note in Mochi's file that there is a genetic history of thyroid problems. If Mochi has any of the symptoms/illnesses leading up to a thyroid problem the vet may have an easier time knowing what to test for.

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Permalink Reply by Mochi The Corgi on April 28, 2008 at 6:44pm

forgot to clarify, the Dame and the Sire are not Mochi's parents.. But probably had the same issues!!
Thanks for you Imput. I think we may go with another breeder, and maybe another breed. I turned my BF into the ultimate dog lover, Mochi is his first dog.. LOL

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Permalink Reply by Charlie on April 28, 2008 at 7:33pm

That's a relief that the dame isn't Mochi's mom. Hopefully her mom is a healthier dog. Anyway, from reading the forums and other breed research, you know a good rule of thumb: if you know more about the breed than the "breeder", run away and find someone else! LOL

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Permalink Reply by James on April 28, 2008 at 9:12pm

I'm not really into show-dogs and such, but I did read Cheez-its paperwork for the AKC/CKC. They forbid breeding pairs with these genetic traits, so shouldnt that make their products technically non-certified? (Thats not to say that anyone from the AKC is going to go out and check) Certainly something to consider at the very least.

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Permalink Reply by Charlie on April 28, 2008 at 9:47pm

The majority of us don't have show dogs, but we do all deserve to get a dog that has a good chance for a long, healthy life. The AKC standard is written by the national breed club (PWCCA - Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America in this case). Other than promoting breed standards for appearance and good health, the AKC is just a registry with no enforcement capability. PWCCA also doesn't enforce its breeder code of ethics, which clearly states that dogs with genetic health problems should not be bred.

Backyard breeders largely breed for profit and don't care much about appearance or health, as long as the dog is "AKC" - the holy grail for their pocket money. There are those who do care enough about the breed and care enough about their puppies' and buyers to do the minimum recommended health testing (at least). The better educated the buyer, and the more questions asked of the breeder, the higher chance of getting a healthy, good-tempered dog (even if it's not a "show" dog). There should be more pressure on the BYB's to breed for good health and temperament, as they supply the majority of dogs in the US. That pressure is only going to come from the buyer. ...buyer beware!

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Permalink Reply by Sam on April 28, 2008 at 10:38pm

A few things to consider when conversing show dog vs. non show dog. Purchasing a pup from a person that shows and breeds typically is breeding to produce the very best in quality. Not all pups will be show quality but you have the assurance of knowing that they possess a quality pedigree, one that can easily be researched to learn of health issues, dogs that have been chosen for good structure, movement and an appropriate corgi temerament. In my years in corgis I do have to say it is a rare few that are not actively showing that do even the minimum of health clearances on their dogs. Truely reputable/ethical breeders will have OFA (hip certification) CERF (eye certification) and the dogs will be vWD clear (a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia in people. One or both of the parents will be finished CH. A pedigree will show a large percentage of dogs that have obtained the title of CH as well as show the same health test results.
Not everyone is going to choose this path. In the very least one must find a person that has seemingly healthy and well cared for dogs. Pups should not be raised in a barn, yard or kennel. Sadly one of the biggest issues I see is a severe lack of social and environmental interaction in the puppies. It is much harder to raise a pup that has been denied the ability to become familiar with people, normal household noises and handling. I see this most frequently.
It is also not infrequent that these same breeders are not familiar with the genetic defects that are apparent in the corgi breed. They assume if their dog can produce pups it must be healthy. Temperament is often not taken into consideration. Frequently the parents are kennel dogs.
Always best to learn as much as you can prior to purchasing a pup. This forum tells a huge story as to the difficulties many have had (shame on the breeder for not educating them) due to lack of knowledge of this breed. Sadly many get a pup now and learn later. Raising a pup requires time, dedication and learning. The info is easy to obtain if one chooses to look.

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Permalink Reply by Mochi The Corgi on April 29, 2008 at 1:36pm

Agreed, the breeder does does the OFA, which is nice but not the other certifications. I probabaly won't go to that same breeder for another dog. She does breed for money, she told us that she breeds the corgi's to raise her horses...

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