Proven Health

 

 

 

    1. All breeding pairs have had their hips x-rayed and certified free of dysplasia by OFA, A-stamp, Penn-Hip or by other documentation.

    2. We have researched our dog's pedigrees for health.

    3. We continually work to keep in touch with puppy families so that we can be aware if a genetic health issue arises.

 

The dog has an incredibly adaptive gene pool which is why we have so many different types of dogs from the Great Dane to the Chihuahua.  It is important therefore, to realize that every breeding program has its goals.  What those goals are will influence the puppies kept back and the dogs purchased to improve the liklihood of achieving those goals.

 For example, if a breeder's goal is to have the experience of puppies for her children or for the mother dog, then that is all that is likely to be accomplished, the experience of birth and more dogs.  If the goal is strictly to win in the show ring, then the dogs over time will manifest whatever physical extremes are called for in the breed standard, often at the expense of health and temperament.  This link to the BBC special on the dangers of purebred dogs painfully illustrates this. 

Click here: dangers of purebred dogs - Articles and Posts from Paw Nation

At Candle Hill Shepherds, our goal is to produce a healthy, balanced dog, for work and companionship.  We value temperament above all, with the understanding that even the best temperament is not of much value without good health and sound structure.  This means that the dog must not only be mentally capable but also physically capable of doing the most that a dog can do from jumping to twisting and turning such as is required for sheep herding or Agility.  We test parents against dysplasia and also test for genetic diseases such as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), seeking to increase the liklihood that the puppies we produce will be able to live long, healthy lives.