Post by jenny on Jun 8, 2007 20:37:38 GMT
I have a bit of a dilemma at the moment and would welcome your input.
I am attempting to put together a foundation for a future breeding program in this breed and have given myself a few years to learn as much as I can about the breed before I actually breed a litter. I have been visiting Boerboel kennels and breeders in S.A. and have been generally unimpressed by the facilites (not everything I know) and the general quality of the dogs and the variation in type. I have however recently spent the weekend with one of the "old timers" in the breed. This grand old gent has been breeding these dogs all his life, in fact his Grandfather took part in the Voertrek with Boerboels until he settled at the farm in 1860 that I visited. The kennel comprises some 50-60 dogs with direct bloodlines back to the Voertrek dogs and also the original first registered dogs in the 1980s.
All the dogs were very similar in type, smaller than perhaps we are getting used to, well-balanced, lovely hindquarters, great bone and substance but the most outstanding thing was their temperament and soundness. 12 dogs are kept as a "house pack" these included 5 male stud dogs, bitches of varying ages and 2 Jack Russells. The pack had free range in the house and garden and it was astounding that during my time there, not one growl or argument was heard. They were given one squeaky toy between them and even then they played and chased each other good naturedly until a J.R. stole the toy and jumped on the table with it!
I have been offered a beautiful bitch puppy from this kennel but my problem is, this breeder does not test his dogs and never has. His policy is: "If it can jump in the back of the bakkie (pickup truck) and run 4kms back home after going to the water hole, it's o.k. by me!" He has a point. His dogs have been tested in the field (as it were) for generations. He and his ancestors operated a strict selection process whereby any dog that was lame, sick or unmanageable was shot, as it was too much trouble and/or too expensive to keep. I only saw one lame dog whilst I was there and this had been bitten by a snake and was receiving treatment.
This is a "closed kennel" the breeder has only used his own lines for several generations, he has always bred the same type of dogs, not been influenced by fad or fashion. I have to say I was impressed with the way his kennel dogs were kept, all the dogs were happy and healthy in large grass/dirt runs (the smallest was 10x20 meters) with good sleeping quarters. Kept in male/female pairs for life, he told me, when one of the pair dies, the other usually follows within 3 days, such is their attachment to each other.
The dogs were "elastic" they were lithe and flexible and they moved extremely well.
Do I take a puppy without knowing what the hip/elbow status of the line is? Is this sensible given that I am trying put together a foundation? Or is this exactly the type of dog I need? I really liked these dogs and I would know exactly what it would turn out like as they are all so similar. I do like line-bred dogs if the line is good and doesn't contain too many problems, but I don't know where I am coming from with the hips/elbows.
My gut feeling is to have the puppy and then thoroughly test her, but this will only tell me about her, not give me any clues as to the hip status in the family. I do not know of anyone who has tested dogs from this line, so no clues there either.
What would you do?
I am attempting to put together a foundation for a future breeding program in this breed and have given myself a few years to learn as much as I can about the breed before I actually breed a litter. I have been visiting Boerboel kennels and breeders in S.A. and have been generally unimpressed by the facilites (not everything I know) and the general quality of the dogs and the variation in type. I have however recently spent the weekend with one of the "old timers" in the breed. This grand old gent has been breeding these dogs all his life, in fact his Grandfather took part in the Voertrek with Boerboels until he settled at the farm in 1860 that I visited. The kennel comprises some 50-60 dogs with direct bloodlines back to the Voertrek dogs and also the original first registered dogs in the 1980s.
All the dogs were very similar in type, smaller than perhaps we are getting used to, well-balanced, lovely hindquarters, great bone and substance but the most outstanding thing was their temperament and soundness. 12 dogs are kept as a "house pack" these included 5 male stud dogs, bitches of varying ages and 2 Jack Russells. The pack had free range in the house and garden and it was astounding that during my time there, not one growl or argument was heard. They were given one squeaky toy between them and even then they played and chased each other good naturedly until a J.R. stole the toy and jumped on the table with it!
I have been offered a beautiful bitch puppy from this kennel but my problem is, this breeder does not test his dogs and never has. His policy is: "If it can jump in the back of the bakkie (pickup truck) and run 4kms back home after going to the water hole, it's o.k. by me!" He has a point. His dogs have been tested in the field (as it were) for generations. He and his ancestors operated a strict selection process whereby any dog that was lame, sick or unmanageable was shot, as it was too much trouble and/or too expensive to keep. I only saw one lame dog whilst I was there and this had been bitten by a snake and was receiving treatment.
This is a "closed kennel" the breeder has only used his own lines for several generations, he has always bred the same type of dogs, not been influenced by fad or fashion. I have to say I was impressed with the way his kennel dogs were kept, all the dogs were happy and healthy in large grass/dirt runs (the smallest was 10x20 meters) with good sleeping quarters. Kept in male/female pairs for life, he told me, when one of the pair dies, the other usually follows within 3 days, such is their attachment to each other.
The dogs were "elastic" they were lithe and flexible and they moved extremely well.
Do I take a puppy without knowing what the hip/elbow status of the line is? Is this sensible given that I am trying put together a foundation? Or is this exactly the type of dog I need? I really liked these dogs and I would know exactly what it would turn out like as they are all so similar. I do like line-bred dogs if the line is good and doesn't contain too many problems, but I don't know where I am coming from with the hips/elbows.
My gut feeling is to have the puppy and then thoroughly test her, but this will only tell me about her, not give me any clues as to the hip status in the family. I do not know of anyone who has tested dogs from this line, so no clues there either.
What would you do?
