Health check your dogs!!!

Warning - Rant Alert!!!

What is it with people who breed from their PET dogs without any thought to taking the very least precautions against passing on potential health problems to not only the poor dogs themselves but the cost involved to the new owners not only financially but emotionally too!

When we get a rescue or a "farm Collie" we take a risk, just because the parents seem healthy doesn't mean they are not carriers of dreadful conditions, Our old dog Ben is 9 years old, he can hardly stand and is almost completely blind because of hereditary conditions we could never have known about, when this was diagnosed Amy was heartbroken. I'm not saying all pedigree dogs who's parents have been health tested will be complaint free, but you rule out many of the breed specific conditions, giving them every chance for a long, healthy and active life.

In our chosen sport of agility your dog does not have to be a pedigree but this should not stop you from having the same health checks - you should be responsible for all puppies you bring into this world, if you can't afford to do this then simply you shouldn't do it!