[ Post a Response | Leavitt Bulldog Association ]
Posted by Jessica
on November 5, 2009, 10:50 am, in reply to "Re: Excellent Post!!!"
82.3.67.87 | Message modified by user LeavittUK November 10, 2009, 11:03 am
We owned an incredible looking bulldog - he was EVERYTHING you would expect from a bulldog.
he would turn head and there was nothing physically he couldn't do....
He hit 3 years old and developed a crippling skin condition and within the space of a year reduced him to a wrek... This was not visible to us until he was 3 years and 2 months old!!!! - IF he was included in an out cross program for example the effect has the potential to be devastating to the breed particularly when the gene pool is so small already....
I do think out crossing would be good BUT it going to involve some SERIOUS health screening.
Another point to consider is that this male we had had perfect hips - His brother has just been put to sleep as he had such severe HD!!!! Things are not always what they seem and the bulldog strains are a minefield.
There is a breeder here in UK that is breeding some VERY smart looking bulldogs, that on the surface would look a perfect candidate for out crossing - They are even hip scoring some dogs etc BUT in the last year there has been 6 dogs from separate lines within this bulldog breed that has been diagnosed with 'Wobbler's syndrome' Every breeders worse nightmare! this particular breed will not ever be able to free from this devastating desiease it is finished in the eyes of anyone who cares about health - It is a painful and slow death for any dog which has this.... Again on the surface Superb looking dogs this is something that can be screened for i think?? but certainly something that is not visible to the eye or a health issue that has even been considered and one that is not even present with the Leavitt Bulldog as a breed - But if it was bought in from an out cross would be irreparable to the breed ....IF this is considered it has to be SO SO SO strict and some serious research and health testing would have to go into the outcrosses...
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