Hi, I’m looking to buy a lovely black lab bitch, but parents not hip scored. Dogs are working ones and never had any issues. Should I choose a family that’s had hip scoring done? Thank you
Hi Fiona Lab's I believe the big thing is the knee score not the hips. If parents are working it's a reasonable sign of health. Far too many breeders (where you would get the score) are in it just for the money. Do they have vet vaccination records? Ask about more than one. If they say yes run. It's just about the money. Visit several times with any one that live in your house. The pup I have its previous family paid nearly two grand but the kids didn't get on with it. Now I have it. cost nothing. Chris
You can never guarantee the health of a dog by the tests they have had but it goes a long way to helping ensure the breed continues to improve rather than develop problems for future generations. There are many more tests a true breeder will do besides hip scores. Look in the search engine at the top of the page to see the recommended tests and research the litters COI(coefficient of inbreeding) on the kennel club website to see how inbred they are. You will need Mum and Dad’s kennel club name which the breeder should tell you. Avoid anything above the breed standard percentage.
It's all about risk, personally I would not ever buy from a non scored fully tested dog. It's a huge heartbreak when something does go wrong. Of course some get away with it but for me it shows the breeder cares little about the breed and just in it for financial gain. Also, how do you really know the parents have not had any issues? There are more on here who can put this point across more eloquently than me.
Hip scores are vital, a good breeder would want to know for themselves what their dog hip scores where. I've never heard of knees being a bigger issue than hips for Labradors either. Bigger breeds need good hip scores and really elbow scores as well
Hi it's something my vet goes on about. Obviously you want the Good hip score. (For those that don't know as low as possible). Apparently shes seen a lot of displacement in the knees elbow joints. Chris
I absolutely, definitely would not consider buying a pup from parents which were not hip and elbow scored (with low hips and zero elbows). Ever. It's heartbreaking to see pups suffer and completely unnecessary to breed from untested parents. The fact that they are working is irrelevant. Also I've never heard of knees being an issue with labradors. Spaniels yes, labradors no.
