Health tests

[Cinnamontoast]

We're half heartedly looking for litters for bil who may want another springer. Saw a mixed litter near us, almost £700 per pup, lots of health tests for the dam, but no hip scores. Given the high incidence of HD in springers, I was a bit surprised. There were no health tests posted for dad.

It's a working home and working homes don't tend to do health testing from my research 2 years ago. The breeder wrote a paragraph about how essential testing is, how shedoeseverything to promote good health of pups, takes back pups if needed etc. So why not use a health tested sire and do hip scoring? Isn't it a bit odd?

 

[Thistle]

There are some near me

 

[gunnergundog]

Hips are normally in my experience the first test that most people in most breeds get done, if they are going to health test.

Perhaps they had them done and their own vet said the x-rays were so crap that they didn't send them off for scoring. It happens.

Also, ask to see the physical documentation supporting each and every test! It's easy to write an advertisement claiming X,Y & Z!

 

[Clodagh]

When we were looking for a lab, although we wanted a worker, we were determined for at least hips, elbows and eyes. Why set yourself up for a potential problem? We ended up getting a highly bred FT dog as the gamekeepers who had nice dogs that we liked just didn't get tests done and the only way I would take on a non health tested dog would be if it was adult or free - preferably both!

 

[satinbaze]

If parents are KC ref then health tests can be checked on the KC website. All you need is the registered names making sure spelling is correct. It's always useful the check
I would always expect hip scores and eye checks at the very least of both parents. The late Malcolm Willis suggests hip scores should be a total of 15 or under for breeding stock in flatcoats I don't know the average for springers but I'm sure someone will know.
Good luck in your search

 

[quagga]

I've found that in working Springers and Cockers hardly ANYONE does hips, although they might eye test. In Springers I think the only ones that do with any consistency are Sgurr (Isle of Skye I think so a bit inconvenient for most of us) and Quincegrove (East Sussex) who I like and are probs who I would go for if I ever get one. Also worth checking the FB group 'fully health tested working gundogs' as a few pop up on there as well

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I spoke to the Sgurr breeder: she says people come from Europe for her dogs, I can well believe it, properly health tested springers aren't common. It's a shame Sharra has stopped breeding.

There is a list of tests, including eyes and fuco on this breeder's advert, no mention of hips, which just makes me scratch my head. As mentioned, hips would surely be the first thing to mention to encourage buyers.