Whats going on with NI pups? Controversial

The magnificent Cruiser!!! Fab Dog!

Tania, you are still here too.

He might have an incorrect coat but he is a babe

Isn't he just edible!!!

Scrummy, squidgy and super sexy!

He is lovely, does he moult lots though?

Louise he's lovely!!!!

You know what puzzles me,the fact that Breeders from all breeds have there own websites,including myself, most have a page on health issues found within that particular breed.
I've been looking at those who own the NI and there websites,granted only a few but there is no mention of any health issue affecting this breed. Why ?

Surely for the future health and welfare of this breed it needs to be publicised and discussed openly.
We had a new disease found in our breed a few yrs back,L2,it wasn't hidden,and to the best of my knowlege any health issue found in our breed has always been brought into the open so good responsible ethical breders can hopefully in the future eliminate such conditions.

Not really... I would actually say that Lola's coat is worse than his!! Both their coats tuft but his is easier to pluck her coat is very dense..but Cruisers is more open if that makes sense..

He only drops his coat once a year..takes a wee while for it to come out though..his biggest blow has been this year (last month or so) he has lost loads of it..

Denial. I have noticed the same thing myself.

Maybe but is this any way to take a breed forward,I think not.
Surely if you have any concerns and those dogs which are to be used as breeding material you would without question bring out any concern you have regarding health aspects of your breed,otherwise the dogs will ultimatly be the ones to suffer causing alot of pain and heartache to the owners.
Pedigree dogs exposed rings a bell .......

I totally agree Sal.

YES! Any and all health issues should be made readily available to all owners and potential owners and logged so that statistics can be obtained wrt numbers of dogs, lines affected, etc.

This is a POSITIVE thing to do for the breed.

Aye, it was the same with TNS in Collies recently - as soon as it was identified it was put out all over the place to make people aware and the speed at which a DNA test was developed is a huge pat on the back for how fast people in the breed responded. Anyone, including non-breeders, can now have the test done to show clear or carrier, [ which can be a help in itself for statistics and geographical data ], and results on the database are not hidden away they are published on the net for anyone to see. If all Collie breeders were to DNA test for it, [ many already are and started arranging testing the moment the news was out that the test had been devised ], this killer disease could be completely eradicated very quickly

Ok I'll admitt I haven't read every page coz after a few it started to get boring - the same old story. and I have no wish to get involved in any arguments. However since my girl is the first to be named on that list for having had a litter I just want to state the following since these seem to be the main issues.

Both the dam and sire were both hip scored well in advance and both have good scores.

Both parents are eye tested.

I have kept 2 from this litter for myself.

Both dogs were of a good age before being bred from.

This is the first litter I have ever bred.

Out of interest, what is the mean/average hip score for NI's tested? It would be interesting to see whether thay are better or worse than the breeds from which the NI was created.
Siberian Huskies mean score is currently 7, GSD's 19, Mals 13.
Also what eye tests are recommended by the NIS, TIDA?

Mick

The current BMS for the NI is 17 and is listed on the BVA website.

Please dont think I am trying to start an argument with these questions, but I would really like your thoughts on this,

As a breeder of NI dogs, do you have experiance breeding other breeds?

As I stated in the above post this is the first litter I have ever bred so the awnser would have to be no in my case. However every breeder starts of having never bred another breed before and some have only ever bred one breed even some of the much more experienced ones so I personally don't see what that has to do with anything?

As a breed in the making, would it not have been better for a handful of breeders working together to establish the breed first?
Am I right in saying this breed is in its infancy at around 20 years old? sorry if thats wrong

I guess what Im asking is, should the founder breeders kept more control on the breed for a longer period of time,
Im not getting at you for breeding them, there are lots of people breeding them now, some who are striving to better the breed, sadly some seem to have jumped on the band wagon and seen it as a popular dog to make a few pounds from, {im guessing and hopeing the later will not be a member of any breed club }

Firstly let me say I have visited your website, and i have to say its very informative on your dogs, their health status, pedigree etc... I also like how you told of some of the more undesirable traits this type of dog has, and they are not suited to a novice owner, likewise some of the health issues are mentioned. I found it a breath of fresh air to look at with regards to NI webites, full marks to you!

Can I ask you about the "lesion" on Angels eye. Do you think its wise to offer a dog at stud when he has an eye problem (or not) that is stated as not knowing the significance of? Genuine question. I also noticed that your dogs are quite closely bred, half brother half sister matings etc... Did any of the more experienced NI owners guide you towards breeding, or explain the problems that can arise and be associated with such closely bred dogs?

One last point if I may You state the life span as 15yrs. How many NI's do you know have reached that age? Considering the breed is in its infancy of just 20yrs or so.

Please dont take these as critisism they are not, Im just delighted to find an NI site that offers such a wealth of info on the dogs, you should be proud!
Dawn.

Thank you Borderdawn.

I had all my dogs eyes tested. Yes there was a lesion in Angel's eye, however the eye specilist said he was unsure of its significance but that in his opinion didn't look to be anything he would say oh that's such and such and could therefore possibly just be a birthmark inside the eye. I said I wanted to breed from him and what would he suggest and he said he didn't see breeding him as being a problem but did mark down for the record that there is a lasion there (of which he couldn't state the significance). Yes Angel is up for stud but as you can see I have nothing to hide and have clearly stated this for people to make up their own minds. Yes I was given help with the pairing of my dogs.

When I first looked into the NI this was the info out there regarding average life and that is what I went off, no one has corrected me or informed me otherwise so I have it left at that (correct or not).