What about PennHip instead of OFA?Why don't more breeders use PennHip?

It's hard to find a vet that does PennHip and the expense can get salty. I looked into doing it a few years back. It was over $200 to get it done

I, also, would not breed to or buy a pup from a dog who's hips/elbows were not certified. I would also want to see that other dogs in his pedigree had been certified and I would check into his progeny, as well. Why? Well, basically because at this point (my opinions aside) HD is primarily considered to be polygenetic in origin and until we actually can prove or pinpoint the precise genes (or other cause) this is the way we have to operate (however inperfect it may be).

Just my 2 cents. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

OK now for the next question <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> You are going to look at a dog to for stud. Let's say you have really honest breeders for a change LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> They had the dog OFA'ed AND A stamped at two years of age- same xrays went to OFA as the SV. One passes the dog with a good or A normal and one doesn't pass at all stating mild HD? They tell you both ratings--- would you breed to this animal?

Well, Karmen, I'd have the breeder re-xray the male and send the films at my expense to a registry that would give a very specific evaluation of what is right and wrong. The UK KC is just one example. I'm even considering sending Auster's films in even though she's spayed just to see what they would say. She's GDC excellent and OFA fair and then I could actually have some personal experience with it.

Karmen, do you lay awake at night to think of these scenarios? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

With the amount of GSDs out there, no I would not use this dog as a stud. Why are we sending the x-rays to both places at the same time anyway? Are we hedging our bets?

This is, I suppose, a hypothetical question with some basis in reality...somewhere?

First question: No

Second Question: No

My question...Is the hypothetical breeder going to guarantee any pups to be free of dysplasia at 2yr.? And, why on earth would I wish to breed to a stud that had this discrepancy when there are many others out there as good without it?

I like the way Karmen thinks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And her questioning of how reliable hip ratings are is a legitimate concern. The real question is what is going on with the evaluators at OFA that they have such different opinions as to what constitutes Good, Fair, Mildly Dysplastic, etc. It's crazy that an animal be given such drasticly different ratings from the same set of x-rays submitted a few months apart.

Is this an issue of the evaluators opinion, whether conscious or unconscious, after spending a lot of time looking at hip x-rays of a breed that usually has good hips? Then they get a GSD x-ray, which to them looks much worse, because their mind is in gear to compare it with the other x-rays they've been seeing. But if they were looking at these same x-rays on a day where they were rating mostly GSDs, would the hips rate better? I just don't understand how the ratings can differ so significantly when submitted a second time.

Sorry, if you guys don't understand what I'm saying. Reading over it, I'm not sure I understand what I'm saying <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> but I'm in the middle of eating lunch. I'll try to come back and rephrase my post later so it doesn't sound like gibberish <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Ikor, check PMs

I would really have to think long and hard about that. My first response is NO.

But, it depends on how nice the other qualities this dog has are, his progeny's results, the dogs in his pedigree results and maybe a few other things. I like Lauren's idea of an alternative registry process such as the one in the UK (they do have a website somewhere), however I would not pay for it.

But, on the other hand, as others have said, there are plenty of other studs out there that do have the hips/elbows certified so why should I bother with this one? And what about they people who are gonna buy these puppies, will they understand?