prehaps if you knew a little more about me that might put your fears at rest regarding my talking twaddle
I do an awful lot with the two breed rescues for my main breed as well as four others that cover various breeds including cockers, have worked with rescue centres for the last 15 years. I am a committee member of a KC registered HPR breed club so am privvy to information that you are not as pet owners or lay people and I did say very specifically that I would not put my comments on cockers as my knowledge on them is not as indepth as my knowledge on my first breed although I know the circumstances of the dogs are the same to a degree.
Its very sad when people pull the wool over the eyes of potential people looking to rehome better to know the worst case senerio and be prepared by having a bahaviourist to hand, a proper look at their own lifestyles to make sure they can accommodate a dog as special as an ex breeder of either sex and to know their own limitations with regard to training and what they are able to provide than to just go blindly in thinking because I feel sorry for it it will all work out.
Syvia is no different to any other rescue in that some of the placements don't work out and the dogs are returned thats just life, some people do no like to show they have failed so rather than go to the original rescue will place the dog with the breed rescue or an alternative like the RSPCA. As a rule we do not pts any dog unless it is a real no hoper with no future and even then that is rare but sadly it does happen as there just aren't the homes out there that can take a dangerous dog which sadly some of these dogs turn out to be. Homechecks are all well and good but they are limiting and its not always until the dog is in the home that the true ability of the new owners can really be guaged and its not a bad thing if they return a dog rather than keep it just because they feel sorry for it, does no good for the dog or them.
It is certainly better for all concerned to go in with their eyes open and to be prepared, in all fairness alot of the puppy farm dogs are usually well socialised with other dogs through the fact they have been kept in numbers but lack people skills and some puppy farmers although churning out puppies for profit do not unduly treat their dogs with cruelty those are easy rehomes we'd all wish for, but sadly you have to be prepared for the ones that have been shown cruelty or have been picked on by the pack. Otherwise what use are you to the dog???
What exactly is so wrong with being prepared and making an informed decision of both the good and the bad?? No dog is an easy ride, a second hand dog no matter where it comes from comes with problems or things that don't fit your lifestyle.
As it was asked and I am quite open about these things, yes I do breed once every 5 years (min) only to replace my own stock, I do more health testing than anyone I know in my breed and am always open about any problems my line has (and no line is completely free of everything thats twaddle, mind had a missing p4 tooth which I have had to breed out carefully), I always take a dog back certainly never breed more than I can cope with in any life cycle (12-15 years for my main breed) and I health test whether I breed or not unlike most people, its something I encourage. I've choosen not to breed from my cocker despite all her good qualities because of my responsibility to the pups from my last litter. All my puppy owners get support from day one which so far has included basic training (both obedience and gundog as one should not go without the other in a gundog breed), swimming lessons, doggy socialising at a specialist behaviouralists (a ten day holiday without their owners at my expense where they are exposed to a wide variety of breeds and assessed for temperment issues that need working on), sheep & livestock training and people socialising at events like Discover Dogs and this years CLA Gamefair where you would have seen all but one of my litter (whose in scotland) on the Weimaraner Club stand. I pay for all the health tests on my puppies as I do not feel this should be the soul responsibility for any owner and keep back any puppies I feel may have a problem no matter what it is - hence two weim pups at the moment not the one I bred for - second pup was bounced on so better safe than sorry he stayed at home thankfully none the worse for wear. I take breeding a litter very seriously they are my responsibility for life no matter who the owner is and I want them to have the best chances possible.
