At 5:34 PM -0700 7/17/05, jana lashmit wrote:

>Do you think the breeder ought to be responsible for progeny testing, or
>should that fall on the new puppy owners?  What about a puppy contract
>with a clause that the breeder pays a portion of the costs for OFA,
>thyroid, and CEA testing, or makes it a condition of even being able to
>buy the pup in the first place?

I screen my potential puppy buyers to see if they are willing to do hip
xrays on their pup and send me the results. On the actual contract I
require that they do this - for non-breeding dogs I am happy with a note
from the Vet when the puppy is spayed or neutered. It's not as good as OFA
but I trust most vets can tell "reasonably good" from "wildly terrible". I
offer a $50 rebate on the puppy purchase price. I offer a full refund on a
pup who has bad hip xrays (in that case I do want OFA or PennHIP results
though).
        Despite this, I have had some trouble getting buyers to do the
tests. It is very discouraging. I've got a pup up in Alaska right now that
has fathered 2 litters without hip xrays and my "puppy buyer" doesn't
return emails, phone calls, or letters. I'm considering my options but even
with a contract there are no easy decisions. I believe the dog has a good
home and is well cared for and well loved but the buyer is not upholding
the contract they signed.

        jan