@lvoss:
Whether the puppy is a "just" a pet or not really does not make it any less important to strive to get the best quality health and temperament. In fact, I really cannot understand the attitude that because animal is going to be "just" a pet all care for quality should go right out the window. All my dogs are pets (companions) first and foremost. They are part of my family, and not just my household, my whole family, when I visit relatives they ask how they are doing. My grandparents and aunts have come on vacation to dog shows with us. As such, I want them to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. My eldest is now 12 years old, and you can see the gray on him and I know that I have less years left with him than I have already spent with him. I am glad that I did my homework though before I got him and chose a line with dogs that lived into their teens because I don't want to say goodbye anytime soon. So here I am finding myself wiping tears out of my eyes because I am thinking of my dogs' mortality and thinking of how my grandmother who just passed in December even 3 days before her death was still telling everyone stories of Nicky and his ability to wail like banshee when he felt he was abondoned with strangers and I just can't grasp how anyone would cheat themselves of that time or those memories by not doing everything they could to find a breeder who breeds for health, temperament, longevity.
Lvoss, I agree with you one hundred percent, that the health and temperament of the dog is of utmost importance. I saw both of the puppy's parents and was completely in love with her mom's temperament and personality. All of the older dogs that Sandy has are well over 12, 14 and even one that is 19 years old. That by itself tells me that the dogs of that line tend to live long, and that, believe it or not, was one of the deciding factors. So the "temperament and longevity" that you mentioned are there 100%. As far as being members of the family, I agree 150% with you on that. My parents call my dogs "the grandkids" and when they call me they always "talk" to the dogs on the phone, and my brother often calls me just to see how Lana (she is his favorite) is doing. So our dogs are definitely members of the family and then some.
When I was young, we fostered a dog, who, unfortunately, was able to share only a year of his life with us before an incurable condition took him. As much as it hurt to lose him, I know that every second of happiness and love that he gave us was worth it. So, I'd rather have a dog that only lives to be 5 or 7 but is an amazing friend than a dog that lives to be 20 and is just a dog with no personality and nothing to offer. That said, I will do everything in my power to assure that all of my dogs are healthy and happy. I will do all the necessary health testing, including Fanconi, which I already ordered online, although the puppy is not coming home for a few weeks. I do want to thank you for your input and thoughts on the matter, I just think that the breeders who breed "pet quality" and not "show quality" dogs, or the ones that breed for "personality" deserve a chance too.
but this thread will be read by lots of people that will never comment on it, and it is important that the message gets out there that no one should be buying puppies from untested parents; and no one should be shelling over money to people breeding puppies for profit.
