Need of opinions pleaasee.

So I feel like a failure but I really need opinions, I think I'm doing the right thing but I don't know.

So I found a really well known & respected Newfoundland breeder, who has two brown litters planned. One is due rather soon, and one will be bred in 6 months or so.

Here are the pro's and con's.. and I need help!

Pro's:
+As I said, well known and respected breeders, and have been in the showing/breeding scene for like 20 years or so.
+Both parents are Champions, both dogs I absolutely love. They are using my second favorite brown stud on the planet.
+The stud has absolutely perfect health.
+The bitch's father is my favorite brown newfoundland stud..*melt*


Con's:
+The bitch that's being used has not had her hips or elbows tested because she nearly died on the table. She actually did die, and amazingly recovered. They never tried to get her tested again.
+The bitch's dam has not been health tested either. I was told by her co-owner that she might have been, but I cannot find her on the OFA website.
+The breeder refuses to let me feed the puppy Innova adult food, even though I told him how much better it was for the puppy rather than the Innova large breed puppy food(I did my research, asked around, etc etc)
+NO HEALTH GUARANTEE'S. He said this is because he believes his dogs are completely healthy, and if they weren't, he doesn't believe people would return the dog anyway.
+Some of their dogs have died very young, for reasons I do not know.
+I know a woman who has two dogs from them, both puppies have minor heart problems.
+They have produced crippled dysplasiac dogs before.
+The bitch they are using for the breedings brother was one of the dogs who died early.

OK so the con list is longer than the pro's, but obviously pro's also include my excitement, and additional facts is that it is darn hard to find a brown Newfie breeder.

I have made friends with the stud owner, but because she is in Canada she cannot breed him, and really has to wait for someone to want to use him. (Canada prohibits brown Newfies)

So I have pretty much decided to back out. Am I doing the right thing?

I feel afraid because I cannot buy another Newfoundland because of the landlord, I could always ask her but it doesn't seem likely. I would have to wait until we buy land, and then buy a house which could be a couple years from now depending on things.

So that sums it up. :/

*sigh*

I feel that with so many doubts, many of them very well founded, you might be better off at least postponing.

There will be more litters of puppies. Stop worrying about it. Don't say you are not going to do it, say you are not going to do it right now.

agreed

I agree with the others - there will be other litters, more "complete" litters. IMO you shouldn't compromise on health... and it sounds like there's a a lot of "cons" in the health department of this litter.

Kudos to you though, I know it's a hard decision to make!

I think that you basically answered your own questions . Have you looked into the TN Newfie breed club ??? They would never recommend anyone who hasn't done testing .

My SO was interested in this breed so we talked to a few breeders. The advice I got was RUN do not walk away from any breeder who does not health test in Newfies. Especially for the heart issues. They said the breed is riddled with health problems (especially heart) and that it should be number one on any breeders list.

Good luck, but I think you're making the right decision.

I agree with everyone else. As hard as it is to wait... Brown newfies AREN'T rare in the US, so you'll be able to find one further down the road.

The NCA while better than many as it's membership rules are lengthy.. doesn't have health testing as a mandatory item. You could very well find a breeder from the newfie club that doesn't health test. They ask their breeders to disclose any known health defects to potential buyers, and to only breed a healthy bitch.. but if you don't test then what is healthy..

You know deep down that the con list is scary potentially and you need to run.. I know it's sad as puppy fever is overwhelming. But the joy you will have when you do find the perfect litter will be phenomenal.

wow--IMO that con list is quite strong--I wouldn't want to bring home a shelter dog with all that, let alone pay a breeder. I would hold out until you find a better situation.

I completely agree with everyone else. Reading the con list, there is no way I would get a dog from that breeder.

Alright, thank you guys. I really can't find any of their dogs on the OFA website. Is there anything else I can check? Or does someone else want to check, maybe I'm doing something wrong.. It's Bifrost Newfoundlands.

I think I am going to all together pass on Bifrost Newfies. I will wait 3 years if I have to to get the Newfie I'm looking for.. I just don't think Bifrost is going to be 'it'.. *sigh*

I'm not saying brown Newfoundlands are rare, I'm saying it's proving hard to find a good brown Newfoundland breeder.

Tennessee Newfounland breed club? lol. There's actually not one listed on the NCA website, nor one that I have ever heard of. There's only one club I could join, which allows a state that doesn't have a club. Southeastern Newfoundland Club

Well, if you've got one brown boy that you really like? Why not get in touch with his owner, who can (presumably, anyway ) let you know if there are litters in the works by him, and go that route?

I found one dog listed with OFA with their prefix.

Well, I found that the bitch who might be pregnants dam, and she was health tested! She has fair hips, normal elbows, and her heart is normal.

But I found that Kyra's sister has severe hips..
*Kyra is the bitch that's being bred.

I actually was able to find out more stuff of the OFA website, thanks for looking for me Hounded

Anyway, still, I'm just not comfortable.

don't blame ya!

With that con list, I would not buy from that particular breeder. I think you're making the right decision. *nodnod*

I think you're making a good choice to stay away from them. Are you willing to travel out of state for your puppy? If so which states will you go to?

I think you are making the right decision, big time. You are looking at a giant breed with known serious health problems. Getting the right dog is the difference between joy and heartbreak. Better to suffer now, and err on the side of caution, than watch your much loved dog suffer later.

I have to agree with what everyone's said. That "con's" list is lengthy, and has some very serious health factors on it. I'd wait and find another breeder.

No health guarantee especially bugs me. If he's so sure his dogs are healthy, wouldn't he want to back it up with a guarantee?

You can have all kinds of champions in the pedigree, but health is a far more serious consideration.

:hail::hail:

That's exactly along the lines of what I was thinking.. why would I pay for a dog like that?

Good for you for not letting the puppy fever control your decision-making capabilities - too many people do.