What would you prefer, a healthy dog OR a dog a unhealthy dog buts was up 2 kc standards???

Question

Thought i would ask a question aimed at everyone to give a honest opinion on there views. Such as would you prefer to have a dog healthy and look like the breed it should do OR a unhealthy dog but meets the standards of a show dog

I personnaly would prefer a healthy dog.

Answer 1

I want and have a health, pure bred, KC registered dog.  I want a dog with the structure and temperament to do what I want it to do - and I have such a dog.  

Answer 2

I would definitely prefer a healthy dog, it doesnt matter what they look like as long as they are loved, thats all that matters.

Answer 3

Healthy. I prefer cross bred dogs. They seem friendlier. That's just in my experience, I know most people will disagree with me on that.

Answer 4

a healthy dog.but kc standards are sometimes not properly correct

Answer 5

I have a very healthy labradoodle who is my assistance dog.  

Answer 6

I have owned a Sheltie above standard, and currently have two that are too short, by standard. I would not trade them for anything. Unless you are planning on showing or breeding your dog, standard doesn't matter. What matters is health and temperament.

So, I prefer a healthy dog.

Answer 7

A healthy dog

Answer 8

I am very lucky, I got healthy dogs that can still "work". If I see what is going on is some breeds it makes my blood boil.

Puppy farmers really do not help the situation and as for the KC. They really need their act together. But they do not care how many litters a ***** has had and in what time, because each registration for a pup is what 12 pounds? If they turn the puppy farmer away they would loose out on a lot of money.

Answer 9

The 2 are not mutually exclusive. I've owned 6 champions, 4 of whom lived happy healthy lives up to their 17th year, 2 died at 14 yrs.

Instead of banging on about a subject in which you have an hour's worth of experience, why not do your own research and find out what breed clubs are doing to improve the health of their breed - if you are genuinely interested of course.

http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/health/...

Answer 10

a healthy dog definitly cos the dog could b perfect but it mite not b happy

Answer 11

Fortunately, I am able to have both in the same dog!

My Basset Hounds are VERY healthy (hey, I hate vet bills as much as any pet owner) AND they are show dogs.  They're great pets, too.

There is no need for it to be an either/or situation.

Answer 12

Healthy dog by far. All dogs are cute, even the ones that do a "hooch" all the time.

Answer 13

I have a beautiful and healthy German Shepherd, KC registered, she also happens to be White, a colour normally pts as 'undesirable' but she is in every way as good a dog as my other 2 GSD's ('normal' colour), breeders who put down healthy pups just because they are either not the right colour or in the case of the Rhodesian Ridgeback without the ridge (which is the actual fault) should not be allowed to register any of their puppies in my opinion.

Answer 14

From a breeder: Neither.

I would prefer a healthy dog that was bred to meet the breed standard.

If someone isn't doing genetic health clearances on their dog, they aren't a reputable/ethical breeder.

If someone isn't breeding to meet the breed standard, they aren't a reputable/ethical breeder.

You can't just do one or the other and consider yourself a "good breeder", you have to do BOTH.

.

Answer 15

Healthy for sure.  A dog is a companion and you want it to be healthy and with you for as long as possible.  And i do not think it is fair to animals that breeders breed certain dogs in ways that make them more appealing in shows but have horrible lives!  It's not very ethical or fair to the animal.

Answer 16

KC Standard dogs, to me, are all vulnerable to disease and all kinds of other issues because of inbreeding.  There can't be anything good with inbreeding.  It's incestuous, regardless of whether it is with animals or people.

Give me a good, healthy mutt any day of the week.

Answer 17

Healthy, deffinatly

Answer 18

healthy 100% hands down, the AKC standard is for showing only

Answer 19

I don't care about showing standard.  As long as they're happy healthy dogs.  

Answer 20

Healthy!! I could care less if the dog was up to standard or not. I don't care what the dog looks like, as long as he is happy, healthy, and well socialized.

Answer 21

I would prefer to have both. Neither is mutually exclusive. I have a kennel full of dogs that proves it.

Answer 22

a healthy dog of course!!!!!!! an unhealthy dog may toll you financially for medical bills.  and just because a dog is up to 'KC' standards does not mean that it is healthy.  if it HAD to be one or the other, then i would choose the healthy dog.

Answer 23

healthy defo

i rely couldnt care any less about whether my dog is up to show standards

Answer 24

Healthy dog everytime.  Although if I could help an unhealthy dog I would also take that dog on.

Answer 25

Healthy of course... although part and parcel of the breed standard is ALSO health, so in theory good breeders are addression the aesthetic part of the breed standard, as well as the underlying health of each animal.  They shouldn't be independent things, in theory.

Answer 26

I would prefer a healthy dog, I would NEVER knowingly buy an unhealthy dog.  I'm not saying I'd never rescue an unhealthy dog, but I'd never buy one.

Answer 27

my personal preference is both! i have two 'show bred' cocker spaniels (english) both have come from reputable breeders of 30+ years, both are genetically health tested for the two main recessive health problems in the breed, and hold current clear eye certificates.

both are fit for 'form and function' yet are winners of championship and open shows, have won best puppy in breed/best puppy in show/best of breed/reserve best in show awards!

the particolour has his 'stud book number' the solid was placed at crufts '08 both will run for miles, jump in the river, get muddy, play in the rain and then quite happily jump on your clean clothes!

the particolour's breeder used to breed dual purpose champion flatcoat retrievers, so naturally she trained the cocker to do the same, apparently the cocker was better and quicker at retrieving than the flatcoats! my parti boy will shortly be trained to do tracking/nosework as he has shown natural promise with tracking and flushing (i am just waiting for the solid boy to grow up mentally, as he is still too distracted with being a teenager!) but if these boys aren't healthy AND up to KC standards, then i don't know what is!

EDIT: HMMM somebody is missing the point here! so i will explain it in simple terms......i have two show standard, KC reg and quality show cockers, they also happen to be free of genetic diseases, they are therefore healthy and fit for form and function, ie they could still do the job they were bred for! so to summerise they are both healthy AND up to KC standards-so to answer the question...i prefer a healthy dog that IS up to KC standards! so i can sit back and relax and know that they WILL NOT die of kidney diseases, or go blind from prcd-PRA, i can enjoy them for what they are happy, healthy, good looking, sound in wind and limb pets AND show dogs!

Answer 28

My next dog will be a healthy Dobermann that has both function and form. I want the original working/guarding Dobermann as bred by Louis Dobermann.

Answer 29

Neither.

I'd prefer a healthy dog that met the breed standard. There are such things you know, the BBC show many a ridiculous program.

Breeding does not equal inbreeding.

There are irresponsible people that breed dogs that are not KC reg. and not health tested and there are irresponsible people that breed KC reg dogs but there are many that completely health test their dogs and breed show quality puppies.

Answer 30

give me a happy healthy dog any day. I see the KC standard as a guide, not a rule. If the dog wasn't healthy it wouldn't meet the KC standard but If you're not going to show a dog why does he need to meet the standard exactly?

Answer 31

My 2 dogs are healthy, definitely not show quality, both altered, I'm happy, they are fine.