Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: callturner on February 22, 2024, 07:07:57 PM

Title: Health checks for short hairs
Post by: callturner on February 22, 2024, 07:07:57 PM: A friend of mine is getting a short haired pup, and I was just curious what kind of health checks they do for German short hairs compared to what they do for labs or Chesapeake's?
Title: Re: Health checks for short hairs
Post by: Colin on February 22, 2024, 07:45:42 PM: www.ofa.org

You can search by breed for their recommended health tests.

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Title: Re: Health checks for short hairs
Post by: Firstbuck on February 25, 2024, 06:09:39 PM: Anecdotally the bare minimum is hips/elbows.
The real serious breeders are following the gsp club recs of hips, elbows, eyes, heart, cone degeneration. Extras are von willebrands disease (blood disorder), and autoimmune thyroiditis.

Luckily shorthairs are still a pretty healthy breed so the risk is lower with skipping some of these tests.
I think we're starting to see more shorthairs that aren't as naturally gifted hunters so I'd be more concerned about the pedigree, as the hunting/field trialing breeders are usually using pretty healthy genetics at the moment. They also can breed pretty high powered dogs beyond what most of us can handle...

black shorthairs are becoming a little more prevalent and bringing in more diversity, but maybe eventually a problem since any dog with sharp shooters man in black (navdha/versatile club lines) in the pedigree seems kind of popular as a stud.
Title: Re: Health checks for short hairs
Post by: Happy Gilmore on February 29, 2024, 05:01:49 PM: In addition to the list above, ask if sire and dam have had any allergies, food sensitivity or skin problems.