Horrible Heredity

Strudel is from an excellent breeder, four years old, an AKC champion and excels in everything we do with him. Vega is from Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue and also in perfect health. She is the perfect dog. Then there's Mo, who is also a rescue. He is a doll and very smart but his health isn't the best. I feel for him and baby him too much but I get what you are saying. Luckily all his health issues are fixable but will take time.

My girls and Ted all seem very healthy. They are from reputable breeders. Maggi, my grandpas schnauzer is 11.5 right now. For at least half of her life she has suffered from allergies and cushing's. She also has various tumors/cysts and is 95% blind. She has a wonderful personality and was a great dog for my grandparents--couldn't have asked for anything better! Her health has improved in the last few months since I've owned her with a quality diet, some weight loss, and freqent bathes. Her skin is no longer flaky/oily, she doesn't suffer from the "itchies" and since she's lost a few pounds, she gets around a lot better. She of course is still blind. I'm sure most of her issues are genetic and she probably was from more of a "backyard type" breeder. My childhood dog, a Golden Retriever, passed away a year ago and lived to be 16--he was extremely healthy and never suffered any kind of health issues until he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 14(just because he was so old, it quit working!) He was a little deaf by the end :) But he was a healthy, fit, dog his entire life! I truely believe it was good genetics because now you hear of so many goldens dying of cancer at age 2 or 3!!! I can't imagine!

There's Ojo and then me --- with the Vampire Vet. Nuff said.

Both Madeleine and Sydney are extremely healthy. Maddie had frequent UTI's until a couple of years ago. We used to give her Vitamin C to prevent them, but don't even have to do that anymore. Actually the cats are all pretty healthy too.

Freckles came from the shallow end of the gene pool. At least she still has an appetite and lives in her own little version of bliss. I had a stupid thought when I read that you have to get Petey's monthly pee sample...I immediately thought "Well at least he lifts his leg up for you to get it." I follow behind Freckles to try and get her samples...she's squatty enough as it is!

Yes, yes yes! I feel like everyone favors Andy over Nicholas because Andy is so needy and loving. He comes right up to you and loves you right away. Nicholas is skeptical of everyone. He is not as friendly until you get to know him. He is not a cuddler, Andy is. But Nicholas is loyal and trustworthy to the end. Never gets into the trash, never begs, never barks at other dogs. It just seems that since Andy is such a baby, people are just naturally drawn to him. AND, he is always in the paper.