Tardy Blogger

Seems like an age since I last updated my Blog, but in fact it has only been a week, but the longest week of my life!

Finally got the result of those Medicals, a report that doesn't make pleasant reading I can tell you.

Got told by my Boss "If any more reasonable adjustments were required, then I would be getting my P45 so I can sit on the sofa all the time.

Which was well out of order, and resulted in several nasty Panic Attacks this week, due I think, to the fact I've been mega stressed

about this whole process.

I won't bore you to death with the whole story, but as a result I've now received a massive pile of paperwork to wade through, as they

Mad as a Box of Frogs

Last week I went for my medical about my fitness to carry on working, and boy was that a waste of time!

Himself had to come with me as I find it far to stressful to go to new places on my own. 
Had to travel all the way to Portsmouth, and it then took me 25 minutes to hobble to the building where my medical was taking place from the train station.

By the time we got there, I was in serious pain and could barely walk. Thankfully there was a lift, so no stairs because I really don't think I could have walked up them if there were!

As I booked in 15 minutes before my appointment, this woman came out and said "Are you Dawn? I want to get this started as I want to go home"

We followed her in shocked silence, as this is my future we were there to discuss. Not some minor medical matter!

She didn't seem to know exactly why I was there, luckily I had taken my previous medical reports which as she read, spent the whole time singing in a rather flat tone "Dum Dee Dum Dee Dee" and doing it even when typing her report.

The whole time I'm sitting there feeling like I'm facing "The Executioner" 

She was very unsettling and hardly asked me any questions, just looked at my repeat prescription form and said  "I don't understand how you can be here and awake on Morphine and all your other drugs"

I replied "Because I've just got to get on with life, haven't I" in a rather aggressive tone, so Himself informed me when we left. Oops!!!

I'm not going to bore you with the whole interview although it was rather too short I felt for such an important matter!

She couldn't make a decision, so now I've been referred to see a Doctor for yet another medical, I can't believe how much I'm being jerked around. I'm happy to work, I've never complained about not being able to manage my job.

This whole process is so very very stressful!!!

It's making me feel totally unwell, I'm unable to sleep because of the worry of losing my job and how I will support myself!

Hopefully the Doctor I have to see, will be able to finally make a decision so I can get on with the rest of my life!!!

Asking few simple questions, could save you heartache in the long run!!!

This post is a copy of an email of a genuine equiry I made with somebody who professed to be a "responsible" breeder on their website... I was shocked by the reply I got, and the "As it's not compulsory, I don't have too attitude"!!!!!! Plus they never replied back when I explained  the questions I had asked in more detail...   A Guilty Conscience, I certainly hope so!!!

31 May
Dawn Hart 

####..... Couple of quick question about your pups for sale.... What are the BVA/KC Hip scores of both parents and all 4 grandparents??? Do mum and dad have current Eye Certificates, and were the x4 grandparents screened when used for breeding??? Last but not least what is the C.O.I. of the pedigree??? As I'm not a fan of line-breeding due to recessive genes!!!!!! I'm may be interested in a pup, but have seen a few lately that were't quite bold or placid enough... Thanks Dawn


31 May
######## ########
 hi dawn, in answer to ur questions no none of my dogs are hip scored as u dont hip score working lined springers, no at the mo mine dont have current eye tests as its not compulsory to have the tests done in working lined springer (at the mo) as it is with show dogs but i am in the process of getting all my dogs heath tested as im all for it just havnt got around to it up to now... as for the grandparents i have no idea if any are tested... and as for C.O.I. i have no idea what that is??? and as for there charactors there only just starting to show them so dont no yet what they are yet... hope these answer ur questions... #### x

31 May

Dawn  Hart

Ok  #### thanks for that, will do some research on Hip Dysplasia in working Springers as had 2 dogs with it in the past and it's a nasty thing!!! The tests aren't compulsory for show or working dogs which is a bad thing in my opinon.. But the law needs to change, making breeders responsible for the lifelong health of there puppies *which will hopefuly put a stop to puppy farmers...* Health Testing is used to help eliminate hereditary diesases, by not breeding from affected dogs!!!!! My Cocker is a working Cocker not show, and all his relations were tested for P.R.A (eye tests) every precaution was taken by his breeders, but he still had it when he went for his tests before breeding from him.. Hence no breeding for him!!! Therefore I had no comeback on his breeder as she had done all she could... BVA/KC tests are open to everybody, my friend breeds working labs and has been testing them for approx 20 years I believe... C.O.I is a scoring system where you can work out how closely in-bred puppies are further back in there parentage, when line-breeding was all the rage:- ie, Grandfather to Granddaughter, cousin to cousin and so on, because of recesssive genes that cause the hereditary problems.... The boldness or shyness of a pup at 4 weeks will carry on through to it's adult life if raised correctly!! Hence why early temprement testing is better for matching pups to owners.... Sorry but in my opinion and lots of other peoples,  Health Testing is important for lifelong health of the puppies and good of the breed!!!  Dawn

After this communication I opted not to buy a puppy from this particular breeder, , this article is my personal opinion, your free to make your own mind up.

Authors Note:-

I would like to add that this person was a facebook friend for several months, and I genuinely liked them. But after this transaction of messages, their personality changed and not in a nice way!

I was inundated with nasty messages, and several of my facebook friends were put in a very awkward situation, and made to choose between me and them.

So please ensure you ask questions when buying a pup, and if the breeder of the pup, doesn't want too, or won't give you the answer you require, then you should consider looking elsewhere for your pup.

Breeders that pay out for the health testing before breeding, have the interest of the pups lifelong health in mind and are not after making a quick buck.

It really is better to wait a few months or even years for your pup, than to rush out and buy one because it is available.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this breeders dogs, but genetic problems can happen to the most experienced of people if they don't health test their dogs before breeding.

I would only ever buy a pup from somebody, who has taken the time to find out if there are any hidden problems that can be passed on, and so should you. To save any heartache later on if the pup should develop something that could have been avoided by a simple test that somebody couldn't be bothered to do because they don't HAVE TOO!!!