[QUOTE=Horsegal984;7856468]
I’m actually impressed that this whole thread has been helpful (or at least attempting to be) replies.
I can say if this was my bitch I would certainly not use the same stud again, 3/5 is just too many for me to think coincidence.
Btw, did she have any females? That’s a pretty big litter for a Shih Tzu![/QUOTE]
Again, these aren’t my dogs and the “friend” is more like an acquaintance…we don’t talk daily or even weekly, for that matter.
I have been helping her out with a horse behavior issue (addressing some trailer loading stuff), so I don’t have tons of info. Pretty much the only time we speak is when I go over there to school her horses (and her). I always ask about “Fluffy” because it was obvious the first time we met that this is a big deal to her. I get the impression she isn’t that experienced as a breeder or even as an animal person (other than a pet-type owner), but her animals appear to be well taken care of…perhaps abit spoiled, but that’s all.
The last time I was over there, she mentioned the crypt thing more like a “isn’t this weird?” thought rather than being seriously alarmed. I think I was more alarmed than she was! I know she sold all the pups for serious $$.
I asked her afew more questions because I thought it was weird that so many pups would be affected in one litter. Also because I am a horse breeder and have bred one colt who was a crypt and I find the genetic aspect interesting.
What I know: she had/has her bitch professionally handled & shown. I know the bitch has her championship because my friend mentioned that “Fluffy got her championship when she was only 18 mos old!”
I THINK this is the bitch’s first litter, but don’t hold me on that. Could be 2nd. All males (I know that for sure, because my friend was very disappointed not to get a female she could retain).
I DO recall her being very excited when she first bred to the male because of his quality & pedigree & show record. When I would go over there to work with her horses, she would reel off his accomplishments in the breed ring and (although I was only listening w/ 1/2 an ear :winkgrin: ) it sounded pretty impressive.
She would list the names/accomplishments of his relatives, most of which went in one of my ears and out the other, but I DO recall her saying something about how he was very close to finishing & how it was/is a big deal, considering his young age.
Shih Tzus are one of those breeds I have pretty much zero interest in…in fact I’m one of those people who think that competitions based strictly on looks for ANY breed (and that includes “halter” classes for horses) are the quickest way to ruin animals. My belief is that animals should be “purpose-bred” or that any breed should never be awarded a “championship” unless it proves its mental/physical soundness via performance.
So I was mostly a polite listener (or half listener) during almost all of our conversations.
I was/am just intriqued by the little bit of web research I did that seems to indicate more of a genetic link to this condition than is shown in horses.
BTW, again, WAAAAY back “in the day” I bred a Bully pup (female) who finished at 16 months and with only afew outings.
The owner, an experience BT breeder/handler, was VERY impressed, because it was pretty rare for even a male Bully to finish that young and even more rare for a female to do so.
So I’m guessing that, in the smaller, earlier maturing breeds, breeding a male at +/- 12-18 months is not that unusual.
But again, that is not really my “world” .
Thanks for the (mostly) well-thought-out replies and links. Interesting subject to be sure. From my POV, the ONLY downside of a horse/dog being a crypt would be the increased expense connected to gelding/castration. It certainly doesn’t effect an animal’s performance capabilities…
