Question to ponder....

[Cami]

So a good friend of mine has been "slightly" pushing to get an answer out of me regarding when I will be bringing home a new Boxer.
FIRST OF ALL.....That is the last thing on my mind.
Cami has only been gone for 2 weeks and 2 days. I am FAR from "getting over" her loss enough as to even remotely think of opening up my heart to another Boxer.

So anyhow.....she sends me a link to a breeder with a note saying that the dog would be for HER (yeah right). She has never owned a dog before much less a Boxer and her lifestyle isn't conducive to a goldfish much less a dog.

Not wanting to be mean and show my irritation I agree to take a look at the breeders site. Seems all the appropriate health testing is done. Dogs look exceptional. Lines are impressive.
And then......wait for it......
I spot a memorial page for a few of their dogs that have since passed on. These are dogs from their "foundation" line.

Not 1 not 2 but 3 had all died from mast cell cancer. Doing a little more investigating those original dogs (2 females and 1 male) dated back to deaths in 03', 05' & 08'. Females had been bred 3 times each (that part is OK). Male didn't list how many pairings he was involved in BUT his frozen semen is still available. Multiple champions produced for all female litters and still others from the males.

Um. OK.

Entirely understanding that the breeding's took place long before the cancer struck however....WHY ON EARTH continue to breed their offspring when you know there is deadly cancer in that line??

Can someone in the know on breeding please fill me in??

I know some stuff but want to make sure that what I think isn't entirely way off base!

I can see BYB'ers not worrying about that type of thing but a "responsible" breeder? Come on. Seriously?
It is like a losing battle. Our beloved Boxers don't stand a chance of even having a hope to get rid of certain illnesses if even the "best" breeders are not doing things "right".

Again.....those in the know enlighten me!

[Walkssoftly]

I'm definately not in the know.... BUT I did want to say I can relate to your feelings of not being ready for another boxer.. When I lost TaTanka.. I was destroyed more than I could EVER have imagined.. and didn't even want to THINK about another boxer boy..
My Resce Boxer Roo Roo came to me by someone hearing about my precious TaTanka, and knowing that Rooster was just mistreated during his short life.. They called and asked me if I would consider giving him a home.. That's how it all came about.. Of course they told me he was a "White boxer".. with "Caramel" coloring.. Soooo I was thinking that the Great Spirit must have a reason for this boxer to cross my path.. And agree'd to look at him.. You can imagine my shock when I saw the first pics of him.. He is DEFINATELY fawn.. lol Obviously the ppl that rescued him were not familiar with boxers..
White's are my heart... White males are my weakness.. In my head there was "NO WAY" I could even think about not having my "White male"... but the way Roo looked at me that day?? Well.. that was when I learned what ppl speak of when they say an animal CHOOSES YOU!..
If not for this situation.. I don't know when I would have been ready! EXCEPT that I knew my poor Sequoia was just totally lost without our love TaTanka.. So Roo is now our boy..and we are blessed to have him, even with all his health issues, and the unreal stress that it causes me? I WOULD NOT GIVE HIM UP FOR ONE SECOND! He's MY baby.. and we adore him..
So yeah.. I can totally understand how you feel about someone trying to get you in the mode to get a new boxer.. THAT will come when your good and ready!
I have so much respect for you.. and see so verrry much strength in you as a strong woman, as you have been here in BW, despite your beloved Cami running free at the bridge... I'm afraid I fall apart, and tend to become reclusive.. which is NOT good..
Without ALL OF YOU here in BW.. I would never ever have made it through losing my precious TaTanka.. Still I am in disbelief.... But day by day, have to convince myself that he is FREE, and that I will see him again one day..
Blessings to you

Karen
Rooster 2yr fawn male rescue boy
Sequoia 3yr white female
TaTanka, Tuffy and SLY at the bridge..

[Althea]

Cami -- I totally agree. My biggest fear with Cairo was that I would lose her to cancer, even though there wasn't a single case of cancer in her ancestral line. When I looked at Suki, that was my first question. The second was heart and hip issues, and of course, testing, testing, testing. Thankfully, she was bred by a woman who loves boxers, has a treasured boxer that she has shown and received champion titles with, and she has bred her twice over four years, in hopes of getting another show quality pooch. Excellent lines, uber responsible....but my fear is still there. No matter how good the breeding. Why ANYONE would choose to breed a boxer in a line that has cancer I'll never understand. It's heart-wrenching to even consider.

RE: getting another puppy. You have to know when it's time. Cairo was my existence for several years, and the only reason I kept going (came from some nasty abuse at home and in marriage). Losing her...well, I don't need to tell you how it felt. You know. She took a piece of me with her.

Suki isn't Cai...not at ALL. But she has made it a little easier to come home. I've sat on the floor, feeding her, and bawled like a baby because I miss Cai...and little Suki has kissed away my tears. So she has made it easier, and she is, of course, adored for being herself and such a funny little boxer. I look at her and think, God, I'm so in love with this little thing that has a lifespan of 7-10 years...why do I do this to myself? Yet I can't imagine a house without dogs, and boxers are my heart.

You'll know when the right time is. And there'll be a little smoosh face just waiting for your heart. Best thoughts to you.

[whiskers]

First of all I'd like to say I'm so so sorry for your loss, I hadn't realized Cami passed away.

But I agree with you, to continue breeding dogs with that in their line is pretty ridiculous. I'll give credit that at least that information isn't being hidden ("oh no, my dogs never get cancer!"), I would think even people that are clueless about responsible breeders would be a bit put off by all the cancer.

One of Juno's relatives passed away recently from lymphoma cancer, which to my understanding isn't genetic, and the other dogs in her lines have not developed it... but it still worries me.

Animals get cancer and you can never guarantee that a dog will be free of health problems, but it seems very counterproductive to be breeding from lines with such an incidence of cancer.