OakRidge Kennels Home of the Wachtelhund OBIE

Home

Findus

Bella

Obie

Kaiser

Links

Breeedings

SW MI RGS

	Obie vom OakRidge, "Obie", is a male pup that was kept out of our first litter (Bella vom Dakota and Beryll vom Berg Oybin of Dakota Kennels).  He was born in December, 2005. Obie's coloring is what the Germans call "Heltiger", basically solid white and brown splotched.  During his 6 wk check up, my vet found Obie's tympanic membrane to be perforated, manifested by a slight loss of balance. Two different vet's gave opinions supporting a transition to complete recovery, but recovery has not occured.  Though the perforation has healed, the loss of balance is still present with occasional petite maule seizures.  While being nuetured, we had a neurological specialist look Obie over and diagnose him with a lesion on the brain.   Obie is also cryptorchid (only one testicle descended), has a level bite/"butt bite", and is cow-hocked in the rear legs.  These faults are hereditary and are not allowed to be bred per VDW standards.  Unfortunately the AKC and UKC  do not prohibit the breeding of dogs with such faults. The current conditions and genetic traits influenced my decision to spay/neuter both Bella and Obie and not continue with their lineage. Obie currently resides with my family as a pet due to his condition; which does not allow for a functional working dog.  As a breeder, I feel it is my duty/responsibility to provide quality of life and acknowledge my role.  Obie will not be sacrificed under the false pretense of perfection and is loved much by my family. Normally, the Wachtelhund is a healthy dog with very few heredity faults due to VDW breeding standards.  Less than three percent of North American born Wachtelhunds have been known to have hereditary faults.  I and several other breeders are committed to following the VDW breeding standards, even though it reuqires us to make difficult decisions in selecting our breeding stock.  We know the German standards, the dogs with known faults, and will be very selective of the dogs that will carry on our bloodlines.