Well, you obviously have your opinions and are not going to budge. Fact is her pups seem to be going to homes that want a hunting companion and seem to be well satisfied. One last point you seem to be ignoring. Part of the cost issue if I'm not mistaken is that her pups are sold at 15 or 16 weeks and the cost includes training and thus her pups are started. The pups you point to are sold at 7 or 8 weeks with none. I like to get my pups at 8 wks but again I don't have a, well you know dog in this fight.............

I asked her about the EIC, hips ect and she advised me that they have been cleared.

Listen, I'm buying a dog from her and asked her the question and thats what she said. I'm not gonna call her a liar so I'll take her word on it until the day comes that I pick up the dog. Once I see the test and tell you will you then call me a liar?

Make sure you get verification when you pick up the puppy, because I unless she has tested in the past couple months she is misleading you. If your spending that much money I would want all clearances done....EIC, CNM, Hips / Elbows and Eyes.

I think since she has never had any problems she says they are clear, but she does not test every single dog.

Thats just it man. why would I doubt her? Do you know her? Do you have a dog from her? Do you know anyone that has? Please feel free to tell me what you know.

X 3 or 4 or 5 on Iron Spike. Boss got a puppy 2 weeks ago from Dawn and the puppy is great. I also called Angie while looking for this puppy and I was not impressed by her or her info.
Dawn asnswered all questions before and after the sale. She is always happy to help even here on the forum.

I can only go by what she told me, and I have no reason to think that she would lie....do you?

And as far as what I pay for a dog goes, I think thats up to me. I want a dog thats calm and well trained. I see no hunt test in my future, but I will shoot over 200 ducks this next season so thats what I want a dog for. Then I want it sleep in the house and be gentle to my kiddo. Thats what I want in a lab, and thats what I'm paying for.

Hey thanks RGC! I was wondering how that little stinker is doing! Haven't had a moment to log on here, what with the new litter and all, but I recently got some emails from a potential puppy buyer wondering what all the 'EIC hoopla' (here on THF) and my breeding program was all about. I had to just Thought I'd log on and see what I've been missing. Give that little pooch a scratch behind the ear and tell 'the boss' I said "hey"! Thanks again for choosing an Iron Spike pup!

I guess it depends on what you're looking for, a trail prospect or a hunting companion. Since they are all priced about the same the distinction gets blurred. Only one of the above is a repeat breeding while I would guess that Dawn's are mostly repeats which would tend to give me some assurance that they are to type.

I would guess that the guys that are saying the pups are great were looking for started hunting companions and found them. Because a dog is trialed doesn't guarantee anything about the litter. I run pointers and have been disapointed when I have bought pups out of field trial champs before. And now have several pups from a man who line breeds non titled Elhew dogs that are everything I want in a hunting dog. Different strokes for different folks.

The fact that you think there is "no comparison" doesn't make it true. And "Really incredible to me how many of you guys are shilling for Iron Spike" seems a little harsh. Maybe they have been impressed with her dogs and with her continual answering of questions on this forum that has impressed me. I don't have a dog in this fight as a quail hunter but you seem to be just a pinch hard on folks that you don't agree with. Only sayin.

So are all your dog's TESTED clear?

I remember asking this before with no response....

I go out of my way to not argue with folks - especially here - because I think it produces no worthwhile fruit. But in this instance, let me be frank.... I haven't - and won't - answer your question because quite simply, you are on a witch hunt. You haven't asked this question in earnest - it is a form of attack. My response, 99.9% of the time to attacks (unless physical harm is eminent) is to simply choose not to participate. So, I'm sorry, but I will leave you holding that ball of wax in YOUR hands to figure out what to do with. It's not mine to worry about.

Now, had you shown up at my front door to see a litter and the parents and asked the same question, you would have gotten a very different response, indeed.

from what little I know, dont you have to breed 2 carriers to get a EIC dog??? because even if one dog is a carrier, the dog cannot get EIC unless it is bred with another carrier dog. So if thats the case who cares if you get a carrier if your going to use your dog to hunt and as a family dog.

I do kind of agree with Iron Spike becasue either way its a lose-lose situation for her. Everyone is ganging up on her about clearances, but she is not entitled to answer to the public about her dogs. I mean yes it would be nice, but she has no obligation. Seems like EVERY SINGLE PERSON who bought a dog from her is completely 100% satisfied. But thats just from feedback on this forum from people who bought one. And I dont know how long her dog company has been around but she has stated NONE of her dogs have had issues. That must be in it of itself to potential buyers.

I have no sides in this argument/debate as I know nothing about any of these breeders, but I will take into consideration all this info when I buy a lab within the next year(after I get a job lol and get going with my masters). For potential buyers I would bet she is more then willing to answer questions and will answer whatever you ask in all honesty.

IronSpikes,

Just to clear the air on the clearances....

1) Does the Sire & Dam have EIC & CNM test results? If so, why are they not posted on the OFA site?

2) Does the Sire & Dam have hips and elbows certified by OFA or PennHip? If so, why are they not posted on OFA?

I did a search on each on OFA (the industry standard), and neither of the dogs have any entries.

Please explain.

well correct me if I am wrong but.....if all the dogs are hers and are repeated and she tested the first generation and every dog after that down the line was originally from those 2 dogs then there is no need to test every generation after since it takes 2 carriers to breed to make an EIC affected dog.. To me if thats the case it would only make sense to test every couple generations after.