Stud Dog Statistics
The following is a table of statistics about mastiff stud dogs that had their first
litter registered in the 1990s.
| Category | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 |
| total # of studs | 457 100% | 469 100% | 472 100% | 470 100% | 384 100% | 346 100% | 314 100% | 320 100% | 258 100% | 207 100% | 255 100% |
| stud has NONE of following: |
| Ch,CD,OFA,OFEL,or CERF | | | | 364
77% | 300
78% | 275
80% | 242
77% | 232
72% | 208
81% | 147
71% | 181
71% |
| The stud has: |
| OFA elbows (OFEL) | 47
10% | 54
12% | 50
11% | 34
7% | 32
8% | 9
3% | 9
3% | 8
2% | 9
3% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
| OFA hips | 66
14% | 84
18% | 86
18% | 74
18% | 54
14% | 37
11% | 35
11% | 46
14% | 39
15% | 33
16% | 38
15% |
| both OFA elbows & hips | 42
9% | 50
11% | 47
10% | 32
7% | 26
7% | 9
3% | 9
3% | 7
2% | 9
3% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
| CERF eyes | 36
8% | 52
11% | 44
9% | 41
9% | 21
5% | 15
4% | 19
6% | 16
5% | 15
6% | 8
4% | 8
4% |
| Champion (Ch.) title | 48
11% | 56
12% | 60
13% | 56
12% | 48
13% | 50
14% | 52
13% | 69
21% | 42
16% | 40
19% | 61
24% |
| Companion Dog (CD) title | 0
0% | 5
1% | 2
1% | 3
1% | 2
1% | 2
1% | 1
1% | 2
1% | 4
2% | 0
0% | 6
2% |
| Champion & OFA hips | 34
7% | 40
9% | 43
9% | 37
8% | 23
6% | 22
6% | 18
6% | 29
9% | 20
8% | 17
8% | 24
9% |
| Ch.&OFA hips and elbows | 26
6% | 29
6% | 27
6% | 22
5% | 17
4% | 6
2% | 6
2% | 6
2% | 8
3% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
| One or both parents of the stud: |
| not Ch,CD,OFA,OFELorCERF | | | | 344
73% | 282
73% | 269
78% | 258
82% | 244
76% | 188
73% | 147
71% | 185
73% |
| OFA elbows (OFEL) | 101
22% | 112
24% | 92
19% | 76
16% | 45
12% | 21
6% | 22
7% | 6
2% | 2
1% | 2
1% | 0
0% |
| OFA hips | 174
38% | 193
42% | 198
42% | 176
37% | 150
39% | 118
34% | 108
34% | 115
36% | 93
36% | 70
34% | 81
32% |
| both OFA elbows & hips | 97
20% | 110
23% | 90
19% | 68
14% | 44
12% | 19
5% | 21
6% | 4
1% | 2
1% | 2
1% | 0
0% |
| CERF eyes | 85
18% | 112
24% | 87
18% | 76
16% | 69
18% | 31
9% | 25
8% | 31
10% | 21
8% | 16
8% | 26
10% |
| Champion title | 119
25% | 149
32% | 168
36% | 174
37% | 148
39% | 146
42% | 151
48% | 211
66% | 123
48% | 103
50% | 147
58% |
| Companion Dog title | 6
1% | 8
2% | 13
3% | 7
1% | 10
3% | 10
3% | 11
3% | 11
3% | 15
6% | 8
4% | 13
5% |
| Champion and OFA hips | 94
20% | 125
27% | 128
27% | 106
23% | 85
22% | 88
25% | 86
24% | 81
25% | 64
25% | 53
26% | 63
25% |
| Ch&OFA hips and elbows | 59
12% | 80
17% | 67
14% | 45
10% | 31
8% | 16
5% | 16
5% | 3
1% | 2
1% | 2
1% | 0
0% |
| Both parents of the stud: |
| not Ch,CD,OFA,OFELorCERF | | | | 242
51% | 174
45% | 162
47% | 139
44% | 127
40% | 108
42% | 92
44% | 100
39% |
| OFA elbows (OFEL) | 26
6% | 34
7% | 22
5% | 14
3% | 11
3% | 3
1% | 4
1% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
| OFA hips | 71
15% | 70
15% | 73
16% | 55
12% | 51
13% | 33
10% | 35
11% | 26
8% | 22
9% | 23
11% | 13
5% |
| both OFA elbows & hips | 22
5% | 28
6% | 21
4% | 13
3% | 10
3% | 3
1% | 4
1% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
| CERF eyes | 31
7% | 28
6% | 25
5% | 25
5% | 11
3% | 8
2% | 3
1% | 7
2% | 7
3% | 5
2% | 7
3% |
| Champion title | 25
5% | 47
10% | 48
10% | 51
11% | 49
13% | 49
14% | 70
22% | 47
15% | 42
16% | 42
20% | 50
20% |
| Companion Dog title | 0
0% | 1
1% | 1
1% | 1
0% | 1
1% | 1
% | 3
1% | 2
1% | 4
2% | 1 0.5% | 1 0.4% |
| Champion and OFA hips | 8
2% | 19
4% | 24
5% | 15
3% | 15
4% | 13
4% | 18
5% | 10
3% | 11
4% | 10
5% | 9
4% |
| Ch&OFA hips and elbows | 3
1% | 10
2% | 11
2% | 4
1% | 5
1% | 0
% | 1
1% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% | 0
0% |
Unfortunately, the largest category by far consists of mastiffs that do
not have even one of the following: an obedience or
championship title, or an OFA certificate indicating
that their hips or elbows are clear of dysplasia,
or a certificate from CERF indicating that their eyes have been examined
by a veterinary opthamologist.
Until recently, the next largest category consisted of mastiffs with a championship title.
A championship title primarily indicates that
a dog looks like a mastiff, secondarily, it implies good temperament
(the dog would stand for a judge) and general
soundness (the dog moved well around a ring). Unfortunately, there are
serious temperament and soundness problems that
are difficult or impossible to detect in a conformation show ring.
The third largest category consists of mastiffs that have had their
hips certified clear of dysplasia by the OFA. The
majority of serious health problems in mastiffs are related to their joints.
Unfortunately, mastiffs suffer from problems
with joints other than their hips, especially their elbows. The OFA
registry for elbows is relatively new and is obviously
under-utilized. This category is particularly important because it is
often impossible for even the most experienced breeders
and vets to detect dysplasia without x-rays. Accurate diagnosis of
dysplasia from x-rays can also be difficult, so it is best
to send the x-rays to the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) where
they are evaluated independently by 3 board
certified veterinary radiologists. It is ironic that until recently there were more
champions than OFA certified dogs since having a mastiff
evaluated for dysplasia by the OFA is significantly less time consuming and less expensive.
Temperament testing is way down the list. This is perhaps understandable, because most breeders
probably feel that they can adequately evaluate their own dog's temperament and there is no
need to "prove" the dog's temperament. However, it is hard to be objective about your own dogs.
Also, it is hard to evaluate the temperament of a dog that is
kennel raised. Fortunately, there are now a variety of titles that a dog
can obtain to "prove" temperament: CD, CGC, TDI, and TT.
If you would like your mastiff stud dog to stand out from the rest, and
if you want to better the breed, don't settle for
part of the package, do as much as you and your dog can:
- Certify his excellent temperament by obtaining an obedience title, a TT title, or a Canine
Good Citizenship or Therapy Dog International certificate.
- Have his hips and elbows evaluated by OFA and certify that he is clear of hip and elbow
dysplasia.
- Have his eyes checked by a CERF veterinarian.
- Have his thyroid and vWD status verified.
- Certify his general soundness and breed type by showing him to his championship.
Do not short change one part for another, before spending time and money
specialing a dog, certify that he lives up
to your expectations in the other categories.
If you want to use a stud dog that has not been certified:
- suggest that you meet the dog's owner at a match, see how he reacts to his surroundings,
people, and dogs, or suggest that you meet somewhere else where there are other people and dogs.
- have the dog's owner enter him in breed competition and ask the judge's opinion of the dog,
or invite one or more other breeders whose opinion you trust to look at the dog and get their
opinions.
- offer to pay for the health tests. It is well worth the cost!
Whether the dog has been certified or not, try to arrange to meet the dog in person.
If this is not possible, get a video of him and ask for references, i.e. other breeders that
have personally met the dog and/or his relatives.
|
