Why Marie Curie Isn’t Having Puppies This Time
We’re often asked why Marie Curie (Suus) isn’t having a litter this year, even though that was originally the plan.
That’s correct. We had selected a male dog who seemed like a good match for Suus in several ways. He has a strong track record in sports, has the type of build we’re looking for, and is also known as a social and friendly dog.
Before scheduling the mating, we naturally inquired about the male’s health and that of his family. We were told that there were no known health issues.
During the mating, however, it became clear that Suus would not accept the male. We found this surprising, since she had previously had a litter naturally without any problems and was clearly in heat at the time.
After returning home, we received information from various sources indicating that there were multiple cases of epilepsy in the male’s bloodline. Of course, there is no bloodline that is completely free of health issues. We also know that certain conditions occur occasionally in many bloodlines. Upon further investigation, however, it turned out that this was not a single case, but seven known cases of epilepsy, including a half-brother of the male dog.
For us, this was reason enough to cancel the planned mating.
The male dog’s owner stated that this form of epilepsy is inherited exclusively through the maternal line. However, at our request, no scientific evidence could be provided to support this claim. The experts we consulted on this matter were also unable to confirm this assertion.
Health is always our top priority. That is why we have decided not to let Suus be bred with this male. Of course, we find this unfortunate, as we had been very much looking forward to a litter from her. Nevertheless, we believe that responsible breeding means sometimes consciously deciding against a planned mating when doubts arise about the health of the bloodline.
We find this decision disappointing, as we had high hopes for this mating. However, the health of future puppies is always our top priority. If we have any doubts about the risks associated with a particular bloodline, we choose not to proceed with that mating. That is the responsibility we feel as breeders.
