Culling deaf puppies

I was reading replies on another forum about someone with a deaf pup and quite a few breeders on there said that if they had deaf pups they would PTS not sell them.

This really shocked me as I thought this type of attitude was dead and buried.

Can't a deaf puppy not live a perfectly happy full life? Obviously they would need an understanding and patient home who could put in what i imagine would be quite a lot of extra work on top of the normal puppy training and learning.

If you are a breeder of dogs who are perhaps more suseptable to deafness would you cull your deaf pups? If so what would your reasoning be?

Wouldn't it be better to just never breeder from those parents again?

What are peoples views on this?

I would only ever PTS a pup that was suffering. If deafness was causing the pup to suffer, then yes, though I cannot imagine why a pup would 'suffer 'through deafness. Have no experience of deafness in dogs though, so can't say for sure on that. The pup would obviously need specialist training/help though.

I do breed (albeit only just started out) but if I had a pup with ANY defect (deafness or anything else), I would keep the pup myself and, as I said, only have it PTS if it was suffering (this would have to be confirmed by a trusted Vet - that the pup was suffering).

To me life if very precious (human, animal, insect, you name it) so euthanasia is the very last option for me.

Any responsible breeder would not sell a pup with known defects, they would keep it. You choose to breed, you take the responsibility of the pups produced - for the rest of their lives Putting pups with defects to sleep is not responsible, that's taking the easy option, unless the pup is suffering of course

But what if it were a larger breed you were breeding, imagine having 8 English Bull Terriers in the house...I think with breeds that are more prone to deafness the breeder should at least be willing to keep the pup for as long as it takes to find a permanent home...

On the highlighted bit yes they can.

But finding the right homes for the pups will be harder than finding a home for one who is not deaf.

I know there are many people who are capable in homing a deaf pup..but I personally wont blame a breeder for putting the pup to sleep.

After all they are responsible for its welfare, and if all else fails.. and they decide it is the best for the pup.. its their decision
Wouldn't it be better to just never breeder from those parents again?

What are peoples views on this?


I dont breed , but as my breed will throw a deaf one up now and again... I dont know what I would do, hopefully if 1) I could not keep the pup, 2) couldn't find the right home ... then it is something I may consider..but only after all other options had been exhausted,

Mmmmmm, must admit I was thinking of me as a breeder and several deaf Chis is a bit different to large breeds (as you say). Gonna have to give that one a bit of thought. Off the top of my head though, I don't think I'd let them go to anybody around and about. Maybe give the pups to family that I could trust with them and then keep a close eye. Mind you, I have a very large extended family (lovely animal loving aunties and cousins, as well as grown up nieces and nephews..............there's literally hundreds of us ) I suppose not every breeder would have that option. It is a difficult one. Maybe that's why breeding Chis appeals. I am fortunate enough to have a large home that I could keep quite a few more before the place started to look a bit "full up" (Don't tell my OH I said that - the 'official opinion' is that I don't want any more Chis - yeah right )

Thanks for the replys so far, makes very interesting reading. Keep 'em coming.

ETA: Just thinking about my question of not therefore breeding from those parents again if they produce deaf pups.
If all other pups are fit and healthy is it ok to breed those parents again even if it means they may produce one or more deaf pups again but all others are fine?

Personally I wouldn't breed the same parents again if they produced deafness...
My EBT parents were both heart and kidney tested clear, yet Toro has recently been diagnosed with a heart murmur...in a breed where these problems can occur, it is probably just a matter of time before deafness and other hereditary problems will raise their ugly head...even from health tested parents.

The problem isn't as simple as not breeding from the parents again as it is, in the main, the selection of a particular colour or coat pattern that can result in the puppy being deaf. That is why Dalmatians have a problem and white bull terriers. It is the gene responsible for the coat colour that can cause a malformation in the development in the ear resulting in a dog that is deaf in one or both ears.
That is why it has been recommended in using patched dogs in breeding programs as this reduces the risk of producing deaf puppies.
Becky

I can understand breeders putting to sleep a deaf puppy as the responsibility is homing it correctly would be huge. As the owner of a deaf dog and I also had a deaf Cat (born deaf) for almost 16rs, I know fully how difficult it can be and the problems it can cause.

We had a deaf lab in for rehoming once. I took him to Celia somebody (cant remember sur name) and he was diagnosed as totally deaf BAER testing. A lovely dog, 7mths old bought in as he was "defiant" and "untrainable" they didnt even know he was deaf, nor werre they interested when I told them. I kept him 3mths and took him training weekly, teaching him hand signals, he went to a superb home with another dog, with owners who had previously owned a deaf Dalmatian, a lucky find, a success, but a huge responsibility.

I think i read the same thread the OP did (about a bulldog??) and i initially had the same thoughts but on thinking it through a bit more i kind of agree with the people who said they would PTS.

Ok, if you bred ONE litter from your ONE bitch and had ONE deaf puppy you could keep it yourself. But if you have 5 or 6 large breed dogs and have maybe 2 or 3 deaf pups in the litter you cant really keep them in the environment they would need. I guess it would depend on the breeders situation. It is a tough decision. Finding a suitable home for a deaf pup must be hard, so having it pts may well be the best option sometimes..

Thankfully the breeds i own dont suffer particularly with this sort of problem so its not something i've really had to worry about too much. Riley i kept because he has mild brain damage due to the vets bodge job of a caesarian so i really had to keep him because of that. But i've never been in the position to have to deal with a deaf pup....