IT IS THE POLICY OF OUR CLUB NOT TO DICTATE TO OUR MEMBERS WHAT IS AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.  MAKING BREEDERS AWARE OF HEALTH ISSUES IS ALL THAT CAN BE DONE AND THE CHOICES MADE FROM THERE WE HOPE WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BREED.   WE THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ALL POTENTIAL BUYERS TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE PERTINENT IN MAKING SURE A FLAT COAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND THE BREEDER HAS DONE THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF THE DOGS. FLAT COATS HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. CANCER LIKE ALL DOGS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN OUR BREED. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASK ABOUT PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHEN BUYING A DOG. 2. HIPS AND EYES. AN O.F.A. RATING OF FAIR OR BETTER FOR HIPS IS PREFERABLE AND A FULL EYE EXAM SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. A CERF CERTIFICATE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE ARE NOT EYE PROBLEMS. EYE ISSUES NOW ALSO INCLUDE PRA, PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATTROPHY. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE DILUTED THROUGH BREEDING.   BREEDING FROM CARRIERS INCREASES THE POTENTIAL OF MORE CARRIERS AND POSSIBLY AFFECTED DOGS.  The current gene pool has sufficient unaffected and non carriers to continue to breed responsibly.   The choice is up to the breeder to help the breed by eliminating potential carriers and affected dogs from breeding programs.   To include them simply puts the breed at further risk from this problem.  We strive to eliminate hip displasia, why not this disease???  WE WILL MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE SHORTLY ON AFFECTED DOGS ON OUR WEBSITE AND IF PURCHASING A PUPPY WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU OBTAIN A 5 GENERATION PEDIGREE  FROM THE BREEDER AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  IF AN AFFECTED DOG APPEARS ON THE PEDIGREE SPEAK TO YOUR VETERANARIAN . AS THERE IS NO DNA TEST AT PRESENT THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS DEVISTATING DISABILITY. 3. MOST IMPORTANT WHY DID THE BREEDER DO THE BREEDING AND HOW FREQUENTLY DO THEY BREED. HOW MANY OTHER BREEDS DO THEY HAVE? 4. ARE THE PUPPIES TEMPERMENT TESTED, HOW IS IT DONE AND ARE COPIES OF THE TESTS AVAILABLE FOR YOU. 5. WHAT TYPE OF GUARANTEES COME WITH THE PUPPIES? 6. IF FOR SOME REASON YOU CANNOT KEEP THE DOG, WHAT IS THE BREEDERS POLICY REGARDING PLACING THE DOG. CAN YOU PLACE THE DOG OR DOES THE DOG NEED TO GO BACK TO THE BREEDER. THE POLICY MAY DIFFER FROM BREEDER TO BREEDER. THE WRONG ANSWER IS "I DO NOT TAKE PUPPIES OR ADULT DOGS BACK." THESE QUESTIONS WILL GIVE YOU A BASIS WHEN SPEAKING TO A BREEDER.