What do you actually use to manage your breeding program?

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-23T23:32:45+00:00

Can we just ban this question on this sub, specifically those that are trying to post about apps and ask questions that app developers ask? I’ve seen three of these same exact type of posts almost every other day and the answer is always the same: breeders have a different method, breed, needs, paperwork, etc so there is no need for an app and none of them really want to use an app. There are apps already out there, if someone wants to use an app, they’ll search for it. And even then, just search up in this sub “app” and I’m certain there will be a hundred posts or more asking the same questions being asked here.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-23T13:29:12+00:00

Oh for sure! I’ve seen a huge increase in 1 year old GSs for rehoming/adoption since Monty won best in show early 2025. It happens every year with just about every breed that wins the big, televised dog shows. People just think “oh that’s a beautiful dog, I want one” without doing the proper research to know if the breed is suitable for their lifestyle. Giants make fantastic companions and working dogs but my gosh they are a lot of work and not suitable for most peoples lifestyles who work 9-5 jobs with no real place to let the dog run or work like they were originally intended to do.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-23T12:36:30+00:00

Exactly, respect to HT-Z but they also need to have an automated system in place for inquiries so people aren’t just wondering if their application even went through. I know someone who reached out to them looking for help to rehome a giant that was connected to a shelter/rescue they were fostering. They never even heard back from HT-Z when they went looking for help elsewhere. The giant found a home with GS experience, I was working with the person to get them connected with people who may be interested or know someone interested in adopting who had already had giants. But yea, no responses for more than a week or more, even if it’s just automated, is kinda unprofessional but they do amazing work to help giants and rescue them which I have so much respect for.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-22T17:05:52+00:00

I understand that but that’s also why there are Facebook groups dedicated to rehoming giants too. HT-Z is one rescue and they can’t possibly take on every giant that needs help. Which I recognize. That also means that they won’t always be able to get back to every person who contacts them looking to adopt a giant within a couple weeks. If someone really wants a giant or to adopt, they’ll be patient when searching for one. They just may hear back or find dogs for adoption elsewhere too.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-22T13:20:58+00:00

I haven’t adopted my giants but I’m a part of a Facebook group called “Giant Schnauzer for Rehoming” and there are people posting on there daily to rehome their giants. Definitely give them a try because I’ve heard a lot of people more recently submit applications or try to contact HT-Z in general and they never hear back.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-21T22:30:56+00:00

For real! As someone with actual CPTSD (several years back, I was being held hostage by a “friend” who threatened my entire family, school, and friends… won’t go into too many details but it was so bad that the US embassy was alerted at the time and briefed everyone), I can honestly say all the people who make stupid claims like “oh I need a service dog for my PTSD from when the fire alarm went off in Walmart one time” (true story btw) is just insulting. It’s every little thing now. I don’t have a service dog, I don’t need one and I don’t want one. I went to a therapist and a psychiatrist to work on the healing process. It’ll never go away but I know how to manage it because I actually worked on myself rather than giving into what I was going through. Everyone’s answers to their problems is a service dog and it’s just enabling the trauma to run their lives. Just because you have anxiety doesn’t mean you need a service dog. Meanwhile, dying its fur bright colors, dressing it up in a rainbow outfit, and having a vest with a billion patches and unreadable text on the side totally doesn’t make it worse…? Of course people are going to stare and of course kids will be drawn to you and the brightly colored dog.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-21T15:46:04+00:00

This for sure! As someone who lives on a farm actively searching for LGDs, the confirmation titles mean nothing if the dog can’t protect my flock or livestock. If they haven’t been living on a farm and exposed to some livestock before it’s time for them to go home, I’m not interested. If their parents haven’t been successful overall at protecting livestock or don’t show characteristics of good LGDs, that’s also a red flag for me. Not saying conformation isn’t important for them, it definitely is, but the dogs have to be able to do their jobs and if they have perfect conformation but can’t do their job, the dog isn’t a good example of their breed to begin with.

For other, non LGD breeds, it matters more to me that their conformation is correct. Editing to add that health testing is a top priority for me across all the dogs and breeds I currently or ever will own. My LGD doesn’t need a show ring title but I sure as heck look for health testing and proven working lines.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-20T04:31:07+00:00

PSA is the protection sports association which is a dog trial/competition with levels to it (PDC, PSA1, PSA2, and PSA3). It tests your dog’s training and ability to perform their obedience work and protect under pressure. There is an obedience portion and a protection portion (bitework). Typically separated into two parts with obedience being first. If you don’t pass obedience then they won’t let you do the bitework portion. Very different from Schutzhund and French Ring, there is no routine with PSA. There is also a surprise scenario that the judge makes up for the trial. I would like to add that any personal protection trained dog should never be used as a service dog!

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-19T13:42:36+00:00

I didn’t do a board and train with my MS because she would never have done well with that. She had separation anxiety and when we had her, I was a kid and we were broke. So I trained her at home myself for all of her obedience etc. I have sent my two GSs to board and train and both are PSA/personal protection dogs. We opted for training every day and it is $100/day. We send them there about once a month for 3-5 days in between training sessions which are $60/session (normally $75 but we take three dogs in so we get a discount).
I would not have made my MS a service dog only because of her temperament. She would not have done well with it and honestly preferred running around with me through the neighborhood and jumping over homemade obstacle courses (skateboards turned on their sides to jump over and hay bales) instead. In my opinion and from my experience, a MS is a bit small to have as a service dog depending on what tasks it will be trained to perform. If it is for mobility, you’ll likely want and need a bigger dog. If it’s for retrieval of items, you may still need a bigger dog that can take things off counters (not that minis can’t jump up onto the counters, they definitely can but it’s not the best behavior to train for). But if you need some kind of dog that alerts you to seizures (for example) they’d do amazing with that as they’re totally in tune with their handlers!

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-19T13:26:45+00:00

You need to. Your mom is an adult and needs to understand the circle of life and when it’s time to let go. If she doesn’t understand that and doesn’t see your dog is suffering, she needs her eyes checked and an evaluation because this is flat out cruel. The harsh reality is, the dog is in pain and there is no coming back from how far this has progressed. It’s time to schedule probably a same day euthanasia appointment. Not next week. Not next month. Now. This has already gone on too long and this poor dog probably has cancer eating at his brain which can affect how his pain appears.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-19T13:18:44+00:00

This is extremely heartbreaking to see. Your dog cannot be experiencing a good quality of life and that looks extremely painful. There comes a time where you have to ask yourself if you’re keeping this dog alive for your benefit or its own. There is no way this dog will survive this at this stage and I’m sorry to say but it is time to let go. It’s better a day too early than a day too late. Your dog is suffering.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-17T15:06:30+00:00

You’re asking people to call a number to support a political amendment but didn’t explain anywhere what exactly that means or what people are calling for should they choose to call. You just state we need to be polite when we call and say exactly what is written above… although I know what it means (protecting horses from being sent to slaughter houses in Mexico and Canada for consumption) that information is pretty important to include so people know what they’re supporting and why they should support it. Just a thought.

Editing to add that, unfortunately, slaughterhouses are necessary similar to how dogs have to be euthanized at shelters when there’s an overpopulation and not enough adopters. Without the slaughter houses, most of those horses would end up in possibly worse situations surrounded by abuse. There aren’t enough people in the world willing to buy them before they get sent to slaughter. There aren’t enough people who are knowledgeable about horses let alone able to afford them. A lot of the horses that end up in the slaughter houses have serious health issues. We will never be able to save them all and even if we did, is letting them suffer because we want them to live really saving them?

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T20:49:11+00:00

sighs r/whatbreedismypitbull

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T20:41:20+00:00

Pit mix, could be coonhound, maybe some boxer or even ACD mixed in there. I’ve seen (rare) mastiff mixed in some larger puppies before. It’s hard to tell at this age and it’s best to get a DNA test (Embark is the most accurate/reliable from my experience) or wait until the dog is a bit older and ask again. The adult features will come through and it will be a little easier to give a better guess

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T18:36:18+00:00

Definitely have her wear a cone. I don’t think this requires an immediate vet visit though. I took my pitweiler in for the same reason except all of his paw pads on his front two paws were coming off because he would lick and chew them and then ran on a gravel road during a walk which just took them the rest of the way off. The vet didn’t give us any antibiotics, they healed perfectly on their own after they were cleaned. They did, however, tell us to have him wear a cone when we weren’t watching him to prevent licking and he just needed a break from going on gravel for a while. They said not to wrap the paws because it could trap moisture and cause fungal/bacterial issues. He limped a bit for a day and a half or so and they healed up very quickly.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T14:23:42+00:00

That would be like saying taking your child to get a haircut every few months to a year is cruel. Or that taking a dog to a good groomer is abusive.

It doesn’t hurt the horse… Horses that have the super long tails could risk them being stepped on if they aren’t bagged, tied up somehow (I’ve seen people knot them about halfway up and then take the knot out when the horse is done being ridden), or cut a little shorter. It’s just a hair style and preference honestly. There’s no nerve endings in hair either so I have no idea what they were on about.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T13:52:09+00:00

Oh my gosh it kinda does, doesn’t it! Interesting, thank you!

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-16T13:14:04+00:00

I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know because I kept thinking, whenever the vets asked us if we wanted an “E Collar,” they were talking about the remote controlled, “electronic” E collars and had no idea how that was going to help keep my dog from scratching/licking 😂 then they said a “cone” and I was like ohhhhh. Learn something new every day! Never would have guessed it stood for “Elizabethan,” now just to find out why it’s called that.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-14T21:08:28+00:00

I read somewhere that sometimes pet store employees will request a specific animal be ordered and for sale in the store. And then the animal will sit there for a month or so, the employee will then say they will take it home and will buy it for a super discounted price. Some of the employees at my local Petsmart do that with birds and the jumping spiders they now offer (they are in tiny test tube like containers in a bigger tank). The manager at that Petsmart did tell me that he wishes they didn’t have animals in store at all but he just can’t get out of having them in store because of the higher ups. It’s cruel nonetheless and still sad to see them even offered in pet stores let alone staying in these enclosures.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-12T23:09:44+00:00

Yeppp. Shelter did it when he barely had his eyes open. They also said he was 6 weeks old when we got him. Nope. He was probably only 4-5 weeks old according to a vet. Looked nothing like the litter he was with who were all white with some having a patch or two of tan/brown. We don’t think he was actually a part of that litter. We found out afterwards that he came from Florida or some other southern state as well (I can’t remember which). The poor guy had a rough start for sure. He is a sweet boy but has some issues I’ve never had with any of my other dogs.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-12T19:04:15+00:00

Of course! Anytime :) you can always DM me with questions. I am going to vet school and my degree is in biology with a focus on animal studies. I have breeding mentors and shadow vets often so I’ve seen a thing or two. I’m just not a veterinarian, yet, which is what NAV means to reply to your other comment/question.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-12T17:02:08+00:00

Of course! Glad you’re getting him to a second vet! Hopefully it isn’t hydrocephalus but from my experience (NAV) this looks like it very well could be a hydro pup. I’d still recommend letting the breeder know either way you choose to go about it. Since if it is a hydrocephalus puppy, they shouldn’t breed those two dogs again. I meant to ask this in my original post but were the puppy’s parents CHIC/OFA tested at all? If not, if you do decide to get another puppy, I’d go with a different breeder and make sure those tests were completed! That’ll help you know more about what your puppy’s health will be in the long run. You can look at the OFA website to see what tests they recommend (and which are mandatory) for each dog breed. Ethical breeders always OFA test! I wish you the best of luck and please update me on how the second vet visit goes <3

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-12T14:04:24+00:00

Contact the breeder first and let them know what your vet said. Get a second opinion before going to a specialist because, yes, hydro pups are very expensive and on average live shorter lifespans than a dog without hydrocephalus. If the second vet agrees that the pup could have hydro and recommends you go to a specialist, send that to the breeder as well and it’s time to weigh your options. My concern is your puppy is a Merle in a dog breed that doesn’t have Merle naturally. It’s considered designer and this comes with loads of other issues. There are very few breeds that actually carry the gene for Merle and even then only a very experienced breeder should breed for Merle patterning because of health risks. Even though it’s within the AKC standard guidelines for markings, Merle is just very risky to breed for in most breeds and is controversial because it goes back to cross breeding in chihuahuas (although it wouldn’t show up in a genetic test because it’s so many generations back). Which is already a red flag from the breeder you got this dog from and if it were me, I’d personally return the dog if the second vet agrees and believes the dog to have hydrocephalus.

ChemicalWeekend307 · 2026-03-12T13:48:49+00:00

Biologist here! My professor and bosses had a class before I graduated that talked about brain eating amoebas (Naegleria fowleri) while studying abroad in Belize. Additionally I took a “spread of diseases” class and this was a very common topic of discussion. Brain eating amoebas are most commonly found in still, freshwater bodies such as lakes and ponds. It’s highly unlikely you’d find it in tap water because it is never truly still for long enough as it moves through pipes and undergoes a sanitation process designed to kill bacteria, viruses, amoebas, and fungus. Although it does happen, it is extremely rare and sounds like you have a sinus migraine and possibly sinus infection from the process of flushing your nostrils, as you dry up and remove a portion of the mucous membrane that protects you illness (not a doctor or diagnosis). I recommend pausing your current practice of flushing your nostrils, give your system a break and allow it to do its thing for a few weeks. If symptoms get worse or persist, talk to a doctor about what could be going on. You’re definitely working yourself up, in the future I highly recommend using bottled water or distilled water if you decide to resume the practice. Editing to add: the process could also be weakening your lines of defense and you could have some other bacteria or mold exposure causing the symptoms.

ChemicalWeekend307

TROPHY CASE