Hm..... didn't mean to send this. I do have a few more thoughts! How different, huh? We all learn from our own experiences. I find no fault with early maturity. So saying we do full health screens including H/E, thyroid before we show in a puppy class. I can't imagine finding out later your winner won't get a number of some kind. I have avoided lines known for bloat and torsion and it's hard sometimes not to breed to some dogs and take the chance to get that big winner. The best dogs in our kennel have stayed what they were as puppies and just gotten larger. If they don't stand out as puppies they have gone to pet homes. Sure you make a mistake that way once in a while but how much better is it for the dog. My Sel. CH. Joy To The World was sold as a pet. Luckily, I got her back. Uzi was BP at the National at 7 mos. and and got a major at 9 mos. A BIF at 13 mos. 3 majors at 17 months... Ch.... at 19 months he went Select for the first of 4. The youngest ROM sire, youngest GV. ROM sire at 35 months.... he lived till almost 14. His dam was a CH. with 5 majors at 12 months and went Select at 2. She got her ROM in 2 litters. His grandam GV Vendetta was done before 1 1/2 then got 3 Sel. before she got her ROM in 2 litters. I have been blessed. Joan -------Original Message------- From: Joan Fox Date: 10/15/05 15:01:31 To: ShowGSD List Subject: Too wait or not to wait.... that is the question I happen to have always had a line of early maturing dogs, I breed for a deeper body than some and have to have that beautiful ribbing and posternum. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================