Canine Grade 1 elbow dysplasia is defined as “minimal bone change (less than 3mm) along anconeal process of ulna.

I guess I’m stretching it a bit here, but I wanted to keep to the theme and also finally get a chance to talk about my puppy boy Axel and his quest… okay, fine, make that my quest… for his American championship. He left on December 14 and is currently staying with a professional handler with a great reputation, who does a lot of winning, and who is also a very nice person.

Those of you who know how I feel about my animals are probably pretty surprised that I would send Axel away for any reason, least of all something a bit shallow like a beauty (conformation) title. I have been second-guessing myself a lot, because it is very quiet here. Freya doesn’t really pick up the slack in the Rottweiler mayhem and wild-child department. Axel really is in good hands but we sure do miss him.

I really am getting to the part where this all fits in with bone change, so bear with me.

Freya and Axel were both acquired as show and breeding prospects. In order for me to consider breeding a Rottweiler of mine, it needs to have passed certain health tests, and hopefully also acquired both beauty and working titles.

Freya did not pass CERF eye screening. She has punctate cataracts in both eyes. They are very tiny and will probably not affect her vision until she is quite elderly, if then. It does mean she will not be bred as cataracts of that type appear to be hereditary. This failure was particularly heartbreaking, as she had already passed the health tests for cardiac, hips and elbows.

Her German-style show career was extremely unspectacular, so she was never shown in AKC shows. Although she has a beautiful head and front, and no actual disqualifying faults, she is somewhat cow-hocked in the rear and thus doesn’t move well. Movement is very important when judging Rottweilers, particularly in German-style shows. Don’t worry about Freya, though. Nothing could ever change our love for her, and she doesnt mind being an obedience dog, or usually, the anti-obedience dog.

Axel is beautiful. He’s got a lot of attitude and is a bit of a handful, especially for me, but he is just plain beautiful. As a youngster, he got a V, or Excellent, rating and 2nd place in his class at his first German-style show. This is a big deal, because V ratings are not always given in the youth classes.

The health tests for hips and elbows are not final unless they are done at age 2 or later. Due to the timing of Axel’s second birthday, the dates his handler would be in our area, and the dates that were available to have the hip and elbow x-rays done, it was a bit rushed and we did not have the results in hand before he left. His hips did pass, but his elbows did not. Actually, one elbow is normal, and the other one has that minimal bone change referred to above.

There is a lot of controversy as to whether a Rottweiler who does not pass elbows should be bred, but most knowledgeable breeders do seem to concur that unilateral Grade I degenerative joint disease should not eliminate a good dog from a breeding program. I’m going with that thought, as my last Rottweiler with unilateral Grade I DJD lived to be almost 12 years old, and never showed any symptoms of pain or limping in that elbow.

Two more health tests to go: heart and eyes. And one championship to go: in progress.

I know it is hard to tell from this post, but Axel is above all, my puppy boy and a very much loved family member. I just want him to be a champion on top of that, and maybe one day be able to see him in one of his puppies.