Dream Team Kennels

[Corso4me]

I want to share my heartbreaking experience in the hope that someone will avoid my mistakes. In my search for a Cane Corso pup I found Dream Team Kennels online. The owner promised the stud and bitch that created the litter I liked, had good OFA hip and elbow results, and the pup's health was guaranteed "for life." They advertise that they breed for performance and I was looking for an active sport dog to train. Online I never found anything negative about Dream Team, and their website depicts a tremendous amount of proven dogs in sport events.

The pup was shipped to the West Coast where I live, and he had his prerequisite vet check within 48 hours. He had a watery eye which was diagnosed as entropy. The breeder should have known this. I called the next day and Kim, the owner, told me to ship him back to the East Coast for a replacement. I'm obviously a sucker and a softy and decided to keep him. We had to administer daily eye drops until ultimately his head grew such that the entropy resolved itself by stretching of the tissue around his eye.

However he developed limping around the age of 2. Xray results revealed inoperable hip dysplasia. I called Kim and sent the DVD of my pup's Xray results and examination. I also asked Kim--belatedly, I know--to email copies of her stud and bitch's OFA results. On the phone Kim stated that she will "look for another puppy" for me. I never received a copy of the OFA results and never heard from Dream Team Kennels again. So buyer beware. I should have never purchased the pup without proof of acceptable OFA results. Now I have an invalid dog that can tolerate only limited activity before having to lie down and rest.

Save yourselves the heartache and do your research. If someone is helped by this painful experience, I will be satisfied.

 

[maryl]

You can look up hip, elbow, cardiac and other results on the OFA web site if you know the names of the sire and dam.

 

[Corso4me]

Thanks Maryl. Looks like neither of the Dream Team dogs that produced the litter has had OFA screening.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I am not as familiar with them, do know they breed for performance dogs but don't think they health screen their dogs. Some do hips through PennHip but always ask to see the reports as most think their vet saying all is good is considered a health screen. I am sorry for your experience, it is becoming far to common in this breed to have health or temperament issues.

 

[Corso4me]

Thanks Mary. Now that I have learned that none of Dream Team's breeding stock have been officially health tested, I won't be pursuing a replacement pup. They obviously care only about making a buck at the expense of dog lovers, and at the expense of the Cane Corso breed. It's a wonder their dogs have stood up to rigorous training despite bad breeding practices.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

It is hard to find a "working" kennel (it is even hard to use that term in corso as it is only a newly recovered breed so not many have generations of titled working dogs) that also health tests. It is usually easier to find individuals that have lines that tend to work and trace them to kennels that also health test. Rivale lines tend to be the most sought after for working dogs but I don't know if Carlos does health testing either, although he also would not lie and say he did if he didn't. His stock is fabulous so you have to decide if it is worth the risk to get a dog from him and chance it. Some don't deem it worth it. I have a female from his male Mach, who was not health tested. She was my foundation bitch and I would not trade her for anything. She was health tested and we got good results, the pups I have held back out of her the same thing, testing has been good... but it is a chance that I chose to take, it could have gone in the other direction just as easily. I know there are more kennels that are using the Rivale dogs in their kennels as the temperaments are bang on which is a big problem in our breed. Where are you located and I can see if I can find some people in your area that have working dogs that you can talk to. I know that in CA there are some pretty active working corso people.

 

[Corso4me]

Someone sent me a link to a So Cal breeder who health tests. She titles her dogs in show and sport. Looks like Rivale blood is in her breeding lines too! I'm going to ask if she has a match for me, when I'm ready for another dog next spring. Wish I had learned about her sooner.

My heart is still aching for my dog. We're a very active outdoor family, and he's totally miserable needing to be left behind in the house while we're out having adventures. If you can recommend any other ethical So Cal breeder I would appreciate it. Thanks so much.
https://odisseiacanecorso.com/

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

That is Annie Wildmoser! She is fabulous breeder and we share some of the same dogs in our pedigrees. There is another one that is I think close to Annie that also have used or have similar lines called Potrero Cane Corso that you should check out too.

Having dogs with crippling dysplasia sucks as they are seriously limited with activity. I am sorry that your poor guy is having such a hard time.

Let me know if there is anything I can help with as far as research or information.

 

[DennasMom]

We got a totally untested dog from a hobby/back-yard, so a little roulette for us... as my vet pointed out... genetics can be funny (and not in a ha-ha way, either). Even the best-tested dog with the best genes can turn up with bad hips, just because.
My vet has goldens from one of the top show dogs, fully tested, well-bred, etc, etc... and his dog has hip issues, massive allergies and about every environmental sensitivity known to man. He figures he got the right dog, though... because only a vet would be able to care for him!

You do up your chances with well researched and planned-for breedings, though!

Do you still have your hippy pup? If you haven't already, research diet and supplements to help minimize the discomfort and hip issues. There are some out there that might help. Vitamin C, Collagen, MSM and Glucosamine come to mind. Feeding raw chicken feet (often available at Asian markets) might be a fun place to start.

 

[Corso4me]

Isn't that the truth, D's Mom. Over the years I've had the pleasure of adopting large pure-breed strays that lived many years without a hint of health issues despite obvious early years of neglect. It's a crap shoot, isn't it? Last year I pulled an elderly, lame GSD from a local shelter. Fast forward to today: she is bouncy, shiny, and energetic. Who knew?

I still have my hippy Corso. He joins us for a daily 2 mile hike, then spends the rest of the day on the couch. I have to lift him into the truck for road trips. Poor guy. I believe our exercise regimen has kept his muscles strong enough to keep him modestly capable. About 6 months ago he started getting daily Cosequin DS and Platinum Performance CJ formula, which haven't made a difference in his ability to get around. You can hear his hips coming down the hall: snap, click...snap, click...snap,click.