Name: Andrew Mailman
City_State: NB
Email: capocanecorso@hotmail.com
Phone: 506-545-5938
Official_Name: Rhea Sylvia
Date_of_birth: Dec 10 2003
Sire_Dam: Dualie x Misty
Registration: ICCF
Number:
Breeder_Rating: Poor
Remote Name: 142.166.41.93
Date: Monday, January 29, 2007
Time: 11:28:35 AM
Feedback
I bought Rhea Sylvia off Norm Sharpe after having owned and lost a beautiful Cane Corso months earlier. I found a void in my life that I wanted to fill, to get back out hiking and doing things with my dog. For that reason I unfortunetly put little research into this breeder in comparison to the first Cane Corso I owned.
My first problems occured when I was asked by Mr Sharpe to arrange the delivery of Rhea from Ontario to Nova Scotia. He cancelled the first set of plans I made, I can only assume to make a vet appointment that he had neglected to do.
When Rhea arrived she had her rear paws bandaged from a dew claw removal operation just days earlier. The dew claws are supposed to be removed soon after birth, not at 7 weeks of age. The incisions were infected, and after 3 visits to my vet it was suggested to me that I use soggy bread to draw the infection out. 2 + hours a day I had to wrap bread on the leg under the bandages and watch her that she didn't just eat the bread. I got rid of the infection in a week or two.
Rhea was full of worms on delivery. White worms as long as two or more inches each in her stool. I would assume the puppy had never been dewormed, and took care of that myself. She also had a habit of eating her own stool, which dog books will tell you is often related to the cleanliness of teh breeders operation. When puppies play with stool like it's a toy, it's because they were exposed to it and allowed to play with it, as opposed to it being cleaned up.
Around the age of 6 months Rhea developed a localized spot of mange on her forehead. It cleared up with cream and did not return.
I had gotten a bad feeling about Mr Sharpe after receiving Rhea in the poor condition she was in, and did some digging. I found that Hip dysplasia runs in the Big Taurus lines, as several people have had their Big Taurus dogs tested with poor results. I asked Norm to send me proof of hip testing, at which he first became defensive, and when pressed on the issue became angry, stating publicly on a bulletin board taht he would not honor our contract regardless of what problems might arise.
I also did some digging into his pedigree, and found a father x daughter breeding a few generations back in the pedigree, where there was no dog listed on the papers.
I firmly believe Mr Norm Sharpe to be a person with no ehtics or concern for his dogs or customers. I would strongly urge buyers to not purchase a Cane Corso from Mr Sharpe or any breeder affiliated with Mr Sharpes breed club in Canada, the Cane Corso Mastiff Club of Canada, or Corso Pugelise Club of Canada, depending on what they are now calling themselves.
As with all breeders, check out their contract prior to purchasing, ask for proof of hip scores that are verifiable with Penn-hip of OFA organizations, and make certain the dog has papers.
Andrew Mailman
Name: K. Dyer
City_State: Napanee, ON
Email: ccihunter@technoboomer.com
Phone: private
Official_Name: Big Taurus Jada
Date_of_birth: 11/24/2001
Sire_Dam: Big Taurus One Ton Dualie X Bel Monte Misty
Registration: ICCF
Number: # 0200723
Breeder_Rating: Poor
Remote Name: 67.142.130.40
Date: Monday, February 19, 2007
Time: 04:58:23 PM
Feedback
Big Taurus Jada PennHip Info:
PennHip Radiography Date: 06/23/2003
Report Date: 07/11/2003
PennHip Reference #: 839647
Age: 19 months Weight: 102 lbs.
Results: (L) DI 0.85, Mild DJD, Confirmed CHD
(R) DI 0.77
PennHip Score (Laxity Profile Ranking): 10th Percentile.
Note: There is a High Risk of developing DJD when DI is close to 0.70 or above. A score of 90th Percentile is the best, 10th Percentile is the worse!
I had Jada spade and received a replacement pup for
her as she was purchased for breeding. I will discuss the replacement pup in a later feedback under Big Taurus Hunter.
In 2002, I purchased 2 "breeding quality females" from Mr. Norm Sharp. I'll be commenting on Jada and additional feedback to follow on the other BT dogs I
own.
Although, the breeder stated that only 1 of his dogs had been xrayed and cleared of hip dysplasia (OVC), he could not produce the report.
Like many other breeders, he offered a 2 year health guarantee, unfortunately, even with the Xray results from my 2 girls (both with CHD) he continued breeding the same Sire x Dam, and then, Father/Daughter. This was after being notified of
how bad the hips were that Dualie x Misty were producing.
When a breeder disregards basic genetics, disregards science (doesn’t xray his breeding stock to ensure clear of CHD), in my opinion they are breeding wrecklessly.
As for the state of Big Taurus kennel (formally in Oshawa, ON), every time I visited his kennel it was in a state of filth, dog crap everywhere.
His last litter contracted Parvo Virus, he didn’t get treatment for the pups and most died. I heard 4 lived out of 10. If he had financial problems he could have called the Humane Society but he didn’t do that either … just let the pups suffer and die, simply shameful!
If a breeder cannot provide the original xray report (PennHip, OFA, OVC), look elsewhere!
Although, N. Sharp does get a pat on the back for giving me a replacement pup (free) for Jada. The health of that pup was worst than the 2 females and has already cost me over $5000 in Vet bills. This breed quality replacement will not be bred because of CHD.
Genetics 101: my 3 dogs from Big Taurus all have scored in the 10th Percentile and CHD. I have heard from another owner, who had her 2 BT dogs fail OVC xrays but since I do not have the report, all I will comment on is that is 5 confirmed Big Taurus Cane Corso with CHD.
Check the PennHip DI in Jada, Nikita and Hunter,
all 3 scores almost the same and in the 10th Percentile. Basic genetics!
Note for future Corso owners, do not be shy to verify the results with PennHip, OFA or OVC, as I have seen fraudulant paperwork from Rustic Aragorn
(forged PennHip).
I mention this because it brings up the point of
N. Sharp breaking his own club rules and ethics when he was president of the CCMCC and CPCC club by breeding his Dam (Mona Lisa) with Rustic kennel's Aragorn ... doing business with a breeder (A. Canning) who had been plagued with numerous ethical problems. The violation: doing business with an unethical breeder.
I’ll end with anyone wishing to purchase a Cane Corso pup, first check the pedigree and if it lists Big Taurus or Rustic kennel, look elsewhere!
I hope you find the information useful.
Name: K. Dyer
City_State: Napanee, ON
Email: ccihunter
Phone: private
Official_Name: Big Taurus Nikita
Date_of_birth: 11/24/2001
Sire_Dam: Big Taurus One Ton Dualie x Bel Monte Misty
Registration: ICCF
Number: # 0200724
Breeder_Rating: Poor
Remote Name: 67.142.130.12
Date: Monday, February 19, 2007
Time: 05:36:42 PM
Feedback
Big Taurus Nikita info:
PennHip Radiography Date: 06/23/2003
Report Date: 07/11/2003
PennHip Reference #: 839648
Age: 19 months Weight: 95 lbs.
Results: (L) DI 0.96, Moderate DJD, Confirmed CHD
(R) DI 0.88, Moderate DJD, Confirmed CHD
PennHip Score (Laxity Profile Ranking): 10th Percentile.
Note: There is a High Risk of developing DJD when DI is close to 0.70 or above. A score of 90th Percentile is the best, 10th Percentile is the worse!
I had Nikita spade and REFUSED a replacement pup for
her as the breeder Norm Sharp used Rustic's Aragorn as the Sire.
I had asked him several questions after finding out
he mated Aragorn X BT Mona Lisa and was unhappy with
his answers. So, I did about 20 minutes of searching to find severe problems with this mating.
Here are just a few problems I found:
- Aragorn had no registration papers still.
- Aragorn had not been xrayed. Although, neither had Mona Lisa but since I knew what my 3 scored it was pretty easy to figure out Mona Lisa was most likely in the same category. Now a smarter breeder would have found a Sire with a PennHip score in the 90th Percentile to use as a Stud and with no Epilepsy in its background but that takes common sense.
- Found Aragorn had sired pups with poor hips.
- Found Aragorn had sired numerous pups (20+)with Epilepsy with several different Dams and that was the information that I found totally unacceptable.
- Even after I voiced my concerns to Mr. Sharp, he's
only concern was if anyone would pick up that he was
violating his own clubs policy/ethics, "dealing with an known unethical breeder".
My reaction and response was simple then. I turned down a free replacement pup, cancelled my membership
to his club and walked away.
Actions speak louder than words, some breeders and some owners talk about the betterment of the breed but its their actions in the end which define them.
Refer to Big Taurus Jada and Big Taurus Hunter for additional comments and info.
I hope you find the information helpful.
Name: K. Dyer
City_State: Napanee, ON
Email: ccihunter@technoboomer.com
Phone: private
Official_Name: Big Taurus Demon Hunter
Date_of_birth: 08/25/2003
Sire_Dam: Big Taurus One Ton Dualie x Bel Monte Misty
Registration: ICCF
Number: # 0400151
Breeder_Rating: Poor
Remote Name: 67.142.130.47
Date: Monday, February 19, 2007
Time: 05:52:51 PM
Feedback
Big Taurus Demon Hunter info :
PennHip Radiography Date: 03/10/2004
Report Date: 04/01/2004
Reference #: 843757
Age: 7 months Weight: 88 lbs.
Results: (L) DI 0.85
(R) DI 0.88
PennHip Score (Laxity Profile Ranking): 10th Percentile.
Note: There is a High Risk of developing DJD when DI is close to 0.70 or above. 90th Percentile is the best, 10th Percentile is the worse!
Radiography Date: 05/02/2006
Lennox & Addington Animal Hospital
Xrays do reveal about a Grade II dysplasia on the left (with some mild DJD) and Grade I on the right.
- Not worth spending additional money for OFA certification as Xrays show Grade II and Grade I hip dysplasia. Note: this information along with earlier PennHip proves he is not worthy of breeding
but is intact.
Hunter was a free replacement and has cost over $5000 because he blew out both CCLs. Lax hips had
a great bearing on the injuries to his knees.
There was no way I was going to accept another pup
with bad hips and with a great chance of getting
Epilepsy.
Refer to Big Taurus Jada & Nikita for additional information.
Actions speak louder than words, some breeders and some owners talk about the betterment of the breed but its their actions in the end which define them.
I hope you find the information helpful.
