personality vs pedigree

[illinidairychic]

alright I know that there is a lot centering around breeding as far as debating. This isn't meant to get ugly, it's just out of curiousity...

I was just wondering if people thought a hedgehog's personality or pedigree was more important???

[HedgieMommie]

i would just like to add my two cents for what its worth:) i love my un registered crappy hedgies and there babies are happy and healthy:) the vet says these are some of the best hedgies they have seen on a long time:) but that is because i get them the best food and treats and special care and constant attention:) true hard work and care makes a great hedgie not paper work... :D

[PrettyHate]

Pedigree IMO. What if the hedgie has an awsome personality, but has a history of WHS etc in its family?

That isnt to say that personality isnt important, but I just think that a clean history free of disease etc that is hereditary is very important.

[Tobin81]

As long as the hedgie or whatever is happy healthy and loved does it really matter, I think not, i think people put too much emphasis on issues like this in our world today. Granted you could go 100% pedigree but you might miss out on a really great animal that isn't a pedigree. I guess if its a closed minded issue then you may just have to miss out on that special pet. Just my opinion it doesn't make me right no offenmse intended on anyone. :)

[PrettyHate]

I dont think that just because a hedgehog is "unregistered" they are crappy. Neither of my boys came with pedigrees- and both of them make wonderful pets.

However, the physical apperance of a hedgie, and its genetics are two completely different things. Just because it appears to be very healthy, and is a perfect specimen as far as hedgies go does not mean that it is free from diseases that are passed through the generations. As important as things such as good food, treats, special care, and attention are- they do not alter what is in a hedgies genes.

[yourmine]

Personally, since we do have the knowledge and ability to prevent serious congenital disease in these little animals, we should do so. So, I guess in my opinion, if you are not sure if your hedgie could pass on a congenital disease, don't breed them. Likewise, if you have a hedgie with a terrible personality but a spotless pedigree, don't breed them. I feel that it is our responsibility to make life as happy and healthy for our animals as possible. If this means keeping certain animals from breeding to protect the next generation, so be it. I wish we could do as much for humans!

[illinidairychic]

I'm guessing not all petstore hedgehogs have genetic diseases. I personally own two with pedigrees and two that came from a small breeder that sells at a pet store where I have spoke with him about the hedgehogs he sells, and one odd ball from a petstore that is larger and has no idea where he's from. I guess even the most expert breeders had to start somewhere and they couldn't tell with their 6month olds if they were going to have anything wrong down the line...

[illinidairychic]

oh I forgot to post this earlier. I go to the Unversity of Illinois and we did many studies on environment verses genes which proves even with the top genes or the lowest you can alter animals greatly by their environment. I've also done research on microbiology that shows just because one has the potential to have a diesase in their genes doesn't always mean it's going to happen.

[HedgieMommie]

i am happy someone here is finally talking about science and what happens

[paris26]

I guess even the most expert breeders had to start somewhere and they couldn't tell with their 6month olds if they were going to have anything wrong down the line...


That is true that the well-known breeders probably do have a few unknowns in their lineage that goes back to the first generation though. They now have hedgies with several generations of pedigreed backgrounds on both the dam and the sire's sides. To me, when there are so many hobby breeders who are licensed and can provide you with a hoglet with a pedigree, why breed an unknown? Often times, a breeder hoglet is going to be less expensive than a petstore hedgie. There are never any guarentees when it comes to health in these guys, but if you can actually look back and see what health issues have cropped up, if any in their backgrounds, wouldn't you want to know that information before breeding? With most pet store hedgies, you probably wouldn't be able to find that information