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Chud, aka; as Von Shrado's Suddenly Dawn was purchased from a breeder in North Carolina, in 1988 as a show quality puppy. Her sire was BIS Ch. Von Shrado's I'm A Knock Out and her dam was Von Shrado's Danielle. The breeder was very high profile and very well known within the breed. I received Chud with a 3" scar on her foot, probably from chain link fencing. I didn't know it then but that would set the pace for the relationship between the breeder and myself for years to come. I provided the breeder with several references that she never bothered to check out. And being a breeder myself, I foolishly thought the breeder would honor her contract to refund/replace over genetic issues. Everyone who shows dogs, sets a personal standard as to what faults are they personally will accept to show a dog with. When Chud was done teething, she had missing teeth on her lower left jaw, sometimes considered to be genetic. She also had light colored eye's, so between the two faults, I decided that I would not show Chud. I did contact the breeder to ask for a refund of the difference between a show and pet quality puppy, the breeder refused. When Chud was 2 yrs. old, she was diagnosed with Thyroid problems. This too is considered to be genetic. The breeder was again contacted without any satisfaction. I had never had any Thyroid problems with the lines I was breeding and had no intention of breeding problems into my dogs. When Chud was 4 yrs. old, there was an even more devestating blow.. She developed Primary Glaucoma, which is beyond a doubt genetic. Glaucoma causes a fluid build-up behind the eyeball, which causes pressure and discomfort. Primary Glaucoma causes total blindness. I thought surely now the breeder will honor her contract to refund/replace. This time before contacting the breeder I did some research, I searched for people that had purchased dogs from this breeder out of the above parents. I found several, but only one from N.Y. had a puppy that also developed Primary Glaucoma. Armed with this information I again called the breeder, who at first denyed any knowledge of the disease let alone it being in her line, until I mentioned the owner in N.Y. At that point the breeder went on the attack and stayed in that position for several years. There was slander in stating the dog had been abused, something that there was never any basis of truth in, and in fact had no relation to the Primary Glaucoma issue. I have never received a refund of any kind, or replacement even though I would have turned down an offer of a replacement. In 1996 Chud was put to sleep. After nearly 4 yrs. of treating her Glaucoma without success, her being totally blind and problems that arose from both the medications used to treat the Glaucoma, and her Thyroid issue, Chud's quality of life was poor. I am telling this story so that others that also have had problems with breeders, be they people new to the breed, or people with a history in the breed, can see they are not alone. Truth is that sometimes all that glitters is not gold. Some breeders despite having a proven track record in the show ring, are no better than the puppy mill.