I started this website so that there would be more transparency in the industry. Sadly it has not turned out that way. What I have discovered is fear and secrecy amongst some Cobberdog breeders. 

It seems those who are willing to be transparent, have been frightened off by the threats by Beverly Rutlands Manner. Here is the story as it unfolded, it's a long one.

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15 September 2021 - Raffiki (AKA Raffi) was born of an "accidental" coupling between Rutland's Tiggy and Rutland's Tye. He was my allocated pup from the litter.

I watched Raffi's first 9 weeks of progress and couldn't help but be concerned about his size. He was so small he was the size or his sibling's heads. I asked Beverly if there was an issue and she assured me there was not and that he was the only "miniature" in the litter so was expected to be small.

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November 2021 - Raffi arrives and we are head over heels in love. He thrives on a fresh food diet as prescribed by a Canine Nutritionist (I wanted to get it right).

 

Even though he was sold as a "miniature" within two years he grew to the size of a Medium. This didn't particularly worry me at the time because I understand size cannot be guaranteed.

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Raffi had an active life as a puppy. He ran, played, jumped and swam. I had heard about "over exercising" a puppy so reached out to Beverly on FB about it. This particular post she has screen shot and used over and over to discredit me. The thing she doesn't mention is that she failed to reply to that post but "liked", "loved" and commented favourably on the posts I made about Raffi swimming, running and jumping.

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At his first vet check, they discovered he had malformed Dew Claws which meant we had to be extra careful so that he wouldn't rip one off whilst playing.

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Not long after he that we noticed he had red eyes that looked very sore. He was referred to a specialist and was diagnosed with Bilateral Follicular Conjunctivitis. We were given eye gel that he would have to have daily until he was two years of age when he should have grown out of it. He's 2 years and 3 months and it still continues.

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At 18 months of age Raffi was diagnosed with Mild Bilateral Hip Dysplasia and a Grade 1 Luxating Patella. The vet said it was imperative I inform my breeder as it is a genetic condition. I immediately messaged Beverly whereupon she blamed me for over exercising him.

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It is important to note up until this time Beverly and I had a good relationship. I supported her unwaveringly. I was in awe that she had a hand in creating such a wonderful breed of dog.

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Of course I believed her and went into severe depression about what I had done to my beautiful boy. I cried for a week. It was only after seeing my Orthopaedic Specialist and he assured me I did nothing to cause Raffi's condition that I started to doubt what Beverly had accused me of. But still there was a niggling doubt because Beverly was my "hero" and what she was saying must be right.  

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It was when I engaged the services of an American Canine Physical and Rehabilitation and Specialist that I knew I had done nothing to cause Raffi's HD. She referred me to a Podcast where two American Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeons discuss Hip Dysplasia and its causes. They stated that it is indeed a genetic condition. A dog cannot develop HD without the gene. Exercise can reveal the condition but not cause it.

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The relief I felt was enormous. Now I had to get myself together and do everything in my power to give Raffi the best life possible. B

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Beverly continued to attack me publicly. She banned me from her groups so I had no right of reply. She threatened to sue me for revealing the fact that Raffi has HD. 

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