Recently as everyone knows, I lost my poor Soba. Well the other day the man that sold him to me calls me up and says that someone who bought Sobas brother can no longer keep him. Then he asks me if I would like to take him. Of course, over taken with grief from Soba, I say yes. He goes and gets the puppy from the owner and I go last night to see him. Great!!! So excited, now here is the problem. The people who were so called "owners" definately did nothing with him but crate him. He smelled of feces and was limping. I of course, couldn't turn him down. The guy who owns the parents tells me he wasn't limping a little bit ago and that his kids were running with him in the field and that he must have hurt his leg. I rub his leg and the joint, shoulder, and paw no whinning. I take the pup, knowing it could be a problem, but who knows what someone would do with an injured DS that maybe in this just for money (strickly my opinion). So I call a vet this morning and they say that his leg was probably born that way. That if he had broken it and no one took him to the vet, he would have probably died of infection. I am going to take him in to have it looked at, but I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with a dog that could have a deformed leg? He walks with a limp on his front left paw, without any whinning, he hops around and pounces, but will not run for more then a few feet. Ive also noticed he has flat front feet, maybe from over crating in a crate to small? I will love this pup no matter what and train him to be a good DS. He will learn obedience and be such a good pet for my family
The pup is very beautiful and has a great personality. He doesn't have much confidence, but after he is with us for a little bit he will be more comfortable. After all, I loved Soba so much, wont hurt to help out his brother
In the pic of Merlin sitting you can see there in a bend in his left front paw. We are also getting him a different color collar today, my son said that he couldn't wear blue, because thats what Soba wore. lol So off with the collar he came with and on with the new, I think we will go with red.
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In that case, the flat feet and even lameness will probably heal once he is out and moving. My father-in-law once bought a pup because it had been left in a pet store cage for 3 weeks. (I know, not a good reason). Poor little guy could barely walk and had totally flat feet (there is a term for that type of atrophy, but i can't remember it). He made a quick and complete recovery once out of the cage and lived quite happily for 20 plus years. 
fully straightened out and lead a normal productive life. If it is something similar with Merlin, you have a good chance of getting him fully straightened out. 
Judith Van Neerland Dutch Shepherds 
Everyday his foot and leg gets better and better. I have noticed already that he is hardly limping at all (I will give him a little more time and if its not completely better I will get it x rayed). I never thought I would have to teach a pup to walk on grass, poor thing. Tonight we were outside running around in the yard and a dog down the road was barking, Merlin tucked tail and ran! He is getting more comfortable though, its just taking time. He ran onto the deck and just looked at us like, "Aren't you coming? Its going to eat us!" I called him and coaxed him into coming back and he sat real close, but was starting to observe the noises, instead of being so fearful. I just pet him and talked to him to let him know he was ok and that he was such a good boy. He is so beautiful! So happy to have him in our lives. I truely cried for days after Soba died, everyday I look at his grave, but now I feel peace knowing I can help out his brother 