Puppies?

[pixie374]

Hiya,
Genuine advice appreciated please. I realise there may be some negative comments too....

Quite honestly, and selfishly, I have always wanted just one litter of puppies. I understand many people will say there are already too many homeless dogs... but I also don't think those are always suitable for every home.

Now, I have a very happy, healthy rescue springer, in season. The vets won't spay her due to lockdown (have asked since last June). But honestly, I am so tempted to find a dad for her.... she has tied with my *neutered" cocker around 6/7 times the last few days. My unneutered older cavalier is clueless... and my cocker bounces him away anyway.

IF... I go for it, next time- 6/8 months.... I would really appreciate proper advice and experience first. I have always had dogs, but never a baby litter.

Does anyone have any advice please?
Thank you... xx

[davebro]

Go for it. Get a decent sire & the pups should fetch a good price. Re-homed after 2-3 months. Not a long term problem.

[hellywelly4]

My cavalier had puppies and I helped her. It was a wonderful experience for me. The puppies(6) were sold for £25 (!!!)each. That was about 1990. One of the new owners kept in touch with me for the rest of her life and said having the puppy really helped her get through a difficult time. It was a lovely time.

[pixie374]

Thank you, dave x yes, they definitely would get good prices. But I also need to make sure I can get them proper kind family homes.
I'm also wondering if anyone has experience of looking after a pregnant *** and small puppies... as I would hate to get anything wrong x

[pixie374]

Thanks Helly:-) I can well imagine. I wouldn't be without mine, however nutty they are sometimes...
I have seen you should feed puppy food to an expectant mum?
But also, that they can lie on them and crush them... and I have 3 other dogs, all very gentle and friendly, but would those be a threat?

[hellywelly4]

For the first weeks the mother does everything herself, and then you step in with food for the pups. It's quite easy, and very enjoyable. You will be fin
e.

[davebro]

A mate of mine just bought a terrier for £2000 to replace a much loved pet. I'm sure it will have good home!

[hellywelly4]

My pups were in a drawer in the corner of the kitchen out of the way of everything. The mother won't crush her babies, don't worry.xx

[hellywelly4]

On the floor of the kitchen.

[Buenchico]

This US site has lots of helpful information and advice (even if does load rather oddly!):

Start here:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-care

Click 'Breeding'.
Change 'All species' to 'Dogs'.
Then keep clicking 'Load more' to see all of the individual links available to you. (As an example, here's the section on caring for newborn puppies: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-for-dog-owners-caring-for-newborn-puppies )

[pixie374]

Thank you, dave, helly and Chris xx the more I look into it, the more I worry about what might go wrong... I just want to learn as much as possible first.
Still reading through that, chris- thanks xx

[bednobs]

how old is the dog?
I think its a great idea btw

[lankeela]

First thing you need to consider is health testing - presume as a rescue you have no paperwork relating to parents, and as Springers are prone to several health conditions you would need to have her tested otherwise you could produce puppies that are affected. If you are determined to breed from her please consider using a registered stud dog that has had all the required health tests too. Of course you have no way of knowing whether she is related to any other dog you might want to use. There is a lot more to breeding than just letting a dog and *** get together, so an experienced stud dog owner would be able to guide you. Other things to consider - if she had 12/14 puppies would you be able to find enough good homes, or keep them longer if you couldn't? Have you got at least £1,000 set aside in case she needs a C section during the night? Would you be resigned to losing your *** if she had problems whelping? Breeding puppies is a wonderful experience if everything goes right, but sadly it is not always the case.

[lankeela]

Some of the health conditions relevant to Springers:
Eye testing - PLA (gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)
DNA test - Fuco.
DNA test - PRA (cord1)
MRD
Important health schemes and tests
We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
DNA test - PFK
Bitches under 20 months not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
Check inbreeding calculators
Other health schemes and tests available
DNA test - AMS

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our CombiBreed health test package. This includes:

AMS (Acral mutilation syndrome)
Fuco (Fucosidosis)
PFK (Phosphofructokinase deficiency)
PRA-Cord1 (Progressive retinal atrophy - Cord-1)

[shoota]

I have had two litters, 6 and 3, the first litter was just incredible and was possibly the most satisfying experience of my life. I was with them when they were born, had to help a couple out that came out bum first, had to get one going that slipped out unnoticed by both me and mum and didn't immediately have the sac broken over his nose (he's now asleep by my chair.) As I was retired I spent all day every day with them and it was just incredible watching them grow from blind bundles of fluff to rowdy hooligans.
I can't recall Mum needing much extra looking after, we were out walking the afternoon before the birth, but she did have raw mince, oily fish and goats milk regularly in small amounts for a couple of weeks before her due date.
She did the majority of the looking after when they were born, all I did was to make sure all were getting a fair share of teat and that they were warm. I also handled them from the moment she would let me at every opportunity.
Weaning was simple - tiny pieces of raw mince, goats milk slightly diluted to start and then introducing 'mush' first by squashing up Weetabix with goats milk and later by grinding up dry puppy biscuits and mixing with warm water, slowly leaving them more and more coarse until they could handle the dry biscuit, all the time giving tiny raw mince meatballs and goats milk with less and less dilution.

[lankeela]

Consider for a moment shoota's comment "had to help a couple out that came out bum first, had to get one going that slipped out unnoticed by both me and mum and didn't immediately have the sac broken over his nose" - would you know what to do if that happened to your puppies? Or if one was stuck and your girl couldn't pass it? I know it sounds like I am trying to put you off - well yes maybe I am but you need to know exactly what could go wrong and what you would need to do about it or else your girl and the pups could be at risk. As for all the health tests, you owe it to any puppy buyers to ensure you have done everything possible to allow them to have a healthy puppy that will live for a long time without any major health issues.

[pixie374]

Thank you so much. Sorry to disappear, work emergency.
Lankeela, I don't mind being "put off" by genuine, valid points- they are all things I have and am thinking about. We've done kittens, foals, baby guinea pigs... I know there would be a risk she'd either have 33 puppies, or none and massive vets bills... nothing is guaranteed.

Thanks, shoots, that's all really helpful- I like a man with experience :-).

Bednobs, she's 3, so would need to really be the next year or so x

[Canary42]

Awww, how lovely. Good luck Pixie, I bet it will be a wonderful experience.

[pixie374]

Thanks, canary :-)... Will have to wait for next season in about 6/8 months, as my daughter selfishly has a baby due next month. But will hopefully have some photos to show you one day :-) xx

[shoota]

I'd love to see your puppies... ;-)

[shoota]

In 6-8 months you will just be approaching the cold season so you will have to make arrangements for that.
Mine were summer babes, so I could just sit and watch them ruin the garden all day...