Is It Cruel For A Bitch To Never Have Puppies

[pipdawg]

I have a 2 and a half year old Border Collie and always intended that one day she would have a litter of Border Collie puppies, purely to experience 'the joys of motherhood'. My sister's bitch currently has a litter of 4, 5 week old, Golden Retriever puppies. All has gone very well for all concerned and all pups will be going to good homes. However, it has made me realise just what hard work and expense a litter of pups causes and my enthusiasm for my own dog to have a litter has waned a little. Can someone tell me if having a bitch spayed before she ever gives birth is cruel? Will she feel as though she's missed out?
Thanks
Responsible Dog Owner

[LoftyLottie]

Hi,

I am sure that dogs don't think like humans. Yes, they have instincts to breed but I doubt if they think about it and won't worry about missing out. Also when they are spayed those instincts go away. What you will have is a healthy, happy dog with less chance of getting mastitis or breast cancer. Of course it is not cruel.

I would get her spayed. Too many dogs are left unspayed and have pups that are then abandoned or not cared for properly. Yes, you are a responsible dog owner. Good luck.

[lankeela]

No its definitely not cruel, in fact in the wild only certain females in a pack would be the breeding ones. Also the process of mating and whelping can be fraught with danger for the bitch and you could end up losing her and the puppies. Also with your breed, there are several health tests that need to be done, some by your vet and others through DNA testing which can be very expensive.

Have a look at this article, no offence intended but I think you would be better off having her spayed.

http://www.dogstuff.info/to_breed_or_not.html

[fredpuli47]

She won't know any different and doesn't think in terms of the joys of motherhood. Here we have bitches who have been mothers and bitches who haven't.Three of those non-mothers have a sister who's been a mother They do not behave any differently, are just as happy, as their sister who had pups .(You could only tell which sister has had pups from her attitude to her own mother. She'll readily stand up to her 'mum' which she never did before. Her sisters still don't dare. She appears to have acquired extra status in 'the pack' ).

Vets are for spaying. They say that there's a very much higher risk of the bitch getting cancers or growths if she hasn't been spayed.

You're right that whelping and litters can be a lot of trouble and stress for the owner. It's often less so for the bitch ! LOL

[smudge]

Don't have dogs, but we've had a few cats over the years & not one of them have ever had a litter. We had them spayed before they got caught by any lurking un-neutered toms.

It didn't do them any harm & they were all very happy contented cats, as is our Milly, who is two years old.

Hope that helps pip.

[jules77]

No it isnt cruel, read this article, along with that posted by Lankeela.

http://www.dog-breeders-net.com/dogbreeding&related%20topics/breeding.htm

[jules77]

oops, that didnt work, sorry. Try again

http://www.dog-breeders-net.com/dogbreeding&related%20topics/breeding.htm

[jules77]

sorry it doesnt want to take a long link, go to this site, scroll down, and click on the 'breeding' link and 'breeding from your bitch'

http://www.dog-breeders-net.com/