persephone

No argument from me as to that fact - but what is driving the woman to think that way? I prefer to imagine that it it is not a blatant disregard for the dog's welfare ..based on adequately processing information.

My guess is that this situation is complicated by the dog's owner being ill. Without knowing anything of her illness- perhaps wanting her dog to have puppies is some sort of compensatory thing ... ? Also , with no previous dog experience,and not being able to walk the dog - go to doggy events etc - maybe there is a lot of good info that she has failed to absorb via 'osmosis'. This is not to condone what she is failing to do for her dog .. just looking at it a different way . I don't think going to a shelter watching puppies be euth'd is something I'd do to a friend ..but I think I would be borrowing books from the library & leaving around - books on dog care/whelping/puppy care , and asking my vet if there was any info they had which woul provide an insight into what may happen during pregnancy/whelping. There is also THIS: SO YOU WANT A LITTER OF PUPPIES? WHY??? "To make a lot of money." Do you realize the expense involved in such items as advertising, vet bills, stud fee, food, etc., to name a few? "Because it would be good for the children to watch the birth and play with the puppies as they grow up." Actually, the "gory" parts of the whelping repulse most kids, who are all too anxious to just skip the viewing of the miracle of birth you have planned for them to see. And a litter growing up is too rowdy for most kids who are usually totally disinterested or absolutely terrified of the leaping creatures with the sharp nails and teeth. If you want the kids to see a puppy grow up, it's usually better to buy one. "Because we love Fido and we want one just like her." The chances of getting one "just like her" are slim indeed. "Because everyone who comes to the house and sees Fido wants a puppy when she has a litter." Just wait until your litter of 12 is ready to go to their homes and watch all those people back out with excuses like...."The kids aren't old enough."...."The kids are too old now to be bothered with caring for a dog."......"We are going to have a baby."...."The rug is too new."...."The house is too small."...."We'll be moving in 3 months."....."Grandma doesn't like dogs."...."Our old dog hasn't died yet."....."It might not get along with the cat.".....and the list goes on and on! "Because we really love little puppies." You'd better be sure you love them. You can't fully imagine how much is involved, such as the mess a litter makes. Can you put up with the cleaning that is constantly needed in caring for the litter? There is no way to explain how tired you get of scrubbing up after the puppies, their whelping box, the yard, kennel, or wherever they are kept. They dump their food and water the minute you put it down, step in it, and drag it through whatever else may be in the puppy box, and with 6 or 8 or 12 puppies, there's always something else to be cleaned up too! Do you understand the RESPONSIBILITY you will have with a litter? It's not just Fido having the litter and caring for it until they are ready to go. Most of it is up to you and you're tied to the litter like any new mother, only you can't take the litter with you to your in-laws for the weekend, or anyplace else for that matter, so you'd better be content to spend all too long, because you have to be there to feed the puppies four times a day. Now that you have some idea of what is involved other than playing with those cute, cuddly puppies and are still determined to breed, here's something else that should be considered. Is your bitch of QUALITY to breed? Do you know her faults as well as her virtues? Does she meet with the standard of the breed? Is she in good health? Has she been tested free of the genetic defects associated with the breed? Do you have customers so you won't have to sell the puppies at a price below market value or take them to a shelter? If you can answer "yes" to the above and haven't lost the determination to try your hand at raising a litter, then read on... Get an opinion of your bitch from a few reputable breeders. Find out what they think are her faults and her virtues. Learn about any problems that exist in your breed such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, etc. Study the breed standard yourself so that you are familiar with it when looking at and evaluating possible stud dogs. Get several reputable breeder's opinions of a stud dog who will enhance your bitch. Go to see as many of the stud dogs and their offspring as you can. After you have decided on a stud dog, take your bitch to the vet and have all necessary health clearances done ($$$$). She should have a general health check-up and the vet will let you know if any vitamin supplements are necessary. This exam should include: a worm check (take along a stool sample) , a heartworm check, brucellosis test, updating of vaccinations, blood panel. Don't forget, all this is going to cost money, but it's necessary, part of planning for a healthy litter. Now while you wait for her to come into season, read all you can on your particular breed, breeding, whelping, and rearing puppies. Start saving all your newspapers and have your friends do the same (remember what we told you about clean-up?) You'll need all the newspaper you can get your hands on. Have a whelping box built or, if you are handy, build one yourself. More $$$$. When the bitch comes in season, contact the stud dog owner with whom you have previously made arrangements regarding the breeding. You will be advised on when to bring your bitch. Plan to pay the stud fee at the time of breeding ($$$). There may also be a boarding charge if your bitch is to stay with the stud dog's owner ($$$). Be sure you understand in advance what the payment of the stud fee is guaranteeing. The suitable stud for your bitch may be some distance away involving additional traveling expense ($$$). Getting your bitch bred isn't always as easy as you might imagine and may require repeated trips to the stud dog. After your bitch is bred you have about 63 more days to do more reading and thinking, and laced with the good thoughts about the precious darlings will be some horrible thoughts about what can go wrong and how much it will cost you, both financially and emotionally. We hate to keep dwelling on this but things DO go wrong occasionally and you should be prepared in case it happens to you. (1) What if your bitch has problems and requires a Cesarean section or other extensive vet services ($$$)? (2) What if the puppies die? (3) What if she is not in whelp or has a miscarriage? (4) What are you going to do with 10 six month old puppies that you can't sell, give away, or have the heart to put to sleep? Do you have adequate facilities? (5) What if your bitch can't or won't nurse the puppies? Are you prepared to feed them every two hours for the next three weeks? (6) And worst of all, what if Fido dies while whelping or afterwards? Will it have been worth it? The days pass, and Fido whelps her puppies without any problems, but you still have to take her to the vet to be checked over within 24 hours of delivery. She will probably get injections to prevent infections ($$$). Lucky for you, Fido whelped 10 healthy puppies. They are almost 6 weeks old now and in two weeks it will be time to sell them. First they will all have to make a trip to the vet. Their check-up will include shots and a worm check with medication if necessary (10 x $$$). Now that you know they are healthy and ready to go, you'll want a breeder to see just how gorgeous they are and how great you did on your first try. Of course, you think they are all show quality and worth show prices. But again be prepared because you might be told the following: (1) The best male has only one testicle. (2) The next best male toes out badly (but has both testicles.) (3) The really pretty bitch has a bad bite. (4) The smaller bitch has a proper bite but her topline is bad. (5) The bitch with the prettiest head is cowhocked. (6) There are four who are average, nothing really wrong but nothing outstanding either. There is one who is show quality. The "show quality" one is the one you were going to keep just as a pet because the kids liked it best (another mouth to feed $$$) and you're feeling down at the breeder's opinion of your litter. But you're told to cheer up, one outstanding puppy is better than a lot of people get out of a litter and you should consider this a successful breeding, Some consolation when you were going to sell them all as show puppies! Now you have your litter graded and priced accordingly and you are ready to sell them. By this time, are you knowledgeable enough about your breed to be the expert every buyer assumes you are? Are you prepared to answer questions on training, housebreaking, feeding, grooming, etc.? Are you prepared to answer these questions not only at the time of purchase, but months later or when someone calls at midnight because the dog isn't eating right? Can you direct buyers to obedience classes, breed handling classes, help them get into showing, recommend a vet, etc.? Remember, you are now the breeder and the responsibility doesn't end when a puppy is carried out the door. Do you have a pedigree ready to go with each puppy, as well as the registration forms? Are you prepared to advertise extensively ($$$) if needed? If you have a good bitch and have bred to a stud dog owned by an interested breeder, they may send referrals to you, but don't depend on others to sell your puppies, and advertising expenses can really add up. Don't expect the buyers to flock to your door the day the puppies are ready to go. It may take weeks, or even months, before they are all sold. This results in lots of food costs and more trips to the vet ($$$). We hope that if you breed your bitch you do it the right way and only for the right reasons and put lots of time, thought, and love into your decision. THERE ARE TOO MANY UNWANTED PUPPIES PUT TO DEATH EACH YEAR DUE TO IRRESPONSIBLE AND IGNORANT BREEDING. DON'T LET ANY OF YOUR PUPPIES END UP THIS WAY. Author Unknown

even if any Xbred pups are FTGH or offloaded to a petshop? Serious question....

stoned is good- stoned is feeling no pain

Glad they can spey her right away ... you will both feel better when she comes home! Thinking of you.

Whilst I'm glad the dog is back home .. I am now concerned as to what she has brought home with her diseases/injuries./infections like pyometra and probably a litter of pups with perhaps 4 different fathers some big, some small .. who knows .

Mum's old girl had pyo ... the discharge was definitely NOT bright blood- it was as you'd expect from an infection .. pussy grey muck.... She didn't show any other symptoms. On vet advice I put her straight on AB's ,and she went to the vet next day to be speyed- no problems with recovery . Hope all is well with your girl .

How about some training for you both? ;) Learning how to read/control a teenager like your boy would be a real bonus for you!

We have never had an entire or desexed dog hump ... my guess that is an environmental thingy. Dogs and bitches urine does smell stronger if they are entire..and entire dogs tend to 'mark' with urine...as do bitches when coming in season. There may be more fighting between entire dogs/bitches .

He is looking better

I would suggest a vet visit in the morning just to check. I have never seen this behaviour ..and have seen a LOT of fresh speyed bitches

People do train their own dogs , often after their first one - they then use the harness for this dog. ..there is also more than one association training/placing dogs, AFAIK. PLEASE report it - to rangers, Guide Dogs NSW - someone. It is dangerous for the owner .. it is dangerous for passersby who instinctively trust a guide dog in harness - and it is detrimental to the image of Guide Dogs everywhere How sad.

I know the draw to home turf can be strong ... but this dog is not 'lost'/abandoned. She WILLINGLY escaped to find a mate ...and this travel could have taken her anywhere .. I honestly don't believe she will be trying to get home just yet ...her hormones are telling her other things I just hope she's safe.

These are definitley not puppies, and you would be wise to contact THIS behaviourist to get advice/strategies . Two males like this could one day do serious damage to each other

Chaining a bitch in season outside is just making her an easy target for entire males who come looking if she can get out - they can get in. Hope you get some news soon.

Hopefully after he has healed there will be no more!!

That's what's sad Well, looks as if your friend will get her wish - that her poor dog will be pregnant . Hopefully that is all .. and she has not been injured during mating , or worse...argued with traffic or something. hope the dog is safe and well somewhere.

if the dog has not been walked a lot around the suburb/streets and is actively searching for a mate-she will not 'find her way home' . Please notify every vet , RSPCA shelter, pounds etc..and you might have a chance of getting her back. is she wearing a collar? does she have a microchip? I am hoping also that she gets impounded and desexed prior to the owner getting her back. :(

AFAIK earflap haematomas are the most common - and mostly unilateral. Bandaging tight to the side of the head keeps the ear flat,able to drain, and with less space between layers of cartilage/skin for accumulation of fluid . It also stops the dog shaking that ear again..and causing more damage. Leave it as late as you can before unwrapping ..and DON'T let the dog shake!!

Oh just saw this. I hope dog survives .. poor owner .

poor At - but bet he's enjoying the extra love & cuddles

Why not just post to DOL from the folder on your computer where the photo is? I rarely post an image from an online photo host.... just resize & use 'attach file' .Easy

Nice effect!

Whatever you feed him .. if he continues to get treats from otheers in teh family, he won't lose any weight For now- continue with his normal food, but 1/2 the amount. Easy . He won't lose a lot (to your eyes) each week .. he is only tiny ... but, if he does not get treats, he will lose weight.