mini girl

I use this website constantly has a lot of information http://www.dog-breeding.info/ pretty easy to read too - good luck.

Just as a little add on re the puppy who did have slight movement in his knees at 8 weeks - well he went to a lovely home with my written guarantee that if he did have patella at 1 year I would refund half the cost to them - but happily at 12 or so weeks he was examined by the new owners vet and found to be totally sound - this made me very happy indeed. My little imported boy who was diagnosed early and now at a year has been examined by two separate vets and found to be sound is such a lovely little fellow I have just got to have a litter from him - so heres hoping - but I feel he is a pretty good bet.

Until they move out of the whelping box I use a folded flannelete sheet for mum to lay on and pups too - also newspaper for them as well in there - this needs to be changed daily so I do have a few sheets - as they get older about 3 weeks we move them from the whelping box and into a pen - at one end but quite close to begin I have newspaper for their toilet and again a folded flannelette sheet to sleep on but as they grow more and start to get up on their feet and need more space I put down a rubber mat - availble from clarkes rubber about $20 sold as a boot mat between sleeping area and toilet - this gives plenty of grip for walking - I have two of these so one in one getting hosed clean. Some girls - like one of mine are shredders and won't put up with anything in the box that they can dig at and even bury the pups under - then while in the whelping box I found a piece of carpet secured the best - again had a couple to change. Good thing about the first 3 weeks is mum cleans up - after they start to eat its your turn - I found this link very helpful about toilet training - first few days a bit of work making sure no pee or poo are on the floor wipe up as close to immediately as possible but within a few days they all just use the paper and that makes cleaning so much more easy. I didn't have a complete separate section like in the link for the toilet area but had a long pen with paper down one end and sleeping the other and play on the rubber mat between - I also put the toilet newspaper paper in a car boot tray to keep it from being pulled around - works for a while but pups don't respect anything once they get a bit oplder. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/breedingdogs/p...ppies3weeks.htm Hope this helps - it works fine for me so far.

I too am very very careful when we have puppies - we stop all walks or outings from the house from the time pups arrive till last pup goes - I may be paronoid but its just not worth the chance in my mind - we have 4 dogs at home and none of them leave the property till all pups are homed. Luckily we have a large yard for them and they cope well - but boy do they get excited when the walks start up again. I was told that parvo can live in the ground for over 2 years - so why take a chance on any of them bringing something home. Also impress on the new owners not to take their pup out till after the final vaccination - you probaly know this already but its very important.

Thank you for you advice - it is certainly a worry and hate to think of breeding a pup that may be affected - luckly only had it come up very mildly - but still hate this. You mention Lowenhart that you get them checked at 8 weeks - I also do this sometimes a little earlier when having their shot - my vet explained to me how he carried out the test - I was of course present - in as much as extending the leg and pushing on the knee they did move out on one of the pups he was testing but quickly returned to the normal position on their own - so in your option what does that mean - they did not stay out or move without the pressure being applied. I like you do tend to believe that this young is just too young for testing as with my imported boy and other pups all seems normal once an adult - have also had a 2nd vet opinion on the imported boy now too - he came up sound at just 1 year. I did let the people who were buying the pup with the movement know what the vet had found and have offered a 50% refund if it is present at 1 year this is as much as anyone can do I guess - you can't hold on to them till grown its not fair to the puppy and the owners to be so look forward to their pup. I did ask the orphapedic vet about dna testing for PL but his opinion was sadly that it wouldn't be available in his lifetime - but I guess we can live in hope that it will be available one day. At present its a worry when it can jump so many generations.

Thanks Jag - its such a worry it almost makes you want to quit it all and just enjoy your dogs as pets - but will see how I feel a bit later down the track. We are lucky enough to have Phil Thomas a reproduction vet quite close so will do as you suggest if I go again - I don't think anyone can fully understand unless they have lived it the sadness it brings seeing those poor little mites struggling for breath and then their mum searching for them. Will take her to my general vet this week just to have her looked over again and then to the reproduction specialist when she next comes into season. She has become so fussy now as to eating was that way before the pups - can only really get her to eat chicken necks - also giving her some nutrigel - she is looking a little more happy now and actually played with the others for the first time since it happend last night - and she moved from my neck to the bottom of the bed (thank God!) last night so think she is getting over the experience - wish I could. thanks again.

Thanks so much for all your advice will cetainly follow it all - what would I do without this forum- its wonderful.

Here I go again - my girl is still not herself - lost her litter at 52 days - very early hours Wednesday morning she seems so sad - follows us around and looks where we had the last pup before we lost her - have searched the forum and found one breeder suggest some rescue remedy - gave her a little drop on her tongue this morning - also trying to make her happy by acting happy and encouraging her to be bright. She respond for a little while then goes back to being depressed - if I sit down she just want to lay on my lap. Won't leave me every where I go she follows. I know they must get over it - but do I keep up the rescue remedy and how much? She is off her food - gave her some nutrigel and hand fed only takes a little - if it wasn't raining I'd take them all out for a walk to the park may lift her spirits. I took her to my vet the morning she lost the pups and he checked nothing left behind and temp good - took her temp again last night and all good. My two older girls tend to dominate her a bit - she seems a bit scared of them sometimes. She is an inside dog have 5 dogs at present - I think the other are feeling a little neglected - but trying to show them all attention. This is my first time ever I have lost a whole litter and the first time I've bred this girl.

Good luck with your babies. Thank you for the thoughts.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts - its is a bit hard to take but will see if I can get any ansers just why it happened - my girl is still so sad and looking for the puppies it does make me feel so sad for her but I'm sure we will get past it - spoke to a few good friends/breeders yesterday all of whic have had a lost litter along the way - seems faily common sadly. Had a good nights sleep and starting to feel a little better - My girl curled up beside me all night and she got lots of cuddles - guess they get over it eventually. Will post any information I find out as to the cause when I have something to go on. Thanks again

Yes she was - I have been wondering if there was any connection - she did not seem like my other girls right from the beginning.

I'm trying to come to terms with the loss of my litter and rang the reproduction specialist in Brisbane Philip Thomas - spoke very nicely to me - he advised a postmortem on the pups to find out if there is any reason my girl delivered 10 days early - has anyone ever done this and if so do they give results that can help give a reason - I remember speaking to one breeder who lost her girls first litter and she said it cost her a lot of money and she didn't find out the reason for the loss. He also advised if I want to breed her again bring her to him for tests etc before her mating along with results of the puppy post motem. Will talk to my vet about it - I know its probaly too early to be even thinking of future breeding but have any of you lost the first litter to go on and have a successful litter at a later date. I don't know if I will ever be able to put myself and my girl through this again only hope times takes away the sadness I am feeling now.

Thank you for the kind words but have just come back from the vet only one pup left now and failing fast - have taken her away from her mum and just letting her go peacfully - they only weighed about 84 gr so not much hope. The vet said this pup won't make it - they were really due about the 15th so nearly 10 days early was too much to hope for I guess. My girl is good the vet said nothing retained and temp fine and seems to be coping ok. Will try and find out what caused the early delivery - she was off her food the last few days had to hand feed her and was so mopy since she became pregnant. The vet said that perhaps she got a mild infection that brought them on just don't know. So very sad and it breaks my heart to have to tell the people waiting there will be no puppy. Will give my girl lots of love she looks at me with such a trusting face I cry when I look at her.

Have given them a dropper of divetalact - one seems to be gasping - this does not look good - but will keep trying - thanks so much for your advice. Will do all I can.

They are not feeding I have been awake most of the night. The two pups have no hair and look so tiny - I have divetalact would that be worth giving them an eye dropper of. Mother keeps licking them but they not gettin on the teat - she seems to have no milk either.

An update - its been such a sad night - my poor girl delivered 7 tiny puppies - lost 5 and two are still alive have left them with their mother - think she only carried them 52 days - if these two are still alive in the morning will see what we will do. This is the first time this has happened - will take my girl to the vet in the morning and have her checked over - I know this happens but its just so heartbreaking.

My girl has just given birth to two pups and they are about 7 or 8 days early - they are so much smaller than usual - this is her first litter - she has more to be born - do you think they have any chance - and what do you do. My first early litter. Mated her on 14 February - early am - the pups only weigh about 118 gr do you think I have any chance of them surviving.

I read this the first time as no food allowed the entire day before the day of their flight Water during the trip and a small meal when they get home would be the way I'd go, but I think Stafford pups probably have a bit more meat on them than Mini Poodles A little cooked chicken probably wouldn't hurt if they're good travellers, nutrigel if they're not so good. Just keep emphasising the importance of water above all else. Sorry to worry you - no will not be withholding food the day before they fly just their breakfast on the day they fly - also will pick up a tube of nutrigel and send some - just in case - they have been in their crate to and from the vets but thats not a real long way - will feed them as suggested a little later tonight and send some nutriget along and see how they go - as long as they get plenty of water they should be fine. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Hi all again - just want to get a couple of opions on this one - I am putting two 9 week old mini poodles on the plane from Brisbane to Adelaide they fly out at 6 10 am in the morning so will have them at the airport before 5 o'clock and they will arrive at Adelaide at 9.30 am - of course no food allowed on the day before they fly - but they do have a 5 hour car trip after being picked up to go home with their new owners - I've suggested they take some cooked chicken - not too much and water and give them very small amounts along the trip - as its going to be quite a while before they are home - I don't want to suggest they give them a full meal before the car trip as we all know how pups can get car sick - do you think I'm on the right track as if they hold off feeding them till home will be around 3 o'clock in the afternoon before having anything to eat - told her of course to have water for them. They are pretty chubby so a few hours without food shouldn't be too hard on them - but never sent any pups yet with quite as long a trip before getting to their home.

Yes girls are the more popular - but I do let enquirers know that a male makes a beautiful pet if desexed young.

I always talk to the new owners on the phone if I am not able to meet them - I ask several questions but so many volunteer so much information if genuine - I send emails and photos all through the 8 or 9 weeks. So many in fact nearly all my puppy buyers are past poodle owners and tell me so much about their lost pet etc. you get a feel for them by talking and seeing the replies that come back from the photos and emails you send - somehow you just get a feeling for the right people - not been dissapointed yet - I tell all my new owners to be that it is usually a 16 year commitment so do everything you can to make sure its what you want - also if people are willing to wait 8 or sometimes more weeks for the right puppy they are pretty genuine. Also always put in my paperwork that if for any reason they are unable to keep their puppy or dog to contact me to help to find a new home. As with a lot of things in life there is no 100% guarantee but if you put the time in to communicate with them you usually get the gut feeling if its a go or a no - emails that just ask for price are answered but look at these very carefully. If they live within a reasonable distance I like them to call around and and meet all the dogs. Good luck with your babies.

Just an update Sent a puppy to Melbourne from Brisbane today by Virgin Dogtainers - arrived safe and sound - did not ask for any certificate at all. I spoke to Dogtainers on Friday when paying for the flight for today -Sunday and they said its coming in as a rule 1st May - but Qantas freight may ask for it now - having my last pup going by Qantas next Saturday done - will take him to the vet when I get his mother immunised this week. Thought this may be helpful to anyone flying puppies. Do you know if there is a special form to be signed or is it just a note from the vet.

Just talking to a breeder friend of mine and she told me you now need a signed vetinary certificate for pups to fly - have never needed this in the past - I have 4 pups to fly at 9 weeks interstate from Brisbane first week in April - I always use Dogtainers - spoke to them this week and got the quotes but they never mentioned anything about a certificate from the vet - will ring them in the morning but thought someone may know if this is correct.

Ring them and talk to them - I had a girl tested for PRA and got the puppy price I thinks she was about 13 weeks - I found them so helpful over the phone. Write any questions down before you ring so you don't forget anything - they also will email results as well which means you get them a lot faster.

A little while back I wrote about my Mini Poodle boy I bought from New Zealand and at 15 weeks the vet told me he had patella - his breeder asked me to run him on for a year and see if it was present when he was a year old - well I did this and today the vet gave him a very thorough check and found no movement at all - it was really wonderful news but left me wondering if I do breed him do you think his pups could have loose knees in the early days too - this has happened a couple of times to me to find that as adults the knees are fine - but did have two pups with grade 1 - refunded half the purchase price at a year to the one that it showed up in after she had left me - the other it was noted as loose at 7 weeks so sold him to just cover costs - both dogs are very low grade 1 now but the thing that really worries me is how do you dam well know if loose knees at 7 or 8 weeks will be fine at 12 months or are they going to become a grade 1 or worse. Guess its $64,000 question - does anyone have a crystal ball - has anyone had a pup loose at 7 weeks to find them ok at a year? And what do you do when selling an 8 or 9 week pup that does have some slight movement that may or maynot improve do you offer a guarantee that you will refund at a year if it does turn out to be patella or reduce the pup to say half price with full disclosure. Incidentally all my breeding dogs are very sound have been checked by my vet as well as an orphapedic vetinary specialist. But not breeding the two again that produced the patella pups.