ellz

I'd rather NOT do it, but would certainly consider it on a case by case basis. As is documented here in another thread, I gave serious thought to an elective c-section for my Stafford bitch based upon my location, size of litter and family history. In the end my vet and I decided against it, BUT circumstances arose where it was necessary anyway. Thankfully it wasn't considered an "emergency" in the true sense of the word in that we had time up our sleeves to prep and call in extra staff etc etc, but the reality is that had we not done it that day and waited until it possibly WAS an emergency, or even delayed by a couple of days for an elective section, I probably wouldn't have any puppies now as the placentas had separated and a couple of the puppies had meconium in their sacs. What will I do next time? I don't know. The vet seems to think the labour would have progressed had it not been such a large litter with the horns of the uterus all entangled in, around and under each other. So, I think next time, provided she isn't as enormous as she is this time, I will give her the benefit of the doubt and trial by labour. BUT....if she even LOOKS like having as large a litter next time as she did this time (9 puppies but possibly 11 as two puppies had double sacs, breed average 5 - 6) then it will be a section all the way and probably no more litters after that.

I have to say, as a breeder, that it is really interesting to see things from the "other" side in this thread and to witness the excitement and preparations that are going on in homes waiting for new puppies. I've been there myself of course, but I forget about the sheer novelty value of bringing a new puppy home. The litters I have at home now, I approached very much with the prospective owners in mind. Those who had been in contact with me for some time prior to the bitches even being bred were updated weekly with progress photos of everything as it happened up until the birth of the puppies and beyond. Sadly, I had to inform the people on my American Cocker list that they wouldn't be getting a puppy this time around as there were only two born and one had to be euthanased at 3 weeks. It is for this reason that I never make "promises" to anybody about what they will, or will not be getting from the litter in advance. I hate disappointing people. The Stafford litter however, I had more puppies than interested parties and so my second round of advertising and sorting through enquiries has begun. And I am still keeping in the back of my head how it is for the puppy person and trying to deal with them sympathetically and kindly, even if I don't wish to sell them a puppy. When the litter were born, I started my weekly weigh-ins and photograph sessions and sending out the weekly PUPdate emails. I was told the other day when I delivered one of the babies to her new home that they had literally "hung out" for every Sunday and the PUPdate to the point where they'd turn the computer on at 7am and check it hourly to see if the new photos had arrived. That was sweet! So anyway, thank you all for opening my eyes (again) to the other side. It has been useful to me as well as you guys!

Technically, most of us do that every time we set foot in the ring and have a good win. Those ringside experts can be more brutal than ANY breed specialist!!!

Actually, anybody who gets an older "retired" dog from a breeder is on a good wicket too. Chances are that dog has been fed premium food for its entire life so is in very good health. It has probably been health tested, had annual eye examinations (if from a breed that requires them), has had DNA testing for the genetic defects that are prevalent in whatever breed. Is leadtrained, crate trained, if not housebroken. Accustomed to car travel. Not a chewer, escapee or have undiscovered aggression issues, etc etc etc. I could go on, but I think you get the gist. I would rather either not see a price stated, or have P.O.A. Allowing people to "negotiate" is akin to asking every passing nutter to ring your doorbell. It is bad enough when people try to "haggle" over a stated price, let alone give them an invitation.

Preparation H (or any other anti-haemorrhoidal cream). Antiseptic and anaesthetic in one.

Should add that in Staffords, no, I wouldn't use a dog with distichiasis for breeding. The gene pool is large enough that quality dogs can be found without the issue. Something I meant to mention with regards to American Cockers is that I have used a bitch with VERY mild distichiasis (ie 2 small eyelashes noted by an othalmologist in an otherwise healthy eye) twice in my breeding program and to date, none of her offspring or their offspring have shown distichiasis. And I'd imagine I would have found out by now if there were major issues....bad news spreads like bird shit, good news tends to not be mentioned.

And about time too! :rofl:

You'll find that the stress-head nursers as tiny puppies will be the more highly strung individuals as older puppies IMO. I've been watching (and taking notes) about my recent litters. More for interest than for anything else and it has become obvious that the above has been very true. My "tan" puppy was very much like your Miss Orange. He was always in a hurry, always vocal, always complaining about something. And as an older puppy, he's the biggest barker of the lot and tends to hang back and worry about a new situation where the others just charge on in and confront it. He's not fearful, he'd just rather hang back, worry and then BARK at something he isn't sure about. Roger (my "khaki" puppy) was very laid back. Happy to wait for a littermate to fall off the boob before he'd climb on. Would drink himself into a coma. Or alternatively would drink his fill and then wander away looking for me and my lap to climb into. He rarely barks. Is happy to sit back and wait for the world to come to him. Hasn't got a fearful bone in his body and is very accepting of everything that goes on around him, even the scary stuff. And of course Bad Alice, the American Cocker puppy being only one of two at the milkbar and often an only whilst I hand fed her sister learned quickly that the milk bar was always there and that having a full belly is the quickest way to heaven. She isn't scared of anything. Rarely barks or screams for attention (unlike some of her Stafford cellmates) and in many ways, apart from her diminutive size, seems like she is a lot older than her chronological age. When your puppies get older and Ziva starts to be a little more mobile, watch their interaction then. It's when she tries to get out of the box with kling-ons that things get funny! You'll soon learn who the frantic ones are then! Mr Tan was ALWAYS being deposited a good few feet from the door of the pen because he couldn't hang on an longer and then oh BOY did he start screaming!!!!

It can be very much a breed by breed thing. In American Cockers it is generally considered to be "breeder discretion". The preference is obviously to avoid it where possible but the gene pool is such that to do so means that you risk introducing "worse" issues if you dismiss any dog with the odd eyelash or two out of hand. And American Cockers have some pretty horrendous eye issues that make distichiasis look like childs' play. Naturally, a dog with a severe distichiasis SHOULD be avoided by the plague, but it is generally accepted that a dog with one or two small eyelashes is relatively acceptable. And of course, there is no way that I (and I hope any other breeder) would consider using a dog with distichiasis on a bitch with distichiasis of ANY degree. And if it is more than perhaps one or two small eyelashes, then no, I wouldn't breed from it.

Perhaps the judge gave the exhibitor permission to leave the ring? Unless you were right in the thick of things, you wouldn't necessarily know. Some judges have already formulated opinions about their minor placings and don't necessarily need the exhibit in front of them to know what they are going to say. If however the judge did not give the word, then yes, IMO it is bad sportsmanship. You paid for the opinion, you stand there and take it when it is given whether you like it or not.

Have often thought that oakway. Especially considering when you ask THEM for help, you get the reply that they are a registering body only, it's a civil matter and you should seek legal advice. And again, the fact that each state is a "separate" entity could make things difficult. There needs to be one set of rules, one set of regulations for ALL controlling bodies.

The most important thing is that you should treat them as though you intend for them to stay. Health care, training, the works. That way you can advertise them as housetrained, leadtrained, socialised etc etc and that is a selling point in itself. Too many people fall into the trap of forgetting to continue age-relevant training and then end up trying to sell uneducated ferals which become a nuisance to their new owners....IF they manage to find any!

Costs the same to rear a boy as it does a girl. I've had people ask me if I'll drop the price on the two boys I have left here because a) they're boys and b) they might not sell if they get too much older. My reply. My price is my price and I don't care if they stay here until they're old enough to go into a nursing home. Mind you, considering they're only just 9 weeks old, I'm not too concerned!

Actually I wouldn't be that concerned if a judge didn't want to see the mouth on a baby puppy. It could be that they are showing some knowledge of how a mishandled mouth as a baby can cause ongoing show temperament issues that can be very hard to deal with later. I'd be far more concerned if they didn't touch the rest of the dog.

Discussed this with the vet just last week when my Staffords were done at 8 weeks. Protocol is 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months. Apparently most vets are no longer recommending that puppies be vaccinated at 6 - 7 weeks as they used to. It is now 7 - 8 weeks. I've been doing it this way for years so it is interesting that the vets are coming into line with what I (and other breeders) have always done, rather than expecting us to come into line with them! :p

BUT, I think you can still register them even if they are a DQ. The AKC will register most colours/varieties in most breeds I think. I know that sable American Cockers are a DQ in the USA but they will still register them. You just cannot show them. And I don't think the ANKC can NOT register an animal which has been accepted for registration in a country with which they have reciprocal registration agreements. I know that sable American Cockers have been registered in Australia, but that is only because the colour isn't a DQ here so I'm not sure about animals which are registered in one country but not allowed here....a call to a CC might be in order.

The first litter I had done the vet kept a copy of the registration form and gave me a photocopy which was put into the puppy packages with a stamped envelope to be posted back to the vet. In one case, one person didn't post it back within a reasonable timeframe so we went ahead and registered the chip in my name and the transfer was done at a later date. The second litter I had the details of the purchasers on hand so they were just filled in with me as second contact. The third litter, there was only one puppy and she is staying so she is chipped in my name. The last one, they are chipped in my name and I will post transfer forms to the new owners with my name as second contact.

The problem is also the judges that dont want to disturb that great grooming LOL ;) Like the grooming has intimidated them Nah, it's not the grooming....it's the thought of the Glomesh bags coming at them if they dare disturb the hair!!!

I wouldn't count on ACV alone but certainly everything I have read says that it changes the PH level so that the dog isn't as yummy to bite.

Many breeds can be sculpted into something pretty spectacular by a good groomer and/or handler. The "hands on" can be somewhat disappointing. Testicles can't always be seen and it shouldn't always be assumed that every dog in the ring has two....up until 6 months of age, they don't both need to be present. And look at it this way.....if a judge did not do a hands-on examination of the appropriate kind in their judges examinations, they wouldn't pass. It's as simple as that.

sandgrubber, it may just be that I'm in a somewhat "touchy" mood because I've had an absolute SHIT of a day, but I wonder if you realise how bloody condescending and sanctimonious you come across. I wish we were ALL as perfect as you....it would be such a wonderful world to live in.

I believe they ought to be KNOWN by SOMEBODY (and not just their vet). They may be breeding for one particular trait, but that doesn't mean that they are breeding "quality" dogs or even sound dogs for that matter. Breeding dogs isn't a piecemeal thing, it is a total package. So if they are trying to breed for one thing and neglecting the overall dog, then that is just as much of a concern as somebody who is just breeding for the heck of it. And editing to add: Believe me, I do not feel that the showring and results are the be-all, end-all of why a person should breed. But I still think that if somebody is going to have a good show at breeding quality dogs, they should at least have representatives of their own dogs out there to be compared with the breed standard by impartial people. If somebody is breeding that many puppies on a regular basis and they are ALL going into pet homes, then I'm sorry, but that is an issue for me.

Because I don't see why anybody who isn't producing "known" dogs can justify having that many dogs and breeding that many puppies. If at least SOME of their dogs don't hit the show rings, then they are essentially backyard breeders or potential puppy farmers. There has to be SOME form of accountability.

Nup, that's good old Tassie for you. This is where people ask if you're staying overnight if you happen to be driving to a dog show that is only 2 hours away!

They're obviously a fairly large kennel then so provided they have adequate assistance and the puppies are socialised well, I don't think I'd have too many problems with dealing with them. I'd want to be sure that they are well-known in show circles though if they are breeding at that volume. If they only had say, a handful of bitches and were breeding large numbers from them every 7 - 8 months I'd probably see things differently. No small, unknown kennel that doesn't show has any business to be turning over that many puppies IMO.