Hi everyone...I am new here and before everyone continues...I just want to clear something up. My baby that is expecting is NOT my 3 lb female but my standard 5 lb 1 oz baby that is 2 years old. My zoey has had numerous health checks done as well as all my other dogs. I am not a back yard breeder, as someone indicated...I have done tons of research and the last year have spent dozens of hours with another breeder who has bred for years, helping with the birth of 2 different litters and going over to the breeders home everyday for 6 weeks to watch and learn about the progress and growth patterns of the pups. I than went to her home a couple of days a week to watch and learn the progress of the pups from the 6 to 12 weeks and sat and listened to the adopted parents as she interviewed them as a potential home for the pups. I am investing 200 dollars this week on an ultrasound for my baby to confirm how many pups she is having and to make sure that everything looks good for zoey. When I was breeding my show standard shepherds we had an investment of thousands of dollars before I even had the first litter. We paid three thousand dollars for one of our shepherds for breeding rights to only have her spayed when she was 6 months old because she was not perfect according to the shepherd standards for breeding. I have made the same commitment with my yorkies. I did not breed zoey to make money.....I bred her because she is of excellent standard and personality and I want the pups future parents to have the years of joy that my animals have given my family. I don't want to get defensive but I also want people to understand that 5 minutes of reading someone's story does not fully tell you who someone is. I have spent hundreds of hours the last two years reading, researching, training and preparing myself for taking on this challenge. I will do everything and spend whatever it takes to make sure that my zoey is healthy and is safe. I have saved all of my vacation from work the last two years just so that I can be here and be a full time nanny for my zoey and stay home with her for a month once her pups come. I hope to learn a lot from all of you "experts" out there. Just remember that everyone has to start somewhere but people who "know" me will say that when I decide to do something...I will do everything within my power to make sure that it is done to the best of my ability. Thank you to all of you for your advice that I have received so far. I am hoping to receive a lot more as the next few weeks go by. Have a great evening and Happy Valentine's Day! God Bless |