[gemy]

Dawn the 'whole" story was not shared by you. And even if we had the "whole" story as told by you, it would not be whole or un-biased; how could it be?

All I can re-iterate when things are calmer in your heart and mind, is to mayhap read this thread again. Hear our concerns; they are multifold.

Again you re-iterate you set the weaning process. But if that female actually on her own lost interest in the pups at 4 or 5 wks along; seriously this is a problem.

Let me share a true story. The mother of Magic now this is a large breed but in this sceanario it is applicable. After her 3rd litter, when she had raised and coddled those pups so well 3 times before. Two things happened with her 4th litter. She walked away from the pups at 4wks old. Wanted nothing to do with them; and she began to growl at her owner/ her breeder when she tried to adjust or change things in the whelping room. Her breeder said to me, she is done. I have spayed her now. She knew that this was not good Mom behaviour. And btw the way this female was OTCH. Obedience Trial Champion of Merit. And for what it is worth a multi conformation champion, and also a service and personal assist dog. She helps her owner, transfer from wheelchair to bed and back again; retreives things, opens fridge doors etc.

So for this bitch to growl at her owner? Unheard of and very worrisome.
The breeder did what was right; the dog had had enough. She was spayed.

Just as I said before .. read again with open and soft mind, with an undertone of wanting to learn to truly hear what others are saying, without a knee jerk re-action to dismiss.