Gracie - May 18, 2012
 

Hello,

My apologies if this is in the wrong place, but we were thinking of having Gracie brood one liter before getting her spayed. I have heard that this is a wonderful experience and incredible to witness. Is there somewhere to get information on how to go about things, what needs to be done when, etc.? (i.e. how soon can she have a litter -- obviously she has to go in to heat, how/where do I find a good stud for her, after puppies are born what needs to be done, etc.).

Thank you in advance.
Shelah

You need a mentor, you need to consider many, many, many, things before even considering breeding her. Please go to our breeders section, read and read some more.

I agree with Lynzy... Please read the breeders section. There are so many things that could go wrong when breeding. Personally, it would not be worth it to me... I don't wanna lose my girl :(

I agree with other posters, it may be wonderful to witness...would you feel it would be wonderful to witness losing your baby? JMO....for me so not worth it

Thank you, I am reading and checking out the breeders section. I know you guys don't know me, but I am a very thorough person and do my research on things before deciding. I want to be well informed, ready, organized and able to cover all my bases. This was just something my boyfriend and I were considering and I don't plan on doing it right away. Yes, she is a little over 4 months and in my eyes, too young even at 6 months. If I am going to do, I want to be as prepared as I can be. :)

Even a year is too young...is your girl a good representation of the breed...have you a mentor to guide you, breeding is not something to be taken lightly...I too had thoughts of breeding my girl...that is until I found this site...changed my mind right quick and had her spayed. There are just too many things that can go wrong and I love my girl too much to risk her life as well as the lives of the pups she may have had. I would have been devasted if I lost her through my own irresponsibilty just for the sake of what exactly? Sorry I leave that to the ones that have spent the better part of their lives studying the genetics and all the things that go into breeding to better the breed, to take that huge risk with my baby girl. She is just too precious to me.
From what I am understanding this was once a hardy breed...there has been so much devastation through ppl either just wanting to make a quick buck, or just wanting cute puppies, or whatever the reasoning is....this has caused this breed to deteriorate ....Take a look at the sick and injured section...you will see what I mean. AAI, Legges Perthes, Colapsing Trachea, Slipping Patellas, the list goes on. These poor babies are suffering at the hands of bad breeders...I am not saying you are a bad breeder, I am saying please read, read, research and read some more before you slide down that slippery slope....

I have been doing this for quite some time, and "wonderful experience" and "incredible to witness" have never entered my mind. I am a nervous wreck for my ladies as they start the process of whelping...they are MISERABLE.....THEY ARE HUFFING AND PUFFING AND IN PAIN AND DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET COMFORTABLE....as the babies start to come, they are pushing and straining and pushing ....and that is a free whelper...if that baby is large and they can not get it out with all the straining and pushing, and they look up at you with a cross of fear and a plead for help in their eyes.....NO!!! this is not a beautiful wonderful glorious experience and a fabulous site to behold! Have you ever delivered a baby vaginally??? It is like passing a cantaloupe....the experience is the same for these little mommas....I absolutely HATE the whelping process and I want to cry with them as they struggle and strain to have the babies. I can not imagine who told you it was "incredible to witness"...it is so much work for her and if you have ANY feelings at all for your momma dog, it pains you, it hurts you almost as much as it does her, to watch her go thru it. "Wonderful experience" for whom???!!!

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