Whelping

[BigusBumus]

Hello! My 3yo jrt, Lola is 8 weeks pregnant. She is a working type with long legs, very very fit and also very sweet (doesn't bark, tremendously loyal, fab with kids etc). Her mum and granny are ratters on farms and we also work Lola, ferreting, beating etc.

Anyway we have always had lots of people who said, if you ever mate her we would love a puppy', as she has that special combination that the best jrts have of split personality; hunter/pet. So we mated her with a stud, exactly the same size, looks, same personality and also a working farm dog. We have 7 people absolutely confirmed to want a pup! Some will be disappointed as we think she's only got 2 or 3 in there (jacks only have small litters).

Vet days she's fine, she's still running about on walks, just waiting for next week to arrive now. Whelping box made, she's got her own room with a tiled floor for the pups, heated, etc. I've been reading books, watching YouTube videos, reading websites etc so fully up to speed with process, what to do etc.

But I'm starting to get really nervous!! Or maybe it's excitement? Not sure. I would love some reassuring tales and advice about whelping if you have been through this too!

These are the best people to advise you on your type of breeding.

Can you please explain to me your response?

Are you really unable to comprend it?

Many Tears is a no kill rescue. They take in, care for, rehabilitate, vet treat, train, vaccinate and NEUTER - important, that - and responsibly rehome dogs of all ages. I chose to link to their rescue out of the hundreds that I know as many of their charges are puppies and many, if not most of their dogs and pups come from puppy farmers or backyard breeders. So, they know a just a bit about irresponsible breeding.

Those dogs who enter rescue at a later age as unwanted by the owners generally do so as a result of being purchased from a backyard breeder. In anotherwords, from people like YOU.

We in rescue pick up the pieces of irresponsible breeding. We do the dirty work in our own time, we pay the bills out of our own pockets... and yet still sadly many dogs pay the price of backyard breeding and die unwanted in pounds because there is simply more supply than there is demand.

So forgive me if I'm not jumping for joy at your decision to breed yet more dogs of poorly selected parents into this world for no other reason than it appears to amuse you, but I'm far too busy trying to save dogs from death due to the overpopulation which YOU are helping to create.

I very much see your point DBF. Many people tried to encourage me to breed from my Golden on account of his very dear temperament but I selfishly decided to keep his very dear temperament to myself.
However, pups are coming. Bigus sounds like she is well prepared. The only additional thing I might do is try to find someone experienced with whelping that you could telephone during labour or who might pop in if you thought Mum was in difficulty.
Are you willing to have a clause in the contract of sale that if the new owners decide for any reason to get rid of their puppy it has to come back to you for rehoming?
I do think you should be making contingency plans especially since some of these pups will be Xmas pups. I think you may find a couple of people on your waiting list become difficult to reach in due course, and you may be getting a few phone calls by the end of Jan as people realise how awful it is to be wandering around the dark wet garden at 6am trying to housetrain puppy.
But for mum's sake, I hope all goes well for you.

If Biggus had read up as much as she claims to have she would indeed have been well prepared springlamb - by having her dog spayed rather than becoming yet another backyard breeder.

Whilst I wish NO harm upon the bitch or pups I pity them and am sickened by backyard breeders.