Puppy dilemma

[Flatbread]

Hello,

Our dog has given birth to 9 pups 12 days back (alert: cute puppy photos on my profile)

Ok, we know she should have been spayed and we will do so asap. But now we have eight puppies to find homes for.

I called up the dogs trust near Glasgow and they said they can rehome all of them, and I should not go down the gumtree ad route. They don't need photos of our pups or anything. She said they could be rehomed within a week of being in the dogs trust ( we will take them in at 7 to 8 weeks)

I have never had any interaction with the dogs trust before, although the lady I spoke with was lovely. Do any of you have any experience with this trust? My pups will find homes, won't they? Most are absolutely gorgeous to look at, but one is a bit grey and we call her Gracie. I worry about her, she is not beautiful, but she has the most darling, gentle nature, a real graceful, soft dog. But not sure how superficial people are when they go to get pups.

Any advice on rehoming is welcome. If we do go down the dogs trust route, we will be giving a donation, we will be so thankful if all the pups find good, loving homes.

How do you know doing? Are you a dog? I think people would be equally happy not having children, but are just brainwashed or irresponsible/selfish for having them.

Because too many people still believe the age old "You can't trust a rescue dog, you must have a puppy and bring it up on your own for it to be safe" Dogs Trust have no waiting list for the 18 month old, untrained, poorly socialised teenaged dogs that cute puppies grow into when they are sold to unsuitable homes.

Flatbread, there are not 25,000 children per year being put to sleep in the UK alone because there are no homes for them. Even if there were, that doesn't mean it is OK to irresponsibly breed dogs because of it.

You aren't being at all clear in your posts and are contradicting yourself. Which is it, you know she should have been spayed or do you think it's OK to deliberately breed cross breeds so we don't just end up with 'weak pure breeds'? (BTW, feel free to tell that to my 'weak' pure breeds who have never been ill in their life, go for ten mile runs or day long hill walks and can work a full day in the shooting field)

thekingfisher, no one is personally attacking the OP, they are attacking her irresponsible behaviour and now apparent need to justify it.

Definitely use dogs trust op. A good judge of character won't be able to rehome them again if needed or be able to, I believe, offer help with future vet bills like the dogs trust can

The only people I ever hear using the OP's arguments are back yard breeders and puppy farmers. 'nuff said.

If all pedigree breeds are weak and such a genetic disgrace, why do you own one?

Crossbreeds are not free of genetic disorders...ask my poor rescue crossbreed who has suffered with severe joint issues since the age of 2 due to his indiscriminate breeding.

But you carry on justifying your irresponsible actions to yourself if it makes you feel better. But you ARE adding to the number of unwanted dogs in the world that rescue has to pick up the pieces for...however you want to dress it up to salve your own conscience.

Flatbread, the puppies are lovely and don't worry about the little grey one - she'll probably find a home first. They will all find good homes and make wonderful pets. I've also noticed that (well, in my area at least) dog owners generally don't spay or neuter their dogs like eg cat owners generally do, so I doubt that your situation is that rare. It's nice that you care enough about the puppies to give them the best chance possible of going to good homes rather than (again like some dog owners in my area) selling them to anyone with £300 to buy one.

With all due respect, OP, breeding dogs/ allowing them to have litters is very different from having children and the comparison is a bit daft.

thekingfisher- I don't think the OP has had a hugely hard time here. Lots of people who post in the doghouse have firsthand experience or work with rescue organisations, and get (justifiably) frustrated at seeing the same issues again and again. Even if people's intentions are great, it is so often the dogs that end up bearing the brunt of their lack of info.

For example, I see lots of litters where the owner has "no problem whatsoever" finding homes for them. Puppies are cute- who wouldn't want one? I often then see the pups back for their first vaccinations with their new owners, who are delighted with them, and full of enthusiasm (often neighbours/ friends/ associates of the person who bred the pups). Many pups don't come back for their second vaccine, and when we call to politely remind them that it is due, we are told the pup has been "rehomed" (we're talking 2-3weeks later) to another friend/ neighbour/ associate. Reasons range from "it was weeing on the floor, and I have children, so, you know..." to "it was whining/ barking" to "it was too boisterous, that one, but we're getting another smaller/ cuter/ less boisterous one next week...". It does leave you slightly jaded, and slightly mistrustful of home-rehoming. At least at Dogs Trust if they decide the pup is not for them it go back to DT and await a more permanent home.

I have two 'pure breeds' (allegedly, if Whippy turns out to be an actual pure bred Whippet I will eat my hat) and one x-breed.

My X-breed has the tempremental behaviour of one his breeds and the skin issues of the other. T'other two are lovely, healthy, strong dogs.

Midori, I am not sad that my dog has pups. I didn't plan for them, but think theory are a wonderful addition and will bring happiness and companionship to the lucky families who get them.

yes, she will be splayed before her next heat cycle. But honestly, the reaction here is so hysterical. Maybe you all should reflect on your own lives and the burden you place on our planet before calling other people names.

And yes, there are children dying of abuse and neglect all over the world. I really do think that people who have children instead of adopting/fostering a child are selfish and irresponsible, but I don't get on a high horse about it.

Theory? Meant they are. Damn iPad correction

Thank you peahen. I do hope Gracie (the grey one) finds a home first, as she is a lovely dog, well suited for a family with young children.

Actually, it is a fact that inbreds are genetically weak. If you have only heard that argument from backstreet breeders, you obviously didn't attend your science classes.

So I take it you don't have children, OP?

If you do, do you feel that the physiological strain of pregnancy was good for your long-term health? Would you happily go through pregnancy and then give up your children, just for the joy of it?

Yes, I have children. I will look after them all of their lives. I only had as many children as I could afford. I loathed being pregnant, but I love my dc. Do you think that your bitch had the luxury of choice? Do you think she looked at the situation and thought "I'd like to have puppies, put that extra strain on my body, risk complications, whatever. And then give them up. It will be worth it to bring joy to the families/ fuckwits who want one."??

This was your decision, not hers. And that's the difference between breeding bitches and having children. If you really need it pointing out. And you won't be looking after the extra 9 lives created for the rest of their lives, will you? So the comparison is pretty meaningless.

Yes dogs trust Glasgow or dog aid Edinburgh would both be great for the pups . Dt Glasgow recommended dog aid Edinburgh to me . They often do home visits for each other if either is closer to the possible new owners . Whichever you choose will be fine. . New owners are encouraged at dog aid to update how their dogs are getting on and do post on their site with updates. . Hope this helps

Flatbread, I don't have any children, so spare me the environmental lectures.

Yes, it is irresponsible to let your bitch (on her first season) breed with an neighbour's dog, and then to continue with the pregnancy. However, I hope you will do the right thing now and rehome these pups with the Dogs Trust, which for all the reasons I've outlined before ARE a highly reputable charity, widely respected by all. I see nothing "hysterical" in the responses you've received.

In your OP you said you want good homes for these pups - by working with DT you will ensure that happens, and some good can come out from this situation.

I have observed the pups since they were born. I know which ones cry, which ones fight to get milk, which ones go just go to sleep when they are held and the ones that struggle.

Unlike the rest of you who seem to base your life on so called expert judgements from others, I am confident about my own ability to assess character.

I do like the idea of the dog trust if they provide a backup care service, in case the owner dies or something major comes up...something I will discuss more with them.

Aaah...my first deletion.

To reiterate the point that was lost in the deleted message...it is impossible to guage a pup's suitablity to a home with children at 12 days of age...before it's eyes are even open!

anew. I got her from someone who was rehoming an accidental litter. I would have taken her if she was a mongrel or a pure bred, didn't matter to me. I am bloody glad that she was born, because she is our joy.

Would you be glad if your bitch was dead? if her puppies had gradually died in the weeks after they were born? These are very real things that happen and some of the reasons breeding should only be done with the greatest forethought and care or accidental matings (because, lets face it, with due care an attention they are all avoidable) not allowed to happen.

Your puppies risk being affected by the health problems that affect both breeds too as the bitch and dog have not been health tested.

I don't know why you're being so rude and unpleasant OP. You've been given some good advice on here, and the comments about you being irresponsible are harsh but fair.

You would be better admitting you've made a big mistake here, but that you're doing the best you can now to put a bad situation right, not aggressively trying to justify yourself with increasingly silly arguments.

Even people with PhDs can make mistakes, believe me!

anew there are pups in our litter whose character I wouldn't comment on yet. But there are four who have very distinct personalities and I am pretty confident about their inherent personality. Their personality could of course change, depending on how they are bought up in their adopted homes.