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.

Jooly, Do you have a breakdown of the actual costs? What I understood from the dog's trust is that the charges do cover everything. If you have data to support your claim, I would be interested to see it and can chat with the dog's trust about it, as I certainly do not want them to be paying for the pups. I am fine with the adoption family bearing the costs, as this is normal part of dog ownership.

My completely voluntary donation is to help older dogs get rehomed. Thank you for your suggested donation figure, I think I can decide on the appropriate amount myself

I will look at few dog places and ask about their statistics on homing and rehoming.

Flatbread, The Dogs Trust is one of the best places you can take the puppies. Yes, they will do a good job of re-homing them. I doubt that they will let you keep in touch with the puppies, but they will re-assure you that they will go to good homes. You've done well to talk to them and secure a place for the pups.

You seem to have some misconceptions about breeders. Responsible breeders are well aware of the kinds of genetic problems that might occur, and test their dogs for things like hip scores before they breed them, to reduce the likelihood of problems. (Note that I said responsible breeders. There are too many breeders who are not so responsible ...).

I am one of those people who think there is no need to bring new dogs into the world when so many are euthanized each year for lack of a home. However, given that the puppies exist, I think the responsible thing for you to do would be to take them to the Dogs Trust, along with a donation. They are experienced at finding homes for dogs and you will have given the puppies a good start in life.

Jooly is a vet. I think she has a fair idea of how much these things cost.

feesh , thank you for your lovely, thoughtful post. I think I said in my first post that we did not intend to have the puppies and I am looking at the best option for finding them good homes. And that I will be spaying our dog as soon as possible.

I just wanted feedback on dogs trust. Not an attack on my intelligence.

Tbh, it is also hard to feel suitably chastised at this very moment, I have witnessed the miracle of birth and am in love with all the little ones, even though I have not managed more than two hours sleep a night since they were born . Plus we are making enormous adjustments to our personal lives (e.g., dh delaying a lucrative contract overseas) so we can be here together to take care of the lot and find them loving families. We are hardly being ditzy about our dog family.

If the dogs trust is so highly recommended, I will make it our top choice. I will ask a few hard questions though about the homing procedures, rehoming stats and support structures.

Along with a donation, I have been thinking about fostering dogs who need homes. It is something which I would love to do.

Spaying muttdog alone cost me £177.00

are you keeping one of the pups?

Thanks Redwing for your feedback on the dog's trust.

Flatbread, here's another reason to rehome via the Dog's Trust. The paper that Scuttle mentioned is about dogs that were relinquished. It includes data on how much thought people had given to getting the dog. Amongst those who obtained a dog privately, approx 40pc had given 'little' or 'no' thought to getting a dog, and only about 40pc had given it a lot of thought. Amongst those who had got the dog from either the DT or another rescue, approx 74pc of them had given it a lot of thought. Amongst those who had got the dog from the DT, less than one per cent had got the dog without planning.

This tells us that many people get a dog without getting advice about whether it's the right dog for them and how it will fit into their lifestyle. On the other hand, when people get a dog from the Dog's Trust (or other good rescue), they will be quizzed about their lifestyle and dog experience and given lots of advice, as well as a home check.

I am sure you know your friends and family well, but you don't have the experience of advising people on dogs and their lifestyle. Dogs are much more likely to find a 'forever' home this way, rather than end up being re-homed again.

We've been quoted £180 for soon to be done Whippy. My mum has been quoted £130 for castrating her male dog.

Fostering is very rewarding but considering your stance on 'not being a breeder' and inability to keep your bitch safe for one season and the fact that you willl be asked to take in entire dogs it's not for you, OP.

Yes, Lt, I will keep one of them. And yes, he will be spayed once he is old enough

P.S. Flatbread they will gladly answer those questions for you.

Dooing, lol. I will do my bit then by sending the foster dogs to your expert care

Redwing, thank you! That is fantastic information.

You could do that, yes. And as always with waifs and strays they'd be made welcome and looked after (without any accidental or otherwise matings) until somewhere more suitable could be found, but the two charities I foster for already might be a bit miffed as we cannot physically fit more than three dogs into our house, although I could move DH out, that would clear enough space for another dog or three

Gosh, korma yes. Don't know yet which pup we will keep, male or female.

Cool, Dooing, send your dh my way then. My dh will be going for an overseas contract and I could do with some company and help with diy around the house

Incidentally my current foster dog has not long had her first season and Whippy is as I type redecorating my sofa in 'period red' (tmi, sorry ). I managed not to get either of them pregnant. T'was fairly easy actually.

If you want help with DIY it's me you need. His Arseholiness can barely change a light bulb.

I'm glad you will be responsible . 6 months is plenty old enough, male or female. If your vet still refuses to do it, find a different vet. Don't let this happen again.

I glad to see that The Doghouse is the same fluffy cuddly place it always was!....

Whatever, Dooing. When we are back in France, we have a lot of renovation and land to take care of. I am out working the land and dh is fixing things. Unfortunately the dogs were out with us, not sitting on either side of the sofa while we sat MNing and tut-tutting at people.

Ah, DOOoing, but I also want company. If his 'Arseholiness' is less judgemental and more fun, then I will take him and we can sit in the dark and laugh together.

That's fine. My are still happily munching down on meaty bones, well one is staring forlornly into the washer

They don't need constant stimulation you know. They're happy to do their own thing while I exercise my judgy pants.

He is more judgemental than me and much less fun. He doesn't get judgy over dogs he saves his indignation for addicts, drunk people, teenagers, me and various other things.