Ive had a golden retriever puppy 4 days....and changed my mind

[Eliza22]

Does this happen? I feel overwhelmed.

Story...

My son is 14 and has autism and OCD. He has no friends despite many many efforts. He is high functioning. We've had his name on a list for an autism assistance dog for years but he's now too old for the list. A year ago, we sourced a breeder and decided to get him the doggy companion ourselves. So far so good. Two litters went by....no bitch for us until now.

The pup is beautiful. Full of energy but very clever, as these Goldens are! But, my son is tearful and upset (and so am I) because we have a beloved cat who is 7. She has taken the dog very, very badly. Last night, my son came to me in tears saying "I miss Tallulah (the cat), I want the dog to go away if we are going to lose Tallulah".

I should add....I'm 53 and menopausally emotional at the best of times. Have I made a massive mistake? We've had the idea of a golden retriever companion for our son for so so long, what HAVE I done?! I feel like ringing the breeder and saying keep the cash....I've made a mistake.

Help!

Trionic . If there was a clapping emoji you'd have that in spades.

Please do not breed from her .

I'm not sure where you are getting your info from - yes to let her have her first season before neutering but not to breed.

God no do not breed from her.

My idiot brother did that once,same breed of dog really loving,great Dog,they knew the breeder and had seen both of the parents lots of times.

They're Dog gave birth and run away from the Puppies,none of them survived and she never got over giving birth poor thing!

So many Dogs die whilst having young,other's aren't the same afterwards if you really love your Dog then I wouldn't take the risk.
It's really unfair on the poor Dog!

We've rescued 3 Dogs all lovely breeds but there is no way on Earth that we would ever put them through that!

Please don't breed from her. She won't give two shits about having a litter, let her have her first season and then spay her. You'll reduce the risk of her developing certain cancers when she gets older and won't be bringing another litter of unnecessary pups into the world.

If your dog was something special (by that I mean she was shoe champion or fantastic at sport, not just she's a great pet) then fair enough, but so many people breed from their dogs because they think they should carry on their line because they're a good pet and there's just no need. There are so many retrievers being bred for the purpose of being pets.

I'm not sure who has suggested breeding from her, I work in a 10 vet practice, not one if them would ever encourage someone inexperienced to breed from their dog just so she can "experience having a litter". She won't care, you'd be potentially risking her health and we are already overrun with puppies!!

Trionic can we copy and paste that post on to every dog-breeding thread. That pretty much summed it up. Thank you.

Op, you seem like a lovely person who loves their dog and wants the best for it. Breeding is not the best for it.

Please don't breed your lovely dog.
Please re read Trionic's post, again & again.
Please look on Gumtree, Pets4Homes et al, and see how many puppies are for sale. Just don't add to the overpopulation problem.
Three months after her season is the safest time to spay - make this your New Year's Resolution.

Thank you so much for the replies. Trionic, your post was very informative and nicely put. To be honest, I had my doubts about the endeavour on many levels but have been heavily influenced by well meaning (if misguided, like myself) friends and family.

I will book her in with the vet for 3 months time. I've been told this is the best time for the surgery (mid-season as it were).

She has an exceptional pedigree which may have been reflected in the price we paid for her (£1100). We weren't trying to recoup costs but the idea of keeping one (another "her") was a lovely prospect. The thought of all the things that can go wrong is sobering, to put it mildly.

I have rescued several cats and two dogs, in the past. They were much, much loved. This is my first bought dog.

To those who felt it necessary to insult me, that really wasn't necessary.

I think you're making the right decision eliza

If you'd like to have another just like your lovely pup in the future you could always go back to your breeder and see if you could get a close relation. We've met our dog's uncle (his dad's litter mate) and he's virtually identical to ours both in appearance and temperament.

I know that any mention of breeding stirs up strong emotions on here but some of the reactions you got could well have had the opposite effect to what was intended....

😊 All's well. Just want to enjoy our gorgeous girl!

She looks absolutely beautiful 🤗

I am utterly convinced by the points made. Thank you, everyone. Have discussed this evening with DH and DS. All agreed, it's a professional's job and that's not me.

I really had no idea of the horrors (potentially) involved.

Would be great for anyone considering it could read this thread as so fullnof very sobering info. Its common for pups to die and inexperienced bitches to struggle/need surgery etc.
Sleeping with whelping mum plus then sleeping (or not sleeping) with her through the early days/weeks etc. Its a 24/7 job. Careful feeding huge costs amd extremely time consuming.
Good decision! And great to see it made on here.

So glad you are enjoying your beautiful girl. Wishing you and her many happy years together.

Glad to hear it Eliza, enjoy your lovely girl for years to come!

I just want to re-iterate,an exceptional pedigree is not enough - there are probably 1000's of GR in this country with exceptional pedigrees......
Also we actually own a stud dog - he was imported as a stud dog because of his exceptional pedigree- , he is our pet prodomently, but he was watched essentially to see how his temperament developed.
He's fab! He then had £1000's of tests done , and he has aired two litters - and that will probably be it.
Just because you have a fab animal - it doesn't mean you have or indeed should breed from them.

Oh and he has been shown and won at crufts - not my thing, but he is a rare breed and these are the hoops.....

Lovely update OP - and the rollercoaster about breeding!

So glad you've decided against it. Enjoy your beautiful dog

You said you paid £900 for her earlier, now £1100 .

We have a four month old gr puppy and she is amazing but no way is she having puppies. She's our first dog so of course we don't have the experience for supporting her as she has babies. I really think you have enough on. She could have seven puppies fgs.

I see you've changed your mind. Good news.

I was just about to say PLEASE read Trionics post when I saw your update that you've decided not to - phew!!! Definitely the best choice to have her spayed not bred.
She is a gorgeous girl and I'm so glad you are enjoying her now after the shaky start all those months ago!

We paid £1100. Thank you for the lovely comments.

I need to print out trionic's post and give it to my dd's moronic bf who wants to breed from his poorly trained Rottie Akita cross- for the money.

I know... Moron!

Only posting this comment here because this thread has brought up a very worthy subject for discussion (knowing you've decided against it).

This: having another like her....

Its extremely diffcult to predict having another like the dam (your pet) asit takes a lot of experience selecting for specifics in a litter and possible the nine in the litter will be the. ame. The introduction of a whole other set of genes makes it a lottery as to which genes will win through and them how each pup will develop otherwise the same line would win all the shows.

I also see now (coming up to xmas) eber more litters appearimg all ovee general items for sale ....puppies! I thought this practice was so long known as the worst way to source a pup clearly not. Very very