rehoming a breeding bitch

[ACavalierDream]

hello, I was about to go ahead and add another puppy to keep our existing dog company. I had agreed on the sale but eventually there were several red flags that made me pull back. Basically it is a commercial breeder with some grey areas but not a puppy farm.

The breeder took it well and has instead offered one of the breeding bitches (who is not able to breed anymore after having lost a litter) for a rehoming fee similar to Battersea Dog's Home one. She is two and I have been to the home a couple of times. She has lived in the family home not in kennels. I have no issue with her living conditions but I guess she will have some issues.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

OP it is so hard to see bitches just sold when they have no use to the breeders.

You say who else will have this dog and as you can see from this thread a lot of people would have her. The breeder is using emotional reasons to get you and many others to buy the dog from her. Dont worry she will sell her off to someone!

I doubt they are telling your the truth. The bitch is no use for breeding, sitting on one litter of puppies is down to lack of supervision from the breeder not that the dog is a lousy mother. They will be issues with the bitch either behavioural or health issues. You must be realistic with what you are taking on.

The problem with taking dogs from breeders is that it just encourages the commercial breeders poor practice. Hundreds of good people will be duped into buying the bitches and the puppies. The demand is there and puppy farming continues especially the rare breeds.

I see the tragic side of this due to work and see the heartbreak that good people who have been scammed by heartless breeders who dont give a dam about the dogs or the new owners.

I do understand how hard it is when you have seen the dog - this is what the breeders play on an profit from.

I dont think that’s true over the years I’ve bought puppies from top show club member including a UK rare breed and I’m a “new” person and they let me in. As the owner of a rare breed I’m also slightly surprised that a rare breed is being bred “commercially” or it’s a puppy farm IME rare breeds are bred by breed dedicated breeders not someone churning out puppies that why so few are born every year.
I bought a 10 month failed show dog from a very “top show breeder” and I would cheerfully do it again. I didn’t want the hassle of a puppy, I paid the same as if I’d bought a puppy and it’s worked out really well. My advise OP is if you’d have chosen the dog if she was in a rescue then have her.

To be fair, it used to be rare in the uk but seems to have exploded in popularity over the years, since Covid mainly due to Instagram. I am finding it very difficult to reach the show breeders, mainly because I don’t have the ability to go to shows. I have managed to speak to some who have been very helpful and kind but, rightfully so, they are very guarded about puppies. Possibly because they get many requests. I have had some great help from the breed specific rescue where I am on the list.

If I do go ahead with that bitch, I would consider her a rescue.

You’re not rescuing this dog. You’re buying her. The breeder will just carry on, and sell the next dog she doesn’t want to breed from to another gullible buyer. If she really cared about this dog she would go through a breed rehoming charity where new owners are vetted and neutering costs are covered - and she would donate to the charity for the privilege, not make money from you!

There’s no way she’s only rehoming because the dog sat on her puppies, either. There’s some other issue going on she’s not told you about, probably a behavioural problem.

It sounds like you’ve made your mind up OP but I honestly think you’re making a huge mistake and actually not helping dogs, as you’re lining a puppy farmer’s pockets and she will carry on selling dogs she doesn’t want in exactly this way.

If have never been to a dog show in my life all my dogs have come from top breeders. I have always contacted them through the specific breed club either national in the case of a rare breed or regional. Bigger clubs may have a member who knows which of their fellow members are expecting puppies or planning a future litter.
Obviously breeders are happy to answer questions about their particular breed from prospective buyers of their puppies but I do think also breeders want to see that you really want their particular breed of dog, that you’ve researched it, know all about its traits exercise requirements temperament health issues etc.
I probably didn’t word my first post very well, think to yourself if you saw and met this particular bitch in a rescue kennels would you choose her? Or are you tempted because she’s available?
Good luck.

Poor wee dog.

There are plenty of stories of breeding bitches being successfully rescued, with the provisos that PPs have described- issues that you might have with any rescued dog. I’d go for it but be prepared to do a lot of work to settle her.

I don't see anything wrong g with this breeder. I don't have issues with breeding large volumes in a rare breed. I am not fussed on not showing, so long as the dogs are true to type, healthy, and have good temperaments. There's nothing wrong g with rehoming an ex brood bitch in this situation.

@LameBorzoi there is something wrong. They either have so many bitches they can’t give them proper attention or they have too many litters from each bitch.

No it was me who misread your original post, apologies. I was all set to adopt, and have been for a while. There are two breeds I am very fond of. One is not particularly sought after and is relatively common in the uk without being popular but still I have been on their rescue list for 5 years. The other one is the breed I am speaking of. So yes, in theory I am up for it but I have not seen the bitch. I am reluctant to go unless I am 90% there because walking away will be difficult. If she was offered by the breed specific rescue who I have full trust in, I would take her without a doubt.

I agree with a previous post that something is afoot but there is a lot I am willing to deal with but would prefer to be made aware of. It bothers me that a rescue has not been involved but this breeder will not go via that channel. So if I go ahead, it is to save that dog and come what may. I am not naive, I was brought up with a pack of spaniel gun dogs. I just put down my 15 years old girl.

The show breeders of that breed are very few and far between. The ones I spoke to have been very helpful. As I said, I already have a dog of that particular breed, so well aware of their ways.

That has become evident through sleuthing. What angers me is that I called the Kennel Club to question some entries and they won’t talk because of gdpr. What is the point of them then?

They make money. They don’t work to improve animal welfare. They register pedigree dogs. Pedigree doesn’t mean well bred.

No I know that but I would expect from them a minimum of supervision or red flagging from them. It is poor that they do not seem to do anything else but accept registrations when the pattern indicates an issue.

That’s not the worst. It was when a case of awful abuse happened years ago. Breeder didn’t prevent a mating she should have. Let the pups go to term. Then took them to a vet to have them PTS as she couldn’t register them and sell them. Vet refused. She tried to do it herself and the KC didn’t remove her from their lists of breeders.

I have just been given an ex breeding bitch, she will be 3 next April and has had 3 litters 😢, one of which was a c section. My vet said the scar looked like a DIY job ☹️

We are 4 weeks in and yesterday was the first time I left a room and she didn't follow me.
She was very very skinny, despite me being told she will eat anything. She will eat anything but her tummy can't tolerate much.
On the advice of my vet, she is on a raw diet.

She was very shutdown when I got her. Her paws were very sore and need bathing. She does not complain, she just has a resigned, get on with it look on her face. Same with having a bath, absolutely no bother but it's like it's easier for her to comply, so she does.

I am sure we have a long road ahead of us before she is entirely comfortable with us but I am sure she will get there.

Oh no. This should not be happening. I have always known there to be issues with KC but never had to ask their help before in understanding a pattern of registration indicating dodgy breeding. I was shocked by their total lack of care and willingness to help.

Well done you for helping her and giving her a good life. It is both a sad and a lovely story to read. It takes a big heart to adopt a dog with problems instead of a cute puppy. Thank you for sharing.

Take the dog. I wouldn’t be able to leave it, it’s all well and good saying don’t take the dog because it’s a puppy farm and they shouldn’t make a profit (which is totally true) but there’s a little soul who needs loving home and someone to care for it.
I have an ex breeder mama from a puppy farm and my heart breaks for what she went through. I would pay to take any dog out of that situation.

OP, you’re doing a lovely thing, ignore the negative comments! We did this. We got a very nervous bitch. One year on, she is only coming out of her shell. Breeders are all different, but trust what your dog is telling you over what the breeder tells you - eg if they say well
socialosed with dogs/people but they are showing nervousness, just assume you e been lied to and implement behavioural strategies to cope with that.
Give her plenty of space when she arrives, don’t assume she will want cuddles and attention. As with any rescue, keep on a long lead until recall is assured. “Ignore” any accidents if they are frequent. We used to come down to 💩 on the floor, one of us would get the lead and walk her with plenty of praise and the other stay behind to clean it up. Plenty of dog-safe cuddly toys for her to nest with. Keep a sharp eye out that she doesn’t “adopt” any small children - sounds cute but you do not want them getting territorial! X

Ahh our was like this, just resigned to everything. She had very bad ears, sores on her elbows and her paws were so sore, she had a litter weaned from her the day before we had her come to us so she was sad and her teats were huge 😢 she has really come on leaps and bounds now though, such a happy little soul although she does still follow us everywhere and hates it if we go away (my DD looks after them in our house as we have realised her going away to stay with family makes her anxiety worse).
We have taken her on several holidays, she loves an adventure now, especially a week away in a motor home in the Lake District, she was in her element. Good luck with yours, I’m sure in time she will be absolutely fine, it’s so rewarding and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
another pic of mine for tax!

There's far too much work and heartbreak in raising a litter of puppies to take the risk of allowing a bitch who isn't a good mother to have a second litter.

The statement you've made about club members is not true at all. You will find very helpful, kind and informative show club members who only want the best for their dogs and the people that they entrust their care to. Anyone who releases their dogs to the public, without any interest in the homes they go to, their experience etc is someone who doesn't care about the dog or person at all.

@LameBorzoi She wasn't a bad mother though. It was the owners incompetence.

The dog sat on her litter. The owner should never have allowed that to happen - for the first week, at least, you don't leave the dog alone. So, not the dogs fault - owners incompetence. The owner was probably too busy counting the money from the people buying puppies from her to pay any attention to the litter.

It's the same with pigs and very often happens because the whelping pen (for dogs) is nowhere near big enough.

How many is "too many litters"? I know a breeder of a rare breed. Like this breeder, she keeps the dogs in her house. She raises many litters a year, and does it very well, because it's all she does.

She is able to find homes for all of them. And I'd much rather one of her dogs than a Crufts champion. She's not primarily breeding for show, which means she can focus on health and personality.

What a misguided perspective.

Crufts breeders breed for show precisely because the show is to exemplify the focus of health and personality of a particular breed.

Puppies who fall short of these standards are sold as pets to responsible PET owners, not breeders, who sign away rights to the progeny of the name so no profit by lay persons or backyard breeders can be made from the fact they come from show dogs etc.