Please understand that this is not being published to puff me up in any way. I happened to come accross this post when I was looking for something else, and I thought of another Cardigan breeder who has been posting 'helpful' blurbs recently and thought "yes, readers may benefit from this"
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I have been involved in showing and breeding Cardigans for 21 years. I
LOVE Cardigans. I LOVE my dogs. Have you been to my web site? (link below)
Have you seen all the top accomplishments over the years? Do you see all the
health testing and priority given to temperament? It takes dedication and a lot
of guts to be a breeder. Breeding is not for the weak at heart! Go read my
blog (link below) about my last litter which was a bizarre disaster...starting
with an emergency c-section. I used to be a Vet Tech and I have bred 42
litters to date...so, I know when something is not right. The Vet I had to use
was a scramble to find because my Vet was out of town. It was in the middle of
the night too- as usual...the vet said that if I had waited I probably would
have lost the bitch too. (By-the-way, Nibbs carried 7 pups, I came home with 4
and in the end I had ONE surviving pup and that is with all my knowledge and
being home all the time for my animals) Nibbs got spayed on the table-torn and
torsioned uterus.
Even without bad stuff after a c-section you usually have a rough go of it
for the first 2 to 10 days...sometimes the Mom doesn't have milk or doesn't want the
pups since she is in pain...then you have a neonatal intensive care
situation. Tube feeding or bottle feeding,keeping everyone warm and no one
squished by a Momma that is out of it...etc.
Right now after a series of unfortunate events in my breeding career, I am
in the hole financially $5,000. I usually hope to break even. I tell people
that you better have about 3 to $4,000 set aside if you want to breed a
litter.
Buying yourself another dog to breed, then you will have 3. Of course you
keep one pup. Now you have 4. But what about the pups you have left over that
people don't buy...or said they'd take and changed their minds.
I have a reputation to uphold as a breeder who does it right and well,
works hard at it and continually strives for the top. I have a waiting list
filled before I even have a girl bred....
I understand your desire to have puppies from a breed of dog you love. But
to really love them is to do right by them. Make sure you are breeding for
better dogs not just to fill a desire and hope for the best. Make sure that you
don't produce puppies that will be a problem for the new owner....temperament
test and match the right family to the right puppy. Make sure that you breed
carefully and *(breeder/buyer choice) know if you produce any puppies that are at risk for developing DM
(degenerative mylopathy) or PRA (Progressive retinal atrophy) or HD (Hip
dysplasia) or high risk for thyroid or addisons or.....etc. Do your best, with knowledge trying not to produce pups with poor socialization or a poor rear or a poor front or? so you don't cause a less than good life
for the dog and problems for it's owner by being unaware....
I assume you are thinking of breeding 'A' (their boy dog) to a blue girl(they are hoping to buy). What does
the breeder of 'A'. think about this? Why don't you go to your breeder to
ask what you have asked of me?
For all the reasons and explainations above and more, no, I do not sell pet
pups with the option to breed....
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This is why I love you Rita!
ReplyDeleteThank you Katherine..and the several of you who wrote me at my e-mail address. It is hard to be a good breeder at times and so it is great to be encouraged.
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