i am starting to wonder if I am just not cut out for breeding, or if the way I feel is 'normal'?

I bred my first litter late last year. I am very lucky to have two very good mentors. Although there was obviously associated worry, I loved every minute of it, and am in touch with all 9 owners still, although some like to stay in touch more then others, which is fine. I am happy to have alifelong obligation to the pups I bred, but also accept that not everyone will do things the way I do them, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are wrong.

I have posted in the past as it is obvious that some people didn't read their carefully compiled puppy packs... It seems that is fairly common... I have one puppy back with me for a few days at present. I have staye din touch with her owners, who are fairly local, and met up for walks with Mum etc. They are one of the 'non-readers' but do absolutely love their pup and take care of her well. However, they were walking her a bit too much, which their vet advised them against, so they asked me, and I had ot say I agreed with him, and if that their puppy pack gave guidelines for appropriate exercise. They also asked when to change her to 2 meals per day, so again I told them ti was mentioned in their puppy pack. In a nice way, i dont' want to put them off me.

Anyway, pup is rather on the thin side, and on less food than when she left me at 12 weeks (I kept her longer for them as they had a holiday booked!). They have also given me 'small breed' food for her, even though she is a large breed, but that may have been a mistake. I have increased her food, and will mention this to them, I am also thinking I should ask about worming, although I am sure their vet (also mine) will have mentioned worming to them. i don' want to come across as a control freak though!

Am I abnormal? I SO undertand why my breeder is like the 'puppy police' now. I'm not unduly worried, but do find it a little frustrating. I would love to breed again in future, partly as for various reasons we didn't keep a pup from this litter in the end. i do worry a little though, as am I really cut out for it?

Please be gentle with me!

Only you can decide if you are up for it. Are you thinking of breeding another litter again?
I dont breed, but am sure we all agree that everyone has to start somewhere and as you have only bred one litter im sure you have picked up lots and now have some experiance and probably ideas which you can put into place for your next litter (i.e things that worked well and things you would do differently)

Maybe these owners are not "reading people" but as you have keep in contact and they have listened to what you say they are obviously willing to take your advice on board so i would mention about the food and worming next time you see them.

I'm sure im not much help but you soulnd like a very conscientious breeder who takes a lot of time and care with the puppies and owners. If thats anything to go by then i would say you're fretting over nothing

im exactly the same, im on my 6th litter now ( from 3 bitches before anyone thinks badly of me!!)  and you will always worry about your pups if you are anything like me! im just the same with ones i havent bred, ie my sister has rehomed 2 rescues from diff situations, one was an irish stray puppy, the other was a 10 week pup taken to the vets to be pts as the pwners couldnt cope with its 'agression'....the agression has turned out to be non-existant unless you count growling noises when he plays!! but i feel like they are my own aswell as i put her in touch with both rescues, the youngster is starting to act like a hyper active child,and is ever so skinny, so im having to give guidance etc, which when its not listened to is sooooo frustrating!!!

so its not just you!

Jackson, please do not be disheartened by this, you sound like exactly the breeder i would wish to go to if i was into the same breed as you! There should be more out there like you, you have done your homework & know what's right for your breed, unfortunately some people think they know better than the breeder & like to do things their own way, stick in there with your guidance & i'm sure it will pay off in the end bh.

Just on the food thing, very often I have read other breeders explanations on dropping the food level from 4-3-2 meals a day, what they have said is the ages to do this, but they do not explain it properly.  What you have to include is that the 2 meals are increased much larger portions, catering  for the growth of the pups stomach and that a small pup starts with 4 meals due to it only having a small stomach so needs more regular small feeding.

You may very well have made this clear in your puppy pack, but I always explain verbally as well, as people misread very often, or it is just not properly written down and the poor dog ends up with 2 meals the same size as when a wee pup, hence being very thin.

Oh, and don't be worried about keeping on with information, as long as you always do it with a smile and a laugh, people don't get offended at all.

Thanks. It is in the pupy pack, and I also explained it verbally, as I went through the puppy pack (with pup still in the other room!) especially the feeding page with them when they collecte dtheir pup. I gave them all a copy of 'The Perfect Puppy' a few weeks before they got their pup so they could read up on the basics. I think I will maybe give them the written bit of the puppy pack in advance next tiem too, and maybe just give them an extra copy of the feeding sheet when they take their pups.

I have spoken to the people and they were fine about it, saying that they had let their cats get overweight, so were conscious of letting it happen with their dog.

We have always joked about my girls breeder being the 'puppy police', (affectionately of course!) now I have turned into her...

Jackson, I've bred a few litters, the first back in the 70's but still believe we can all learn from each other.  I found Carringtons suggestions on giving the written part of the puppy pack at first viewing invaluable.  I just thought durrr!!  Why didn't I think of that.  And it's so very true, that taking home an adorable new puppy is far more exciting than reading.  I've tried Carringtons method for the first time this year.  My information pack is so big, I guess it's a bit less interesting than the puppy!  As each pup has been chosen, I've given the reading material to the new puppy owner, telling them that it gives them chance to read, and they can see if, by reading it all through, they have any questions.  Pups haven't left yet, but I am going to be so disappointed if they don't take the opportunity to read the most important aspects of my pack - having placed the paperwork in order of importance for them!

No, you are not abnormal at all. Just a very caring breeder who wants the very best for your pups. I dont think there is anything wrong with giving advice. In fact I would imagine most people would feel very supported by you and appreciate any tips and advice. After all even if a person has been a dog owner for many years there are still so many things that can still be learnt.

I have a GSD pup of 11.5 months and I keep in touch with her breeders on a regular basis. Whether it be sending pictures of her by email or by having a quick chat on the telephone or dropping a few lines in an email. I also invite her breeders down for a cuppa and a chin wag every so often so they can see her progress and how her personality has developed and how she is maturing. I think its lovely to stay in touch. And I would never be offended if I was offered advice as it would be well intentioned.

If it were me, I would certainly bring up a discussion on the food and amount that their pup should be having. It appears that they may be quite new to having a pup and may very well need a bit more support but feel possibly embarassed to ask for it. The growing years of a pup are so important and the fact that they have been cautioned by their vet against walking their pup too much. Also feeding not only the incorrect type of food but the wrong amount of food strongly suggests they need a bit of helpful advice from you. Dont feel as though you are policing them. You are a just being a very considerate breeder with good well meant advice on offer.

Out of interest, if you didnt mine me asking, which breed of dog do you breed?

Kind regards

Claire

xxxx

I wish both my dogs breeder had cared as much as you do, still i am not so naive this time round, we are getting our third addition soon and i have been on my breeders list for well over a year now, and we regularly speak, e-mail she has even invited us to pop in if we are ever in the area which is Nice, we met up at Crufts, as we are new to the breed i am constantly asking for advice and tips etc, she has been very helpful. I think you sound like a very caring Breeder.

I never even met my dogs breeder as she was at work and couldn't get time off when we picked him up!! I never received advice or a puppy pack or was asked any questions!!! I would have loved a breeder who I could phone for advice or help and although she said yes to this on the phone- i get the impression that she wants to be left alone. Everything i have learned about his breed and dogs in general have been through what i have looked up and from places like this
I would love to have had the 'puppy police' after me.....

I'm the same, I had to force myself to wait a couple of days with one of my puppies, as I didn't previously know the owners, but we've had some lovely photos and text conversations too. The other puppy went to people I already know, so no worries about nagging for updates and pictures there! I'm glad she only had 2 though, I do hope to breed again in an year or so as I wanted a girl to keep, but I'd be very happy for just 2 or 3 girls to choose from and only 3 or 4 puppies in total, fingers crossed!!

It must be hard to let them go .. but knowing you will be their is a great attribute for any puppy buyer.... i recently had to contact my breeder and they came round met puppy again (they have seen her before this )they are lovely people and have nothing but love and devition for their dogs ... but i happened to mention that i had taken her off her food they had weaned her on and that she has the odd chicken wing (raw).. and they seemed horriefied (conversation came about because she is so slight in statue)... have to say i know my dogs breeders were not in for the money or anything but as i have different views from them (not a fan of pedigree)and would go totally raw if i had the time ... i would be a little reluctant to contact them with problems (unless hereditary)cos i know we have different views on things ... maybe breeder contracts should state some kind of line which tells the buyer that although the methods stated in the contract works for them it might not work for the buyer but that they are still willing to help find an alternative that suits the pup.....

I read this thread with sympathy and understanding.  I often think I am not cut out for breeding.  I had a litter born at the beginning of the month and when the pups were 6 days old I had to take a wee puppy to the vets who had 'the cry'.  They kept him on a drip for 7 hours and gave him painkillers and the vets and I decided we were fighting a loosing battle.  He had to be PTS.  I cried all the way to the vets and for days after and I still 'see him' when I am with the litter who are nearly 3 weeks old.  I will never forget him and miss him although I know he was never meant to be. 

Some breeders deal with it as 'part of breeding' but it gets me everytime.  I guess some of us are alot more sensitive than others but we should never consider ourselves as 'not cut out for breeding'  things are just a little bit harder for us but we reap the rewards in the end.....