My co-worker has a 2 year old female poodle and I have a 9 year old male poodle/pomeranian mix. We want to breed them. But we're both new to this and were wondering if there were any other factors that we should consider (we've already factored health, costs, homes, size, and temper). Any advice is appreciated.
2006-11-06 14:18:09 · 4 answers · asked by joy 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
To everyone answer, I`m asking for advice, please! Not opinions. I plan on keeping most if not all of the puppies. Yes, I have the time and money to do so. Yes, I plan to have both parents tested. Yes, I will take every precaution in case something may go wrong. Advice, PLEASE! How do I introduce them? How long does the pregnency last? When can i handle pups? Etc. Thank You
2006-11-08 05:04:02 · update #1
Of course it is a personal opinion, but since you asked. I do not believe you should breed them. I believe there are enough puppies out there without adding to it. If you want a cute little puppy, adopt or rescue one who needs a home.
2006-11-06 14:22:42 · answer #1 · answered by piper 3 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Poodles and poms are getting very common right now, so I don't think the demand is very high for them. Responsible breeders study the gentic history of each dog before breeding and will only breed to improve the breed. Mixed breed puppies are not in demand and often end up in a shelter before their first birth day. Only 1 out of 5 animals finds a home for life, the other 80% are usually locked in a cage waiting for their time to die. How bad would you feel if a puppy your dog fathered was sitting on an examination table at a shelter getting a leathal dose of euthinol injected into his veins until he dies and then put into a garbage bag and incinerated?
2006-11-06 14:27:48 · answer #2 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
If you have 5 or 6 SOLID homes lined up for pups, if both dogs have been checked for inherited diseases prevelant in their respective breeds, if your co-worker is able to take off a week or more to care for the litter, if you are willing to test your male for brucellosis (and the female as well), if you and your co-worker are willing to spend many long hours researching whelping and early raising of pups, if you and/or your co-worker are able to take back the pup several years from now because they lose their home...then, maybe.
SOLID homes are not someone saying, 'cute dog, I wish I had one like him/her', but are people willing to put a deposit down and give the pup a home for life. People with sufficient income and lifestyle to be able to afford all needed veterinary care for the dog, proper equipment, who will have time to care for the dog.
Checking for inherited (genetic) diseases is not a vet saying your dog is currently of good health. You and your co-worker will need to research Poodles and Poms and find out what genetic diseases these two breeds are prone to and have them tested professionally to be sure they are not going to pass along problems (like cataracts, bad elbows/hips, etc.) to pups.
The owner of the female needs to be present for at least 24 hours for the actual whelping of the pups. Should the female run into trouble (which does often occur), a human needs to be present to help, if nothing else, to take the mom to the vet. If the female has problems caring for the pups, the owner might need to bottle feed, which means feeding every two hours, around the clock for the first week, every 3 hours the second week...lots of time involved, here!
Brucellosis is a sort of doggie VD, and both parents need to be screened by your vets for this before mating, or the female might abort the litter, might very well lose her own life in the process.
While some dogs drop a litter of pups, raise them with no problems, many dogs run into difficulties. Especially Toy breeds. You and your co-worker will need to study extensively on all the problems that can and might erupt and be ready for them. To go into this blindly can result in the loss of the pups and the mother.
There are currently hundreds of thousands of homeless dogs around the country at this moment. If you are a responsible breeder, your dogs' offspring will NEVER be among this number. This means that in 2 years, 7 years, when the owners of your dogs' pups divorce/die, whatever, and can't keep the dog any more, you must take the pup yourself and find it another home. Are you and your co-worker able and willing to do this?
Breeding dogs is a lot of responsibility. Bringing any new life into the world shouldn't be taken lightly. There is no shortage of dogs, no reason to breed...unless you intend to do it properly and plan on making sure the life you 'create' is cared for until their death.
2006-11-06 14:39:10 · answer #3 · answered by Lori R 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
WHY? They wouldn't even be purebred, they'd be mutts.
There are millions of dogs killed every year already because there aren't enough homes for them all. Please don't add to the problem.
2006-11-06 14:28:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋