Hi , do any of you have experience with a bitch who has had a singleton , ... Is it best to get the bitch spayed after a singleton ? Does the bitches temperment change if you keep the pup ? ie , will she lose the possessive nature and become the bitch she was before if the pup stay's ?

I had a single pup last November (only survivor, 3 were born but two were stillborn) and I kept him. His mum is the same as she always was, perhaps happier -she plays a lot with her son still and they adore each other. She's not guarding him at all now when he's fully grown and hasn't done for a long time. I've had nothing negative from it at all.

Why would a bitches temperament change if you keep a pup?  While she is nursing, I would expect any bitch to be protective of her litter - whether that be a singleton of half a dozen puppies.  It is normal maternal behaviour.

I currently have a 7 month old pup that has great fun with her mum.  She still sleeps with her, and it is a joy to watch them playing together as if they are buddies

As to a bitch becoming the same as she was before breeding, in my experience bitches never go back to exactly the same.  They are more mature.  My quietest bitch has improved greatly in her confidence since having a litter, I had never heard her growl until she was play fighting with her pups, and she was having a whale of a time.  In her case, having a litter was very beneficial.

Why should you spay a bitch just because she only had 1 pup? She may very well go on to have alarger litter next time! Singleton pups, in most breeds, but not necessarily in toys, are usually because the timing of the mating was wrong, not because there was something wrong with the bitch.

I have a 12 year old singleton here at the momoent that I bred. There was no change in mums behaviour at all.

I had a GSD whose first litter was a single puppy.She continued to be a wonderful mum and family member and had 5 puppies 18 months later :)

Hi , Thanks for the replies .. I only ask as she is really quite terrible , It was a shock to us that the pup came , so it probably was to her too ,so i understand her behaviour a little .. But the pup is now 5 weeks old and she is still guarding for her life , She will not even interact with the other dogs ,one being her mum , she is lip curling at anyone who looks at her pup ... I am having to near enough carry her out for her to do her doing's .. then she is crying to get back in with the pup immediately ...Just wondered if this is quite normal ...

At 5 weeks you could also take the pup outside into the garden everytime mum goes out.That way she might not be wanting back so quick. If it is when you take mum for walks then it is perfectly normal.

It sounds like mum is possibly a bit too protective, but some bitches are like this. Just be careful with the other dogs around her.

I take the pup out in the garden when it is nice and let her play , but mum is not happy and follow's her everywhere ..i keep the other dog's away when we take the pup out to play , but mum is really edgy and hates every second ..And there is no way she will leave by the front door to go for her normal walk , she screams ,wails and just dig's in and refuses to move .. It is heart breaking to see just unsure of how i can make her feel at ease ...

Oh dear, she has it bad, doesn't she?

Is there any way you can carry the pup with you when you take mum for a walk? I used to carry mine in a small bag, zipped in as far as possible but with pup sticking her head out watching the world go by ;-)

Mind you, my mum didn't really take to the pup. She fed her, cleaned her ad then dumped her into either my or my daughters lap. Almost as if to say 'you wanted it, you have it' :-D

Ellie was like that for the first few days, but then became much more relaxed. My singleton is also 5 weeks old and although Ellie watches her while she's galloping around the house, she's not bothered by people or dogs interacting with the puppy. I've been toying with the idea of carrying the pup on a short walk, but there's no real need to have her out yet as mum is happy to go without her, I just think the puppy would like a change of scenery. She's very bold, charges all over the house and garden as if she owns the place!

Might try carrying her round the house and garden before i try and get her out the front door .. Thanks ...