My clever bitch gave birth to eight puppies on Monday afternoon, very civilized of her, from 2pm until 7pm.

Absolutely knackered but over the moon, all a good size, and have lovely homes lined up for the ones we aren't keeping.

Docking and dew claw removal tomorrow, so once that is done and they make two weeks healthy and happy I may start to relax!

Just wanted to say how much all your posts have helped with preparation and delivery even though I am more of a lurker than a poster.

Congratulations :)

Docking? - I thought that was banned in the UK, except for certified working dogs... 

You are absolutely correct, they are working dogs :)

Great news! And how obliging too, my girl was like that when she had hers 6 years ago, had 1 puppy at about 5.30pm and the other at 7.30pm. Then was clearly finished so by 10pm I could relax and doze next to the whelping box. :-)

Can you please tell me how you know, for sure, that all the puppies you have (congrats. btw) WILL be working dogs?   I realise docking is allowed in the UK still, for a dog who will be worked, but I've never been able to understand, given docking has to be done within the first few days and by a vet, how a breeder knows this - unless all your puppies WILL be going to working homes?

ps   The first time I experienced a whelping as easy as that was when we lived in a Boarding Kennel where they bred Jackies.   I couldn't believe it - having struggled over the years with both mating, and whelping my Bassets!!!   Talk about an eye opener.   Also, with any luck and a super mum, your work won't really begin until the puppies need to be weaned!!  THEN the work starts.

>Can you please tell me how you know, for sure, that all the puppies you have (congrats. btw) WILL be working dogs?

You don't have to. The breeder only needs to show that the dam is a working dog (eg, show a shotgun certificate, confirmation letter from a gamekeeper or manager of a shoot, etc) and that the puppies are likely to be worked. They can all be sold as pets without there being any legal issue.

I understand that docking is a very emotive subject, I can only answer with regards to my own litter.

I am keeping three, so obviously these will be worked as a given.

Two puppies are being sold to trialing homes.

The last three puppies are being sold to people that I personally work my dogs with.

I am very lucky in that I had a good list of people wanting puppies for working from my bitch and stud.

I already have five working dogs, however they all live in our home with our other two non-working dogs of a different breed.

I would rather keep puppies than sell them to non-working homes as I strongly feel that is what they were bred to do, even though they are also much loved family dogs.

Yes there is a possibility that there may be circumstances when their working life may be cut short, but all the prospective owners will be able to return the puppy to me at any time.

They were docked and dew-clawed this morning, I provided the Vet with my shotgun certificate, gamekeeper letters and the prospective working homes, all of which he was more than happy with.  After all it is his neck on the block if anything is not legitimate.  It is my responsibility not to put him in a situation where his license could be taken away.

I cannot speak for any other breeder, but in my opinion I have done everything possible within the law.

Thank you, she is being a super mum, absolutely thrilled with them all, all a good size and gaining weight.  Not looking forward to the joy of cleaning up after eight pups!

Congratulations to Mum and babies.
I had a Labrador once who walked every day during her pregnancy with me and 5 GSD's. We walked the beaches of Gillkicker point and Stokes bay to Lee-On-Solent. She loved to swim and every day would enter the water at Stokes bay and swim alongside the beach all the way to Lee-O-S and back. She did this 2 days before she was due, went home ate a good breakfast and then climbed into her box and had 9 pups without any fuss at all. Started about 10am all born and feeding by 3pm. It was her 2nd litter but even so she did a great job.
Gundog breeds seem to handle pups with ease.
Aileen

>Just wanted to say how much all your posts have helped with preparation and delivery even though I am more of a lurker than a poster.

And to be perfectly  honest, I suspect that a lot of folk lurk for a good while first.

Congrats on the litter.  How I smile, knowing that you will soon look like a zombie.  LOL  :-)  :-)

Mmm interesting!  Don't get me wrong - I'm totally in favour of docking, provided it's done properly and by a qualified vet.   Given the reason for docking, originally (not talking about cosmetics), for me it's far better to dock at days old, than risk amputation for a tail break later on.   And taking about looks ............ I can't do Boxers or the Doberman with a spindly often t-pot tail.   Spaniels now look like miniature Setters, and so on.   Just my opinion.

>Spaniels now look like miniature Setters,

As a setter lover, but reaching the age when a slightly smaller dog is a good idea, that's a positive bonus! ;-)

As a setter lover, but reaching the age when a slightly smaller dog is a good idea, that's a positive bonu

That I can relate to!!!