Why do people visit to view a litter then casually tell you they have been to see others, on the way to yours, the same day? And even, that they weren't kept as nicely as yours!

Now, I don't mind if they want to view more than one puppy, I don't mind if they choose another instead of mine, but what really annoys me is going to two litters or even more , on the same day!

I know my puppies have some protection from Mum, and people take their shoes off at the door, they even use hand cleanser, but I hate the thought of cross infection.

Enough said......

I'd have to agree, and actually asked people who phoned to make an appointment to see my puppies NOT to do this.   It only takes one to walk something in!!

Just seen a post on my breed's facebook page and someone is excitedly shouting about the birth of their pup this morning but complaining that they can't see it until it is 5 weeks old. Now although I think 5 weeks in my breed is a long stretch (most allow visit from 3-4 weeks) someone has posted that they wete allowed to visit their's from 3 days old!

Can't even begin to imagine what could be carried in and the condition of those pups.

My pups have only had 2 visitors, a collegue from dog training to help me check umbilical sitesnand our postman -because my girl loves him and was missing him. My sister staysnso often, she practically lives here. All removed shoes, washed hands and sat on the floor. No one else crosses that threshold.

Not disagreeing at all but I think it is important to tell anyone visiting of your views before they come.i  can see why the gp might not see this as a problem or even think about it. .if u have travelled along way and there is more than one litter to see in the area  I can see why people would do it and with out prior knowledge think nothing of it.

I think 5wks is perfect as first age for people to come and view - assuming you know them already and are happy with them as homes and assuming they are happy with you.  I know there is a big trend towards encouraging new puppy buyers to go and visit mum and pups and breeder, but I have mixed feelings about it before 5wks.

> I think it is important to tell anyone visiting of your views before they come

Agree. Would-be owners are always told to visit at many litters as possible before they pick their breeder and a puppy. I would guess that it would not occur to most people that visiting several litters in one day might be detrimental to the puppies health. (Note to self - update Puppy Buyer Guide with this information)

I guess it depends on the situation and not least, the breed in terms of when anybody comes in to see them.   With mine, there really is little point seeing the puppies at much under 6 weeks - most people would be disappointed if they saw them earlier because fact is the ears don't 'come down' much before about 6 weeks, or even later for the full effect!   I'd not let anybody in before 5 weeks, minimum.   My good neighbour friend where we were living when we had out litters, came in to see them fairly early on but she had to remove her shoes and not touch!!!

I went to see my whippet at only 3 weeks - and pregnant mum before that!!   I went again before we finally picked her up at 9 weeks.   In her case, mum was quite happy to let me see her puppies!!   Which wasn't always the case with my Basset dams.

> went to see my whippet at only 3 weeks - and pregnant mum before that!!

Now my bitches re very sociable and love showing off their pups and having visitors.

I allow people to come whenever they want, but most come a fair way and are told that there's not a lot to see before 4 weeks.

I do no have worries about infection when they are young so much as my dog are off property all the time, and pups will have the benefit of full maternal antibody protection early on.

The socialisation of many different people coming to see them is good for them, especially as I no longer have young children at home and have to encourage friends and neighbours to bring theirs.

When my two were young there were always lot of people coming and going and pups have always been bomb proof an uber sociable.

I had one lady (who had owned several of the breed) fly  down from Scotland before pups eyes were open as there was a cheap ticket.  I also had a couple who came every fortnight from 5 days!!!

Those who have visited most tend  to be the eons where the relationship with owners is closer, and become extended family.

I can't imagine why I'd let a potential buyer in to see my pups before 7 weeks.
They would just be looking at a litter of cute pups, no choosing and no certainty that they will get one.
I'd advise them to wait until they can see what they are actually getting.

I'd only normally have the folk I'd agree to have a pup see them, prospective owners have usually visited/met Mum and relatives before pups born.

No individual pup is allocated until 7 weeks, but owners like to come and see Mum with litter at least once before they come to pick up their puppy, they all get photos from birth at least weekly..

I completely agree, but I suspect it is something that doesn't even cross their minds, so I would make sure that you ask them not to see any other litters the same day as they visit yours.

Hello, I think its 'Common Sense' to only visit 1 litter of pups per day, given that pups haven't had 'All' their inoculations.

> I think its 'Common Sense'

Not for a  non dog owner/puppy buyer

I agree there may be 'Some' people that just don't realise. I am surprised when I see video's on Youtube and the breeder is just allowing their pups to lick the bottom of people's shoe's/trainers. I am obsessive when it comes to the safety of my pups but some people as aforementioned just don't seem to worry. If I went to view a litter of pups I wouldn't view another litter the same day, and I would take my shoe's off straight away (even if I wasn't asked to) out of 'Respect'.

How many people take their shoes off, wash their hands, keep away from people with coughs/colds/infections before visiting a new born human baby -never mind a few weeks old?

Is this a step too far? Is it reducing natural immunities? Perhaps, if the parents were reared more naturally and allowed to develop strong immune systems to be carried forward to the future generations this wouldn't be such an issue.  I think it's also fuel for the anti-kc breeder brigade - dogs seemingly so frail they can't stand up to any bug. 

As for 'common sense' - common to whom?  Common sense can say not to buy a pedigree and look for 'hybrid vigour'   No sense in that either, to me.

If someone asked you to take off your shoe's before entering their house because they didn't want the risk of their puppies getting 'PARVOVIRUS' would you respect their wishes (I assume you would). Their intention is to 'PROTECT' their pups, to me that's 'COMMON SENSE'. Cheers.

Absolutely, Compassion, but I wouldn't necessarily think of it beforehand.

Absolutely I would if asked to take off my shoes, Compassion, but I wouldn't necessarily think of it beforehand - nor would I think anything of visiting another litter. 
As I said before, I'd visit more than one NEWBORN HUMAN BABY (sorry for caps - forgot how to embolden) in the same day, too.

and with human babies everyone kisses them and passes them around and they don't get kept away from contact with the most likely source of disease other people especially children and working adults who will be rubbing shoulders with hundreds of people.

Babies don't even start their vaccinations until 3 months.

Fair enough I guess but in regards to 'Parvovirus' I would still rather be on the safe side, especially as its not too long to wait. Each to their own.

> Each to their own

You simply need to do a risk assessment, check if there has been any outbreak in your area, and keep socialisation f pups to areas of low dog density.

You could just as easily bring disease home yourself, being over zealous about keeping pups isolated is a bit pointless unless you stop going out or having visitors yourself.

I think having visitors is o.k. providing they take their shoe's off as PARVO is easily picked up on shoe's.

In regards to risk assessment, today there are more dogs/pups coming in from overseas therefore, you have to weigh it all up for yourself 'as you suggest'.

Sadly have to admit when looking for a pup many years ago, this wasn't something I thought about, we didn't as it turned out see more than one litter a day but had planned to.
Had it been requested on arrangement or on the day of arrival, I'd have been only to willing to remove shoes, wash/disinfect hands, even change clothes had I been to another litter, but do feel the onus is on the Breeder to inform prospective purchasers.

I agree its the breeders responsibility to ask, if they want anyone to take their shoe's off. If they don't ask and the pups are allowed to lick the visitors shoe's and the pups get PARVO then the 'Breeder' only has himself or herself to blame.

Also, I believe people liked to be asked (unless they have a big hole in their socks)

I always ask visitors to remove shoes, also to use hand cleanser....I just don't like them visiting other litters before mine.

They don't always say and I'm sure if asked not to do it they wouldn't see it as I do, especially if they're travelling a couple of hours to get here and another litters in the same area.

I may be over protective, but I'd sooner be that than run the risk of cross infection, it's not only parvo they can bring in....what about just an upset tum, kennel cough or conjunctivitis? All transmittable illnesses ....

It's not only the breeders responsibility.....it's the visitors too! If they don't think of cross infection how responsible are they??