I have a westie 4 and a half months old now she has a good pedigree, when i bought rosie i didnt buy her to breed her , a lot of ppl have asked oh u going to breed her when she is older, when i say no they say im silly and some say im cruel for not letting her have  at least one litter of pups, I owned a pedigree german shephard till i lost her 18 months ago at the good old age of 13, she had no pups  and was happy all her life ....   is it me being paranoid ??? or is it cruel

NO NO NO NO, don't listen to what people are saying to you.  If anythink, with the risks of breeding, its safer NOT to have a litter.  No bitch needs to have a litter and if every bitch did have a litter think about all those poor homeless pups.  You are in no way being crule.

Rox

Don't listen to all those people! You are certainly not being cruel keeping her as a maiden. There is absolutely no need for a bitch ever to have a litter.
:)

It's a complete myth that bitches "need" to have a litter! Don't listen to these stupid people, just tell them you are far too responsible to have to find good homes for a litter of puppies. Enjoy your bitch as she is!

Don't listen to these silly people bitches can be very happy not having puppies. In the wild only the alpha bitch has pups.

I think some people here in the States believe this myth because they think that "a girl dog has girl parts, she needs to put them to use otherwise they'll go to waste!" Thats just sick. I believe speying a bitch is healthier for her, correct? I agree with the others and back their answers up, you are not being cruel. Just enjoy your girl as she is. If you choose to breed her, it should be for a good cause only, not to just let her have one litter, as the people tell you. Good luck! :)

Wouldn't breeding her and making her go through all the birth pain be cruel?

I agree with louise,the pain of birth would be far more cruel!
When people ask me if i am going to breed my shih-tzu's,i tell them"i am NOT a breeder and breeding should be left to the professionals!You should tell them that you are a responsible dog owner who doesnt beleive in putting more backyard bred dogs out on the streets,it is a myth that a female should have a litter of pups before being spayed.

christine

When we got our westie dog people said put him out to stud you can make money for nothing. We got him as a pet nothing else when I say that they say you better get him done then or he will hump everything in sight. He hasn't been done and he only humps his toy lion now and again. Like many other people he is always with me he doesn't roam the streets he is my responsibility I also think breeding should be left to the people who know what they are dealing with.  Your dog doesn't need to have pups she will have all the love and attention she needs from you.

Is this lion abuse? :D

Sheer stupidity if you ask me.  Don't you let them make you feel bad!  You're doing the right thing!!  Jeez,  I suppose I am cruel to myself because I am on birth control????

i would not do it, she is yours , just get on with haveing fun with her .

The poor bitch is 4.5 months old.  you could only have had her 10 weeks and people are suggesting breeding her.  Strange people in this world. Do the same people realise what is involved , puppies are sold under the Sale of Goods Act, you have responsibility to them longer that the 8 weeks, the cost of actually having a litter is huge, tests for the breed etc etc they can require c-sections.

If she is a pet leave her as a pet. A pregnancy brings nothing to improve health to a bitch. It is an old wives tale and a justification I think for some to breed pets.

Believe me My daughter is nearly 14 and I am still recovering :-)

BFN