After many years preparation and hard work,my first baby from my very first litter went home yesterday with her new family-I had everything in order,she took lots of bits with her,the family had been thouroughly vetted are lovely-but as soon as i shut the door-i felt so so sad  and promptly burst into tears.I had promised myself that i wouldn't do this and i suppose it didn't help that she was my favourite.(i feel like...well she is...one of my own)I've spent most of the day thinking about her and also feeling silly for being so soft,does everyone feel like this ?

Hi Guest,

Hate to tell you but you will feel that way with EVERY SINGLE ONE when it leaves :(  That's part and parcel of having loved them and lavished them with the best possible care in the world - we can't help but get emotional and regardless of how great the homes are, no-one is ever as good as we are ourselves (in our own eyes :P )

You should join up to the board and share with the rest of us what breed you have and how many pups etc ;)

Good luck with the others.
Teri :)

When I bred my first litter I cried in front of someone who took my favourite puppy.  Thankfully they are now my really good friends so I get to see her all the time.  Keep in touch with them and never worry about ring them up or emailing them I do all the time.

I hand reared my last litter, and the last one to go was little Ollie, but he was 18 weeks before he left. I was used to him being around, and although I knew he was going to his new home once fit and healthy, I was gutted when the time came. Its hard enought to see them go at 8 weeks. The owners keep in contact with me by e-mail, photos, Christmas cards etc, and I see Ollie every week at training class. It is satisfying watching them grow up and become all you want them to be :)

Fagan was the first to go from his litter, his breeder cried her eyes out whilst we were there and she knew she would see him again soon at ringcraft.  It must be an awful wrench after you have put so much into something to say goodbye even if they are going to a good home :)

I was the same as you kayc.....when my hand reared litter went 2 weeks ago I cried with each pup leaving, I felt so close to them but I knew I couldn't keep them all, they have all gone to lovely homes but I really felt somebody had taken part of me with each of the pups!

Yes. You did very well not bursting into tears until the door was closed. I'm not a weepy sort but I've snuffled over quite a few surprised new owners. I always tell myself that in a few hours the new owner will ring to say that Pups is having a ball exploring and wrecking its new home, but that sad, confused little face peering out of the car window does for me every time.

Well I'm glad I don't breed then.  I'm taking the lab I've been fostering for the last couple of months to his new home tomorrow, and I've already shed a few tears at the thought of him not being around any more, I can't imagine what it's like when you've raised them.

It was very hard for me and I did shed a tear or two, I have one particular picture of my first born bitch in the car looking very very sad and confused - always grabs at my heart when I look at it :(
I see most of my pups and speak to the owners on a regular basis and you kind of get used to them not being 'your' pups any more - although mine all still go mad when they see me and one particular pup (smallest of the litter and very spoilt by me) always has a wee when he see's me....bless!

When the first puppy from my first litter went to her new home, i was crying before she even got to the front door!!!  She went to a show home and I knew I would see her at most of the champ shows, but it made it no easier to let her go! When you put so much time and love into a litter, you will always have difficultey letting them go. 
Just remember that they will be going to homes where the people will love them just as much as you did.