Hi all
Yesterday I had a phone call from a lady who lives about 20 miles from me.
I don't know her but she asked if I was the Nicky that had Irish Wolfhounds so I said Yes :). She then went off on a long story about how she is getting a puppy from a lady in Cullompton who has a dog & a bitch as pets and has just had her 2nd litter and what did I think
Turns out she wanted info on the breed and how to raise them etc, I spent an hour on the phone and told her as much as I could but I'm left wondering why the *breeder* hasn't told her anything or why she felt she needed to go elsewhere for her info instead of to the *breeder*, :O Supid me forgot to ask those Q's.
God knows what these babies are like or what their bloodlines are, am I alone in getting hacked off by this sort off thing?
Nicky

The breeder I'm getting my bc from is constantly getting e-mails from people who bought their dog elsewhere. She has a great website and people contact her rather than go back to their breeders so she's started putting up advice sheets instead to try to fend off the questions she hasn't got time to answer. Speaking to her the other day she had about 120 e-mails to go through and that was after deleting a few of them!
LynnT

I get the same with my website and am thinking of putting a question & answer page on there to try to assist people! I'm sure the same must apply to most people who have websites out there.

Hi Bec & LynnT
I don't have a site, only a page on Champdogs, so hopefully I won't achieve the cult status of attracting 120 e's!
I don't mind talking to anyone if they think I can help, I was just complaining about the lack of true support out there. I mean, when Bayley has her babies nxt yr I will have a responsibility to them and their owners for the rest of their lives & I just wish that people who have litters from their *pets* would think about that before they do it. :( And I expect your breeder does to Lynn!
I've noticed loads of Q's lately on the forum from bitch owners just advertising wily nily for a stud of their breed, no requirements or thought of research or compatibility, they just assume you find a dog of the same breed, have puppies and make money!
Thank god for the caring lot out there who pick up the pieces.
Nicky

Maybe ALL breeders should be licenced and only those that have displayed an adequate amount of knowledge on dogs and their breed and health requiremens should get one!

Hi Bec
Good one :D
I think that the KC should be doing more about it via the litter registrations they receive.
Nicky

Have added a breed guide to my site to help answer the easy questions for people.

Last week I met a man who had 2 chocolate labrador puppies they were very nice to look at, a dog and a bitch. He only brought the bitch because of her injuries and didn't want to leave her with the breeder. The bitch puppy has 2 dents in the top of her head and a piece of her ear missing, when I enquired what had happened he said the dam of the litter had attacked her!!!
I smiled to hide my anger and wondered why he would buy pups from a litter where the dam is so nasty. But I suppose that at least they are now away form her and this guy thought the world of these pups.

Hi Nicolla
It is nice to know the pup's are happy now. But this is exactly what I'm ranting on about
How do we know that the pup's won't have a bad temperament too, then with all the media coverage of killer dogs about at the moment it just fuels the fire. I bet all the dogs involved in these attacks were badly bred.
Nicky

Oh dear, perhaps this isn't the site for me. I am one of those dreaded people, breeding from my pet dog. In my defense I can only say that I have researched the processes thoroughly through internet and books and have recieved loads of help and advice from my bitch's breeder. She owns the sire and was more than happy for me use him and has offered help in homing the puppies and has given me her mobile number for when they are born even though she will be on holiday in Guernsey at the time! We all have to start somewhere and I'm glad that I have recieved support and not criticism from everyone!

Jane

Jane,

You're not one of those 'dreaded people'. Everyone has to start somewhere and by the sounds of it you've done the research and are now entitled to call yourself a responsible breeder.

Your bitches breeder sounds like a real gem and seems to be a real credit to the breed.

Good luck with the puppies,

Fiona
x x x

Thanks Fiona, yes she's great, and so laid back about it all she really puts me at ease for five minutes anyway! Pups due at the weekend, this is no time to panic!

Jane

Good luck for next weekend - if possible can you let us have someone on the computer letting us all know how it's going?? We've had quite a few cyber deliveries and they're great, both for the readers and the breeder.

Fiona
x x x

I'll see what I can do, might have my hands full though!

Jane

Jane, I don't think you are one of those at all. You are quite right we all start somewhere, but breeding requires a lot of knowledge and should not be undertaken without it!

The way to gain the knowledge is from those who have it. That is exactly what you are doing as you are using your breeders knowledge and advice.

You will find that we often advise people to contact their breeder, and if their breeder isn't interested or not the sort of person to help, then they are best not to breed with that bitch.

They should study the breed and get involved with activities, and buy a pup from a better breeder with something to offer the breed.

Incidentally to most breeders I know their dogs are their COMPANIONS and PETS first and foremost.

Hi Brainless
Did not mean that mine are not *pets*.
My three live in the house and are v.v.spoilt :D
Rodrick currently sleeping with us, as Bayley in season and he hates to be alone, driving my old man mad as he snores loudly! ;)
Nicky

Hi Jane
No you're not one of the *dreaded*. You are being responsible & caring and you have researched your project carefully. :) I'm bitching about those who don't.
Good luck with your babies.
Nicky

Hi, Jane, I too, am expecting my first litter from my Lhasa mid July. It is certainly really scary being a 'first time breeder' You certainly have to be ready to justify your actions and not be intimidated by some other experienced breeders who seem to intimate they were born that way. We all have to do it for the first time once. I ,like you have done loads of research on the internet and through books and through my bitches breeder and the stud dog owner who is a lovely and very helpful lady. Hope all goes well for you and your impending family over the weekend. I shall be watching out on this site for any updates!

Thanks for your support, Buffy looks ready to burst and the pups are certainly very active, oh I remember it well! Good luck with yours, I'll keep you informed.
Jane

Hi Jane
Nearly there then?
Good Luck :D
Nicky

Hi Nicky, No , you are definatley not on your own with this!!!!!!!!!!!I spend hours with my puppy buyers going over everything and they are told they can phone me 24/7 if they want any advice , have problems etc. So please can I groowwwwwwwwwlllllllll with you!!!!?

Hi Phillipa
Feel free to GROWWWWWWLLLLLLL away! :D
Nicky