not sure if this is right area for query.....
just wondering how long after your pups have gone to their new homes do you relax??!! 4 of mine have gone, 2 more going this coming weekend, I am happy with the homes they have gone to, and I have had really good reports and pictures re how they are getting on.......but there's always that niggling worry that something will go wrong, pup won't be happy/they won't be happy.....I don't want to be phoning all the time to see how it's going but I like to hear how pup is settling in....how do you experienced people find the right balance??? I'm confidant that I will be staying in touch with everyone (one couple are arranging to come down and visit in a year and bring their boy too!!) I have really enjoyed having these pups (in spite of lack of sleep and the extra stress) and I am really proud of them, and I know I am going to really miss them when they've all gone.....

any tips??  

I keep in contact with my puppy owners on a fairly regular basis, I try not to be 'too in their face' but really want to make sure pups are happy and of course the owners are happy and enjoying their new addition!!

My pups are 6 months old now, I have had four pups come down and visit over the last few weeks, which has been great, also I find that emailing the owners with info on shows, events, and even my pups progress as I kept one from the litter helps us all stay in contact.
I have also pre planned with everyone to meet up when the pups are 12 months old for a 'coffee and Bonio' morning and to have Hip and Elbow scores done!
AND I have sent out a little 'home made' newsletter to puppy owners which I plan to do every 6 months with general news about my dogs, all the pups and how they are getting on, updateed pictures and some basic advice etc: :D
I know it is a worry for me too, hoping everyone is happy and pups are happy, but 'touch wood' all my puppy owners welcome the chats and updates :D :D

That's why I could never breed... I would never be able to relax properly and would always be worrying about how they are doing and whether they get everything they need! So can't really give you an answer...

If all is going well in the first two years then I generally relax and assume pups are not going to need rescuing, though of course circumstances can mean a pup needs your help anytime in it's life.  I have had one back at 3 1/2 and a friend breeding over 50 years has had them back up to 12 years of age.

As someone said the trick is not to be in peoples faces too much, but always available with help and advice.  I often send a note at specific times to advise on matters arising, when teething, puberty, the first year asking about weight trying to ensure they don't get pups too fat etc.

thanks for replies, I know it's early days yet. Like you say, I don't want to be totally over-bearing, but I don't want them to think I'm not bothered, I know from my own experience buying from an established breeder, after the first few months they just didn't want to know, especially as I wasn't showing the dog. So I'm really trying to be as approachable as possible, cos I DO want to know how they're doing, I'm even thinking ahead to Christmas cards and will try and get some pix of the parents to send out etc!!! I know I'm being silly.....:rolleyes:

Christmas cards is a great idea. Some of my owners are great and keep in touch ALL the time, as in every week (love those people!), or every month, others just don't do it. So I send out a Christmas card AND a printed out little newsletter about what we have been up to during the year, any good show results, interesting things that have happened, and print photos in it. I just do one for all the litters and send the same to everyone. With the exception of just one person who never keeps in touch, this always seems to spur people into sending a card back and saying how their dog is doing, often with a photo -so the trick is to send it out EARLY in December so they can't think it's too late to send a card. :) Also as by December I'll have had the Crufts schedule and normally made my entry, I include details of who I will be showing, at what date and what ring, in case anyone fancies a visit to Crufts and would like to come and say hello.

Wow that sounds great I wish our breeder kept in touch like that, we've sent emails and called but they aren't interested anymore!

(and they are a well known show breeder!)

Must admit I love email as it makes it so much easier to keep in tocuh.  Phones often mean incomveneint times or overlong calls, but an email invites contacct if wished.

Must admit I don't send cards, but I hardly send any to anyone, not the greatest at keeping in touch with family, think pupy owners probably hear from me more.

I never truly relax until my pups get to 6 months, once they reach that age I am very confident that they have settled into happy homes and I don't worry about them anymore, but up until that point I think of them often.  I always send Birthday and Christmas cards to all my puppies throughout their lives, it is my way of reminding the owners I still care no matter how old my pups are and to reiterate that if they need me for anything I am still interested and approachable.

When they get to over a year though and have become adults the way I feel for my pups has changed greatly,  I actually no longer think of them as my puppies the bond is nowhere near the same, I love to have them visit, I love to get photo's and hear how well they are doing in competitions and am very proud whenever they do well, but they no longer feel like my dogs, even when some of the adults come to visit, it's great to see them, but the bond is gone. I don't know whether everyone feels that way, but I do, hard to believe when you are so close to them as wee pups and love them so much, but my feelings do change, I expect you will feel the same the older they get. :-)

with our latest pup we brought the breeder would send e-mails to all the puppy owners e-mail addresses however it would be to the litter from the pup she kept whch was a great, light hearted way of keeping in contact and also it was a way of getting across to first time puppy/setter owners how much trouble they got into.  It was always nice to read the e-mails :D  Once the pups reached 6 months the two who were showen could tell their results and the others would say how much they have come along at training classes etc.  I do believe the breeder is in contact with all the pups still at nearly two years and at two championship shows puppy owners of non show pups who are local have come along with their dog enterd NFC so they could meet up with the breeder and also as we were there, with our pup aswell. It's more difficult to meet our breeder at hers as she does insist on living out in the sticks of devon! :D

Just thought I would share how one breeder has kept in contact with her litter, of course with us and our pup is easy as we do most champshows aswell so can meet up there :)

I've only bred one litter (so far), but try to stay in touch by sending Christmas cards and birthday cards, on the pups birthday, with photo's of my lot and any news. That usually prompts them into e-mailing me or phoning, most do, some don't. I've just re-homed one boy, aged 2 1/3, so at least his owner felt I was there when needed and approached me first rather than rescue.

Well, I'm not experienced, but I've had two litters and am in touch with most of my pups owners.
I send photo's and cards at christmas and birthdays and get the same back, but mainly we're in touch via e-mail, some of my pups owners have become very good friends.

It's difficult, and I don't think I've ever really relaxed - my youngest litter are over 3 years old now, and I still worry about them, but I'm confident they're being looked after well.

I drummed it into the pups owners that I was available at any time of the day or night if they ever had a problem!! 

Its great for both breeders and new owners to keep in touch. When I got Delilah I sent her breeder regular updates...a daily diary at first, then weekly. We became good friends, and when she bred a second litter i helped out by staying with them, then having one of them in part ownership with her. IF I go on holiday she has my dogs, and when she needs me to I have hers to stay. Recently she was diagnosed with breast cancer and I went down and prepared her gang for crufts as she couldnt groom as she was too poorly.  WE both feel secure that if there are problems we would help each other out. Likewise if any of pups her litter needed to come back to her for whatever reason, I would certainly consider fostering them if it is a bit much for her.
As far as I am concerned, the more support the better, and it works both ways.

I think that sounds lovely!

I bet that breeder is glad that she homed one of her pups to you

I am very grateful to my first ever puppy buyer (she has had 3 from me so far, and two others from other breeders, one by one of her boys), as without her I probably wouldn't get to more than one or two shows a year :D

Hi Dearlady,

I am the same as you and worry constantly about my pups. I contact the new owners the day after they take the pup back, ring a week later and always tell them to ring me in the meantime if they have any queries. I then leave it for 2 weeks then either call or e-mail, as long as everything is ok I will then e-mail or call them monthly for the first six months of ownership and then back off slightly as I don't want to feel that I am being a nuisance. I always send xmas cards to all owners. Ther have been times when you get to know that everything is fine and the new owner can cope and feels that we are intruding but as long as I hear and see pictures I am ok. Everyone is different and do what you feel best, you will be suprised at how grateful the new owners are when you call them and it reassures them that you do care and are there to help if they need it.