My friend has just told me her daughter has bought a german shepherd pup. Her daughter asked me about a pup a few weeks ago and where to buy one from. I advised her to contact breed clubs as that is the good advice on this website. They have never owned a dog before and they have a 5 and 9 year old and two older children in the house and I hoped if they contacted a reputable breeder they would get good advice. I'm not sure how they found out about this pup, it is 7 weeks old and they bought it from a few streets from where they live. I think they will find it hard to cope particularly as a few years back they returned a yorkie pup after 1 night because it cried. I can't help feeling a little worried.
Talking to someone else today she told me her daughters dog has just had a litter of pups. An accidental mating between a staff and a boxer cross. They apparently spoke to the vet as to whether the bitch would cope, not least because she is only 11 months old herself. The vet advised to carry on with the litter as the size of the pups would be determined by the bitch and that if they weren't meant to cope they woudn't have seasons so early!!!
I am probably being over sensitive but I have learnt so much from this website and although I know it is nothing to do with me I came home feeling all sorts of emotions, angry,sad and upset that people do not take dog ownership and breeding seriously.
jane

> The vet advised to carry on with the litter as the size of the pups would be determined by the bitch and that if they weren't meant to cope they woudn't have seasons so early!!!

oookkayy...i take it there is some kind of ombudsman for vets? i'd be reporting that if i were you.

as to the puppy, try and give them advice and help now they've jumped in feet first, maybe see if you can get them on the forum?

I can't understand Vets not advising spaying or a post mating jab or the one that terminates a litter when they seem dead keen to neuter everything in sight. :(

I suppose 10 year old human girls should be OK to have babies too, else why did they start their periods.

I will meet the pup tomorrow and if I can help in any way I will. I will certainly be telling them about this site.

I said exactly the same thing to my OH Brainless about young girls having babies just because they have periods early. This person said that they asked the advice of the vet about whether to continue with the litter and she led me to believe that if the vet had advised against it they would have terminated. I was shocked that the vet thought it was okay for an 11 month old to have a litter.

jane

If I was the cynical type I might say that a post mating jab is just one fee. To spay a bitch after she has whelped and neuter X amount of puppies amounts to many fees.

I seen a 6 month old Lab Cross at the vet with a litter of pups, oh did she ever look horrid.  So frail from the pups.

10 year old girls arent supposed to have babies?  HMMMMM.  Joking, but it seems kids are having kids younger and younger these days.  I know a parent, whos child is in 8th grade, and this childs friend is pregnant right now.  Making the child whos pregnant only about 12 or 13 years old.  How sad.

> 10 year old girls arent supposed to have babies?  HMMMMM.  Joking, but it seems kids are having kids younger and younger these days.  I know a parent, whos child is in 8th grade, and this childs friend is pregnant right now.  Making the child whos pregnant only about 12 or 13 years old.  How sad

sounds like lots and lots and lots of girls in my city! only place in the uk where the birthrate isn't dropping and the population age isn't rising. 12's normal, 14's about average among some areas of Dundee.

I think sometimes people will say a vet has said something, to give credence to their own decision!!