Breeding isn't something that I set out to do. In fact, it was quite the opposite for me... I've always wanted a dog and when I was finally old enough to drive, I spoke to as many breeders as possible and went to one who had one ready for me the soonest (yes, absolutely not the correct way and I would never advise people to do this now, but things are not like they are now). I'd expressed an interest in dog showing so the breeder picked the puppy who she felt had the best potential.

Fast forward a few years, and after an initial slow start (it took me a while to have the confidence to show after countless ), we started doing well at shows and I start building a network of friends from showing. Friends then start asking me if I was thinking of letting him be a sire... it was honestly not something I had thought about. I was studying at University and in between my studies, every spare minute I had was spent on researching the breed - whether that was studying pedigrees, perfecting my grooming technique or just learning about general confirmation. So I went off to do more research, this time looking at possible options for my boy.

Fast forward 20 years - through lots of trials and tribulations (I've had more than my fair share) I can say I finally feel like I have my own line. If I was describe breeding in one word, it would be 'rollercoaster' because my experience has been exactly that. There have been many times I have questioned whether 'this litter' will be my last because of all sorts of reasons - the bitter heartbreak of breeding (trust me, everytime I see one of my girls whelp I still get as nervous as the first time), the uncountable enquiries from people just wanting to know the price (yes I don't blame them in the current climate, I'm talking pre-Covid-19), and just the general anxiety that comes with breeding. Everytime, I make the decision to let my girl try for a litter, it's not a decision I take lightly. I chose to let my girl whelp so I am fully responsible for her puppies from the second they are born. I am with my girl throughout the whole process. I then make the process of rehoming one of my puppies extremely difficult - going on walks, numerous impromptu telephone calls to test commitment, and ID checks. However, on the build up towards puppy's moving day I have sleepless nights and worry about the puppy to no avail. The puppy pack is full of familiar toys, blankets, chews, treats and water (if the family is out of area) - it's as comprehensive as possible. On moving day, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll have tears streaming down my face as I give puppy that last squeeze and kiss from all they have known so far and hand them over to their new family.

I know there are many on here like me, have dogs live in the house as part of their family, show their dogs and occasionally have puppies as a result So, my question is... does saying bye get any easier?

I came across this poem written by Jacquelyn McLaughlin and I had to include it into my information packs.

I knew from day one not every puppy could stay.
Preparing them for life took many hours of each day.

I love every minute watching them develop and thrive.
Helping them discover the world fills me with pride.

The weeks are numbered, never enough time.
I worry, even though I know the puppies will be fine.

I trust you with this puppy and hope you understand.
I handpicked you, and expect you’ll follow the plan.

Continue to provide new experiences each day.
Never stop training your puppy, and always include play.

I will never forget my puppies and will always be here.
Please provide her the best for the rest of her years.

No matter how long ago your baby was here.
Not staying in touch is my biggest fear.

I can’t imagine it does get any easier. When I picked up my current dog the breeder was crying, I was crying and the puppy was crying. Real old cry fest

The Bearded One:  The answer to your question 'does it ever get easier' is categorically NO!

When as a Breeder you have chosen your girls and brought them home at 8 weeks old.  Trained them to the peg/whistle etc. raised them by interacting, socialising and witnessing what beautiful and loyal animals they are, the decision to have them covered at 2 yrs old is always a 'head spinner'.  When you have been present for the birth, sometimes had to tear the sack when Mum not sure what to do, clamp your mouth around a puppies nose & mouth praying that they take their first breath with such intervention is mind boggling,

You then watch their evey move, sleep on the floor to support. wait with bated breath for a squeak, start weaning - up to your eyes in puppy poo & porridge - then comes new owners collection day - you feel proud of what a beautiful puppy you have raised - you then question where you have placed them - yes it is emotional and yes you want a life long interaction with that new owner, but you have to understand it's at their discretion.

It never gets easier. Only uncaring breeders looking for a quick buck dont feel the stress. If the tears stop,  if it becomes just a job, if you are unmoved when the new owners dont ring to tell you how the puppy is, then you shouldn't be breeding. I've decided to stop. I cannot go through it all again. The older I get the more I worry, and I shall worry about every puppy I bred for its lifetime. I've loved every litter but not the stresses. Time to hand over to younger people, i just hope some of them worry as much as I did.

> I can’t imagine it does get any easier. When I picked up my current dog the breeder was crying, I was crying and the puppy was crying. Real old cry fest

This is exactly what happens. I'm glad it's not just me!! Each time I tell myself that there will be no tears etc etc, but I just can't help it

Thanks Hoggie

> yes you want a life long interaction with that new owner, but you have to understand it's at their discretion.

I understand what you mean. However, because my process for acquiring a puppy is nearly as stringent as adopting a child (I know because that's my day job), I have built a relationship with all my families to the point that I truly trust them to keep me updated. I'm glad that my anxieties have been for no reason so far as all my families have kept in touch. Of course, I have a part to play in that too... my puppies are welcome to come back to me if the family has a holiday abroad. I don't charge them, because I see them as my babies

> When I picked up my current dog the breeder was crying

That sounds just normal to me!

Does it get any easier? If only. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes having read that verse and my last litter was 3 years ago. You can't put your heart and soul into planning and then raising a litter and not feel emotional when the time comes for them to go to their new homes, no matter how sure you are that you have ensured they're going to the very best homes possible.

For me, finding good homes and letting them go is totally the WORST part of breeding a litter.   And it does get harder the more anybody does.   The only consolation was to have a couple of good puppies to keep and cuddle as each one goes off to their new lives without a backward look at me, in tears at the kerbside praying that they will always be loved by their new owners as much as they have by me.

Not that keen on the mating.  HATE the whelping.  Love the rearing although it's always tinged with anxiety that each will survive to be able to go to their new homes.   And then the final parting.............. why do (did in my case now) we do it!!

Thanks for your responses and confirming my suspicions.

It's lovely to know it's not just me that feels this way - I've honestly tried everything over the years to stop tears from streaming down my face just nothing seems to work. I then do nothing but cling anxiously onto my phone once they leave, waiting for updates. Of course, the new family have always been in touch after a few hours at home and update me on how things have been, but I then find myself stirring all night and morning until I hear from them again to tell me how their first night went

I guess letting a puppy go to a new family is difficult - no matter how much is done in the vetting process, because the bottom line is that you care and have done everything you can for them. Feels like the more you do, the more harder it is to let them go.

MamaBas

> Not that keen on the mating.  HATE the whelping.  Love the rearing although it's always tinged with anxiety that each will survive to be able to go to their new homes.   And then the final parting.............. why do (did in my case now) we do it!!

I agree, I love the rearing part and watching them grow but always worry about each hurdle they have to overcome. I try not to think too far ahead with my litters (obviously with the end goal of hopefully having a puppy to show), but I never take waiting lists for this reason - I can't handle the pressure of knowing I have a list and someone on there is wanting the pup, the minute they are born. I initially worry about them surviving, I then worry the first time they're wormed, then mum's hygiene routine being relaxed and how they will manage, then them starting weaning, then going downstairs, then their first time in the garden and so on... the worry just does not go away for me

See for me the waiting list helps.

As you then have quite a long time to get to know the people on it, share all the excitement.

Now with new technology you can share the experience with them sharing photos, videos, and more importantly education in bite size pieces.

I can definitely see the benefits, but for me the pressure of already having people attached to each pup born is too much - I have lost a full litter in the past and understand no matter what I do it's ultimately in Mother Nature's hands whether pups thrive or not and when that happens, I only want to deal with my own emotions and not have to explain it to expecting families.

I guess, not keeping lists is the only way for me to feel I have full control of the situation. Maybe because of what I do for my day job and the strong emphasis on GDPR and confidentiality, I don't like keeping people's personal details before I know for sure they have a puppy secured and all the extensive checks have been carried out. I have been known to keep more than I have re-homed because it was too close for me to decide which to take forward - if I had people waiting for them it would have been more difficult for me to change my mind.

I guess this is one of the reasons why breeding is so tricky - there's just so much to consider, especially when you care

> I can definitely see the benefits, but for me the pressure of already having people attached to each pup born is too much - I have lost a full litter in the past and understand no matter what I do it's ultimately in Mother Nature's hands whether pups thrive or not and when that happens, I only want to deal with my own emotions and not have to explain it to expecting families. <br />

I am TOTALLY with you in what you say here.   And I want to 'keep my cards close to my chest' in terms of what I have to offer - given the number of phases a Basset can go through!   Which is why I don't take deposits, and would NEVER put a price of my puppies as early as people do these days - before even on the ground in way too many cases, imo.

> I want to 'keep my cards close to my chest' in terms of what I have to offer - given the number of phases a Basset can go through!   Which is why I don't take deposits, and would NEVER put a price of my puppies as early as people do these days - before even on the ground in way too many cases, imo

I couldn't agree more. I don't disclose I have puppies when people call initially, no point me telling them I have a litter if I'm not getting good vibes. Yes I don't take deposits, easier for me to change my mind if I don't feel it's going to work with a family. I don't know how people decide on their puppy prices so quickly... it's one of the last things I think about, just not top of my priority list.

I'm currently on countdown to a whelping.  The minute my girl gets restless I'll be sleeping downstairs where I will stay with her till she starts taking a break from the pups. I'll be awake everytime she wakes in the weeks afterwards.  I'll be hoping this time is as easy for her as the last.  I'll be deducing personalities and matching to new families.  I'll be loving every moment and treating my girl like a queen.  I'll be constantly changing bedding then doing a full mop several times a day and loving the crazy while I do it.  I'll be saying goodbye to pups as they get carried to a car.  My girl won't give a second glance but I'll think about those pups in the months afterwards.   I'll be so tempted to keep another but the daughter from the last is still a spanner idiot yet and I don't think mum will thank me.  And then when the last one leaves I'll have a peaceful cup of tea just me and my best girl.   Till next time.

I know exactly what you mean The Bearded One - last litter I had 2 good friends who already had dogs from me, both wanting a puppy, and we were thrilled when my girl was scanned as expecting two. The two duly arrived, but after a few days the slightly smaller one just wasn't gaining well, checked for cleft palate etc but every time he suckled the milk came down his nose. Ended up having to syringe feed him for 3 weeks until they were both weaned onto puppy mousse, at which point he started gaining the same amount as his by now much bigger brother and started catching up rapidly. So all ended well, but it was really stressful panicking about why the puppy wasn't gaining, and he wasn't very keen on being syringe fed either though neither myself, my more experienced friend or a vet couldn't find anything wrong with him. We think the mum's milk was just coming through too strongly for his suckling ability as the fatso one had no trouble at all. I kept imagining how I was going to tell these lovely friends of mine that one of them would have to wait another year or more for a puppy!! At 4 months old they are very much the same size again :-)

> I don't know how people decide on their puppy prices so quickly..

My breed is numerically small, under 50 puppies annually most of the last decade or so.

We try to keep roughly to same price, with increase of £50 every so often.

We also pass people onto a fellow breeder as quickly as possible if not enough pups, and often continue contact with those we have developed a relationship with.

With Social media it makes for an extended breed enthusiast family, from breeder exhibitors, and pet owners.

Sorry to hear you was in such a stressful situation, LucyDogs - I'm so pleased to read that it was a happy ending for you

Your situation is what I fear. When I lost my full litter, I didn't have a waiting list but my family was so excited and having to tell them the sad news, along with making sure mum of the pups was okay was more than enough for me to have to deal with.

I had a puppy enquiry last week and after a while of me doing my usual talk on what to look out for and avoid, what a reputable breeder should look like in my books, etc etc, they told me that they had a breeder lined up but unfortunately, they lost the full litter.