Hi there
I live in the Highlands, Inverness actually.  I have a pet collie and for the last two years, at the back end of the year she has had a phantom pregnancy.  The vet has told me I will have to let her have a litter of pups and then have her dressed, or simply dressed, otherwise this will continue ad eventually have side effects on her.  I want to allow her a litter before dressing her and the time is approaching.  However I cannot find a collie dog young enough.  Do any of your members know someone anywhere in Scotland with a collie stud?  If you do look forward to hearing from you.
norterntourer@aol.co.uk.
Cheers.
John.

Hi John,
I would suggest you simply have her spayed, rather than have a litter from her beforehand. There are many health checks (to ensure against hereditary problems being passed to the pups, possibly resulting in you being sued by the new owners) that your bitch, and the dog, would have to have passed. There is no benefit to your bitch to have a litter; indeed it can result in the death of the bitch. You would also have lifelong responsibility for her pups.

Besides, what sort of collie is she? Border collie? Rough collie? Smooth collie? Bearded collie?

HI John
I would do as JG suggested, just have her spayed then you don't have all the worry & expense of having all the necessary health checks done and finding the right homes for the puppies. It won't do your bitch any harm not to have a litter & you won't be putting her at any risk by having her mated.

...and besides there's millions and zillions of homeless and unwanted collies in this country. :(

Tell your vet he is a stupid....

No bitch needs to have a litter before they are spayed, what they need to do is have seasons!

Having a litter is like putting your bicth on a risk of loseing her, and loseing puppies or even having to hand rear, and have a life long commitment to lots of extra dogs, the costs are worth it if you don't really want to breed.

Hav eyour bicth speyed and live happy as normal with no extra health risks, fingers crossed!

Rox

Agree with what everyone has said, no point in having a litter of pups some of which may well finish up in rescue and run the risk of not only the bitch dieing but all the expense that having a litter can entail. Puzzled about the fact that you say the dogs are too old, a maiden bitch would be better with an older experienced stud, wonder why you are looking for a young one. Still hope you stop looking and have the bitch spayed about 2 months after her next season, which will end her problems and yours, where as a litter may only be the start of her problem and yours ;)