Holly, my little girl has just lost 3 of her long awaited litter. She has 2 left, that appear to be doing well for the moment anyway. I am at my lowest ebb for a long time, this is the 3rd time of trying with her, the first time she aborted them 10 days early, the 2nd she only had 2 pups, one of which died almost straight away and the 3rd died after 10 days. I kept him going, feeding him by hand and taking him to the Vets for sub cutaneous fluids.
This time round I used the Canine Herpes vaccine, and was delighted on Friday morning, when she had 5 lovely babies. Sadly, it doesn't seem to have made any difference to the pups survival.
I know that now is not the right time to make any real decisions, but I am seriously thinking of not continuing with this, as the heartbreak is just too hard. It doesn't get any easier to bear. My breed is very popular but does have it's problems healthwise (I can say, cos IF the 2 survive, they are going nowhere). I have been trying to breed something good enough to enter Champ shows, as given the numbers, you have to have something really special to do anything at Champ show level. I have tried to buy something in over the past 4 or 5 years but most top breeders won't sell you anything good.
I was hoping to get something nice from this litter as my little girl is well bred, although slightly mismarked, but she went to a really nice stud dog. Sadly, it looks like it might not be. I just hope that these 2 survive.

Have you used the same stud dog each time? 

No, third time around I used a different dog.

How awful, loosing pups is so heartbreaking.
Can't help on the  breeding front I'm afraid, maybe speak to her breeder and see what she says ?  I'm sure if you find the lines you like and are prepared to wait you will get a puppy good enough to be shown, but do agree it isn't easy.
Took me two years for the person with the lines I like to accept me for a puppy (had to prove myself which is fine with me, as they don't sell to people that show normally) even though my dog is out of one of theirs, will probably take longer to wait for one good enough now, but I will wait as long as it takes.

Hi
IF it is the herpies virus causing the loss of pups, then keep the whelping room very hot, over 80 degrees, the virus cannot survive in hot temperatures.  If you keep the room hot until at least three weeks when the puppies can regulate their own body temps, they are much more likely to survive.  Good luck

Sorry to hear of those pour souls that have died. I can add nothing but the fact that I can relate to everything you say.
It is heartbreaking to lose pups at any time but when it becomes the norm it is devastating and the only answer appears to give up.
I nursed one pup for 8 weeks, feeding her day and night and watched her personality but not her body grow only to die from what the Vet said was a hole in the heart.
We lost one from our Holly's 1st litter and had 3 beautiful girls, this time we have lost the whole litter and the opportunity of breeding with her again. She too, was a long awaited bitch from a top breeder and hoped for nice pups to show.
Hope the other 2 survive and become happy, healthy pups and if you are lucky the show dogs you so want

Thanks Herbiedax

I hope the 2 girls survive as well. They seem to be o.k at the moment.
I have deliberately kept the whelping room warm, as I had done a lot of reading about the Canine Herpes infection. Only time will tell, I suppose.

Why, I ask myself do you constantly see puppy farmers advertising litters of 7 and 8 pups, nothing appears to happen to their litters (Not that I would wish that on anybody) and I doubt that they get the care that we lavish on our dogs.

"Why, I ask myself do you constantly see puppy farmers advertising litters of 7 and 8 pups, nothing appears to happen to their litters.. and I doubt that they get the care that we lavish on our dogs."

Good point. Maybe it is a sign that we interfere far to much when breeding a litter?

I doubt puppy farms would broadcast the fact if they lost a litter or had problems though.

With puppy farms how do we know that the 'mum' of the pups is actually their real mum? How many litters were born at the same time and registered to one bitch so that the others can have another litter in a few months time and the pups be registered under another bitch? :(

Those of us that try to earn a good reputation would never think of doing that, but what about these so-called breeders?

How devastating for you, I have my fingers crossed that the two girls survive it won't make up for your terrible losses, but from those girls you may get your wish of a pup good enough to show, I think after all of this you deserve that.

Hope that they pull through and big hug (( :-) ))

I'm sure we are all pulling for you.

Thanks everyone for your kind words, nice to know that you understand what I am going through. The 2 girls are doing fine, thank goodness!

Fingers and everything crossed for your two. What a sad time you have had but I hope things will turn the corner for you.

I'm so sorry, Lopear, about the heartbreaking experiences you've been through. From my own experience I know  about how much sorrow breeding can cause you. But also the joy. Keeping my fingers crossed for the two little ones you have left. How are they getting on?
Best of Luck,
Karen

My 2 little girls are doing fine. One is still quite a bit smaller than the other but they both look like they are growing. Holly doesn't seem to have masses of milk, but the puppies aren't noisy and sleep quite contently. So fingers crossed....they might just make it!

Thanks again for everyones kind words and thoughts.

Yvonne