Hi all I've posted here a few times since September when I decided I was definitely going to get a puppy (lab in picture is my mums dog Lottie who is 2 on Thursday). I didn't have a timescale as to when as I was waiting for confirmation if I'd be having a major pancreas surgery as I decided that would be best time once recovered as I will be off work minimum of 3 months but in reality probably more. Yesterday I was told I'm definitely having it and have a date of 7th Feb. I think I need probably at least until end March to get over worse of it before getting a puppy probably longer but I want to get it so that I will be off until it's had all its jabs because it will be going to doggy day care least 2 days a week as I work part time. I'd like to get one from a breeder and joined a mailing list to get updates when they are born so I guess I will have to keep an eye on that. Can you contact breeders who know in advance that a litter would be ready say end of March? Or do I have to wait until they are born? Most of the emails are saying they are born around when email is posted so 8wks notice I guess. So exited now, I think it will get me through those difficult weeks after surgery if I know I have a deposit on a puppy. When I told the kids mums having an operation they cheered as they finally have a timescale! Lol
I emailed all KC registered breeders in my area (you can get lists on the KC website). I explained my situation and when I was looking for a puppy, and other specifics (such as I was looking for a yellow female). Had a good responses, with lots of people replying even if they didn't have any litters planned. One breeder responded and it sounded a good match. This was just a couple of weeks after he mated his female dog. I arranged to visit when she was 6 weeks pregnant.... So I could get a sense of the breeder and ask lots of questions. Visited again when the pups were 4 weeks old and collecting my puppy next Wednesday! It's been a long wait but only 8 sleeps to go! So if you want a puppy at a certain time I'd definitely recommend contacting breeders.
I'm definitely in the "contact in advance" camp. This is my first time looking for a Lab, but from my previous experience with another breed, 1-2 year waiting lists aren't uncommon. It seems there are more Labs available (more popular breed) but I'm looking now and hoping to find a puppy who will be ready to come to his new home anytime from July onwards and I'm already feeling a bit late to the game. But this isn't from any real experience on my part... I'm just a panicky sort. Best wishes on your surgery and I hope you find the perfect pup for you!
Keep in touch with the breeders you're interested in. My first choice of breeder didn't have anything planned for the time I was looking for, but I saw news of a great pairing on her website and changed my timescales to suit. It was certainly a case of putting my name down in advance, as most good breeders will be over-subscribed, especially if you're looking for something specific. I wanted a chocolate girl from strong show lines but working potential, which are as rare as the proverbial rocking horse poo. If you're not so fussed about the conformation or working potential, though, then you'll have a lot more choice. Obviously, with any mating, there is no guarantee that puppies will result, or how many there will be. The mother of my pup had ten in her litter, but another bitch who had her litter at around the same had only three. Mine only had two bitches out of ten. If there are different colours that could result from the mating, then you also have to consider this - if you want a black boy ad there are only yellow boys, what will you do? So, you have to keep in mind that what you're after may not appear, even if you're on the waiting list. It's also not "first come, first served", as the good breeders will choose the best homes for their puppies. With this in mind, if you have a relatively small window for getting your puppy, you may be best to put your name on a couple of waiting lists to increase your chances.
I've actually been wondering if this is ok to do, so good to know. I was thinking maybe it's like "cheating" on one breeder if you put your name down with another. Do breeders expect you to do this, or do you let them know? Does it affect how they see you (i.e. more or less serious)?
Well, it depends on what happens, I think. My breeder wasn't going to have anything available, so I kept on looking and made enquiries about a couple of other litters. I didn't go as far as saying "I want one of these puppies", but certainly made it known I was interested. When my breeder turned out to be having this litter I hoped to have one of, I contacted one of the others to say I wasn't interested. I still needed to wait to see if there was one for me once they were born, and as soon as they were, I contacted the other breeder. I think you just have to be realistic and respectful about it.
Just want to say best of luck on your surgery. Are you having a Whipple? My OH had a whipple, for bile duct cancer, in May of 2015 and is completely fine now. He does have to be careful when roughhousing with Oban, he can't take paws punching his abdomen now.
Hi, yes I am having a Whipple, it's for chronic pancreatitis rather than cancer, I've been having stents in my pancreatic duct every 3 months for the last year but they are just causing more damage so only option now is surgery. Yes I'm wondering how long I should leave it, don't want to wait too long as want to be off work for long enough for puppy to have all jabs so can go to doggy daycare but also its a major operation and I might not be up to looking after a puppy too soon x
Thanks, yes good idea, I'll have a look how I email them. At the moment I'm getting emails but they are all for puppies born now so haven't found the section where I can email breeders. I'll have a look though - thanks
Thanks I think I'll do that. I want a chocolate female but the kids want yellow. I love yellow too but my parents have had 2 yellows so I'd like a different colour but think ill be overruled (even though I'm the one paying!) How exciting you have such a short time to go, I'd like to register for one before so I can visit when a few weeks old and be updated on their progress x
Thank you, I better get a move on! I will have a look at the site tonight. Are there multiple breeder websites, I'm only signed up to one
A Whipple is a big surgery. OH lost about 1/3 of his pancreas, a bit of liver, a bit of duodenum, all of that bile duct and all of his gall bladder. He is apparently a model of success for such a major surgery but partly because unlike some who have he was lucky and caught early and was fit, not overweight, and did not drink to excess or smoke at all. At his three month post op check up he was off the drains and healed up but sill too weak to resume his normal acitivities, such as cutting lawn or picking up heavy objects. I joined a Whipple Support Facebook group to learn more, two actually. Most there did have the Whipple because of their pancreas. My OH's cancer is quite rare. You might want to check out one of those groups. I'm sure you will do just as well as OH and recover as quickly.
I do wish you the best of luck - both in the surgery and finding your puppy. I have to say though, getting a boisterous, bitey, excitable young puppy so soon after major surgery, and they are strong boisterous teenagers before you know it, does give me a bit of reason to pause. I know you want to be at home with the pup at first, but you'll be on sick leave? If the surgery doesn't go so well, and you are actually sick during your sick leave, it's no time to be dealing with a young baby pup tbh. They are exhausting at the best of times...
Thank you, I'll have a look for a support group - I'm in quite a few pancreatitis ones but they've had different surgeries although a few had Whipple. I might have to rethink the plan to get one end of March and move it along a little. Someone responded to my message on breeder forum saying they have litter due next year but bitches being scanned this week. When do they scan them? At what stage of pregnancy? Trying to work out when they'd be ready. They aren't too far away. I think I'll have to wait and see how I am, I do bounce back quickly had 6 small procedures this last year but this is a major procedure. I can take 6 months off so maybe move forward the puppy plan until fully recovered. Thanks x
Hi, thank you. Yes you're right - I think I'm best making no concrete plans and playing it by ear. I can take 6 months off fully paid and I'm not rushing back as my work haven't been very supportive due to their policies I've had 6 smaller operations in the last year and had to use leave save getting a warning even though I have a serious disease. I want to get one when I'm off as I'm going to be putting the pup into doggy daycare when back to work 3 days a week (maybe work from home 1 so maybe 2 days) and so it needs to have all injections before it can start. As I don't have any other option but to use doggy daycare wouldn't want to leave it home all day. I think I'll rethink end of March that's only 7 weeks post surgery and maybe look more like May/ June. Thanks
All the very best for your op - I'm sure looking forward to a pupster will help you heal! You could always get a smaller breed if you are delicate? Cavaliers are like Labs in character but easy to lift and not small crocodiles when pups
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/acbr/Default.aspx?breed=Retriever+(Labrador) If that link doesnt work go to https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/acbr/Default.aspx and select retriever Labrador This gives you a list of assured breeders. You could then email those in your area to ask if and when they are having litters. My breeder scanned his pregnant bitch at 3 weeks (usually 9 weeks gestation). But I would suggest going through all the same checks even if assured breeder.
