I have a question! I'm not a breeder--just a lab mom. We're going to adopt a 6 year old bitch from a respected kennel here in NC on the contingency that the owner retain the right to breed her once more next spring when she will be nearing 7 years old. She's already had two healthy litters with no problems, but her sister died at age 3 during her pregnancy. Should I be concerned about our new girl going through one more pregnancy at that age? The owner said he's not even sure he'll want to breed her again, but wants to retain the right in case he decides to. I'm worried that we will become attached to her and then something might go wrong as it did with her sister. To me, seven seems a bit old to go through another pregnancy, but I don't know anything about breeding. Should I be concerned? Your expert advice is most welcome.
Hi Claire , seven years of age is usually the age at which a bitch would have her last litter , as long as she is fit and healthy and the owner knows what he is doing, then I wouldn't worry unduly re the age factor .My Labs Mum had her last litter when she was just approaching seven years of age and then she was retired from having any further pups .
Oh thank you, kateincornwall . I feel much better about it now. Hearing her sister died when she was only three gave me pause for concern. This dog has excellent genetics and has littered successfully, so I guess she'll be fine. I'm grateful for the wealth of knowledge on this page!
The age wouldn't worry me but how are the practicalities going to work? Will the breeder take her away from you for several months whilst he is taking a litter from her?
heidrun --Yes. He's terrific. When she comes into season, he's going to pick her up and take her back to his kennel for the breeding and then she'll come back to us after a few days. He will cover all her pregnancy expenses while she's home with us, then we will return her to him for her vetting and birth until after she weans the pups. She's got amazing bloodlines so I understand why he'd want to breed her again, but it's still a maybe. He hasn't made a final decision yet, so we're not going to spay her until next spring either way.
I can see why the breeder might want to do that - but personally I would be very upset about the idea of sending my dog away to be mated and then to have her puppies and look after them. I would want my dog to be with me during that time. I suppose it depends how happy you are with the set up he has, and whether you like the kennels and so on.
Are you far from the breeder? Will you be able to see her much while she's got her pups? I know some breeders have their dogs out kind of on loan while they come back for breeding. It's a way of maintaining a larger breeding pool while each dog gets more individual attention in day to day life. It wouldn't be for me but it's definitely a model I've seen before
I agree, bbrown --it's not a situation I would be happy about, but that is our agreement. We are too far away for frequent visits during the six weeks or so she'd be gone. The breeder isn't sure if he wants to breed her or not, so we just have to wait a few months for him to decide. Martha is an amazing, sweet girl and we will miss her terribly if she has to leave us even for a few weeks.
That's a shame you won't be able to visit and see her being a mum. Fingers crossed the breeder chooses not to use her. If he does it will only be once at her age and then she'll be all yours again
Personally, I think I would be tempted not to tell the breeder when she comes into season as I wouldn't be happy with the toing and froing for her between her new home with you and the breeder.
Well I don't know anything about breeding but I think it's a bit of a cheek for this breeder to ask for the poor girl back to use one more time when he has adopted her out to you I agree with the above comment, I wouldn't tell him when she comes into season either. xx
And I'd be pretty disappointed if I'd rehomed a dog with someone and had put certain conditions around that which were accepted and then not followed through. Clearly several people (including me) would feel unhappy about sending a dog off to have puppies somewhere else but if that's the case then perhaps it's not the right dog. I have a friend who decided not to take a dog because the breeder wanted to retain breeding rights and stipulate the sire and when she was mated.
I don't understand why the breeder would adopt the dog out and place these, I think unreasonable conditions on the new owner, is it to save money until the dog is in season? Whatever the reason I think it's cruel to the poor dog which the breeder won't want any more because she will be too old to have more puppies, you see it all the time on rescue sites, just awful.
Sometimes breeders have dogs placed out in homes but retain breeding rights so that they can keep their gene pool as big as possible but the dogs are loved and cared for as a pet with all the attention you would expect rather than being kept in kennels. Like I say, not my cup of tea but it certainly happens.
Perhaps these breeders should love and care for their dogs in the first place then they wouldn't need to place them elsewhere and then call them back when they are of use again and again. I am guessing this is done just to make room for some poor other younger bitch to start producing puppies. Keeping the gene pool and making lots of money too. Like I say, cruel.
Agree with Barbara. Unfortunately if the terms aren't to your liking then it is best not to take on the dog. This sort of arrangement is not uncommon and it's reasonable of the breeder to put a condition like this on rehoming. If you really want the dog but can't accept the terms try negotiating with the guy - maybe paying more for her with the condition removed. Personally I wouldn't be happy with this arrangement either but that'd mean I wouldn't even consider the dog. I wouldn't advise lying about her seasons. I think that is wrong and is going back on an agreement that you signed up to. Breeders do this so they can get the benefit of a litter plus the benefit of having fewer dogs to care for or of making space for younger dogs, while the dog can live in a family environment with more attention than they'd get in a kennel environment or an environment with many dogs. It's a difficult dilemma I'm sure and it sounds like you've become attached to this dog. If you do decide to go ahead with it and he wants a litter I'm sure you'd cope and so would she. She'd be going back to a familiar environment and it sounds like the breeder is experienced and would have high standards of care (is that the case?).
I'm sure it will be fine. It wouldn't be my choice but if you've taken on the dog and no doubt already love her , and you agreed that you'd return her for another litter, then that's that, really. She is not too old, and my dog spent longer away from me when he had to recover from surgery and I had to work, so I sent him to a specialist rehabilitation centre - it wasn't ideal, but he did ok and has forgotten all about it now, with no lasting issues.
I think this is a really difficult thing, but if the breeder made it clear at the outset I guess that is part of your "sales contract" and you would be in breach if you didn't adhere to it. I think "care homes" are commonly used by high production breeders who as Barbara said earlier are trying to increase their gene pool. I guess its good for the breed. Not convinced its good for the owner. Not sure what a dog would think....... As long as they are being cared for they are happy right? Do they feel let down if they live elsewhere for 12 weeks or so to have puppies? Its this old thing of giving puppies human attributes, isn't it. I really don't know. I wouldn't agree to it I am pretty sure, but could see how others might.
I guess it all depends....the dogs might go back to the kennels when the owners on holidays and feel like it's a second home or they might not have seen the kennels for years and find it quite upsetting. All you can do is judge each situation for yourself and your dog.....
