lab in heat

Mankysteve

There is an urban myth that having a litter calms a dog down and makes them friendlier same with cats. It not true.

There plenty of dog out there stuck in rescue centres.

No one called the op a bad owner, just pointed out some of the downside not being spayed if people can't handle this then maybe they shouldn't be on the internet at all..

sadie33

its not a case that i should not be on the internet, all i asked was for a wee bit of advice about her being in heat... I will look in to the speying part of things and read the links that have been given, she is just acting weird the now and i was a bit worried.. but hopefully in the next week she will be okay x thanks for everything

kitschkitty

Very importantly the risks of complications during pregnancy and giving birth. I think there's nothing so awful for people than thier beloved family pet dying trying to give bith to a litter.

viktory

My poor wee b1tch only had one season (vet refused to spay until she had had one) and she had a phantom pregnancy. Poor little love, she was so mixed up and sad. I was glad to get her spayed.

Caroline_a

It's so sad that this myth is still going round that it's good for a !!!!! to let her her a litter. That's like saying it's good for women to have a baby! Please think about whether you have the resources, facilities, knowledge and budget to have a litter of puppies in the future. You could have a situation where you are left with a few puppies if you cannot find suitable homes for them, so are you prepared to take on additional dogs, or maybe if a pup doesnt work out in a family are you prepared to take back a disobedient adolescent dog?

It's tough breeding dogs - I'm not a breeder but I have known several people who do breed correctly, and they make no money out of it (or very little). Having a pet dog is fun, but breeding is a science that should be done to improve the breed.

It does sound like the OP has healthy dog with a lovely shiny coat, but I would say that if she has to ask whether this is a sign of good health indicates that she isnt too knowledgeable about general dog care and that to try to breed unless she is prepared to undergo some intensive learning. Please dont take this as criticism, I'm trying to point out the pitfalls before we have more pups in rescue centres, or an unhappy family trying to cope with puppies that are too much for them.

lostinrates

sadie33 wrote: »

its not a case that i should not be on the internet, all i asked was for a wee bit of advice about her being in heat... I will look in to the speying part of things and read the links that have been given, she is just acting weird the now and i was a bit worried.. but hopefully in the next week she will be okay x thanks for everything

OP, I am not anti pups. My family had them. BUT what I would say is that I don't believe, looking back, its made much difference in longevity. what I would say is that our different breed dos that got very clingy in heat were more likely to have phantom pregnancies and problems arising.

FWIW we have two girls atm, one older htan the other. The older one is to be spayed this year, not bred from. She is not suitable for breeding and IMO spaying makes them easier to routine (i.e. she won't have to stay out of best rooms for a few weeks every time). The other we're undecided on whether to breed from or not. Personally I like dogs to have proved themselves in a job or in the showring and from good health. This second dog hasn't been shown but is a very, very correct dog. As a result I've aranged to take her to her breeder, and two other mutual friend who are international showig judges for a critical appraisal and discussion of what dogs are available and suitable for her. I have people asking for puppies from her all the time ad could sell them ten times over....but its still a big decision and responsibility.

If we decide no to she will be spayed for th same reason as the first. Our girls who have had litters have lived NO longer at all and of roughly the same things. But there is no doubt in my mind its easy to live with neutered girls if you have them in the house.

Kinski

sadie33 wrote: »

I will look in to the speying part of things

If your looking at it and reading up on things then that's fantastic :j.
My neighbour bred from her dog, she had 6 pups but neighbour only found homes for 3 of them, after a few months when the pups were eating her out of house and home the remaining pups went to rescue. My sister bred from her staffie who was a great dog from brilliant lines, she did find homes for them all of them but the owners were told that any problem they were to go back to my sister, all of the dogs are still with the owners 9 years later but it still stands that any problem they go back to my sister. Unfortunately her dog died from cancer a few years later when she was 6, my sister has no proof but she's always felt that if she hadn't had the litter she would still be with her (her dog was spayed after she had the pups).