View Full Version : My dog won't mate
sasha123
Mar 6, 2009, 08:43 AM
I was walking out with my dog and a family liked it. They said their soon going to be on heat and they where planning to mate her we made an appointment to the vet to see if there where any problems thanks god everything was just fine . They come to my house but my dog as if he wasn't smelling the on heat he smelled it a bit and come back next to me she was ready for sure cause she was posing in front of him with her tail up but he didn't take any notice of her my dog is 4 and a half years old what can the problem be ? Can anyone help me plsss
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 12:14 PM
Maybe someone else will answer your question but not me, I will not condone backyard breeding. Sorry.
Why not go to the shelter on euthanasia day. Pick out 5 dogs that you choose to kill because that's what having a litter of pups will bring about.
Good luck.
sasha123
Mar 6, 2009, 12:48 PM
I don't think like you sorry if someone really wants adopt a dog from a shelter , millions of pure dogs won't stop him .I wanted to mate him once cause I'm in love with my dog and wanted to keep one of his it would have been twice the fun ,its like telling a person don't get pregnant instead adopt one there are a lot for adoption which are going to stay without parents any way don't know why my dog did not wanted to mate the anyone had this problem before?
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 12:56 PM
i dont think like you sorry if someone really wants adopt a dog from a shelter , millions of pure dogs wont stop him .i wanted to mate him once cause im in love with my dog and wanted to keep one of his it would have been twice the fun ,its like telling a person dont get pregnant instead adopt one there are a lot for adoption which are gonna stay without parents any way dont know why my dog did not wanted to mate the anyone had this problem before ??
The only problem with your point of view, babies aren't killed if they don't get adopted, dogs are.
There are 7-10 million dogs euathanized every year because of backyard breeders like you. I can't stop you, but I can give you the information. Personally, I don't understand how a person who claims to love dogs could breed their dog if they knew about all the dogs dying because of it.
As for your question, it's likely that the only people who will come to answer it will be other backyard breeders (the very title should tell you something) who don't really know what they're doing when it comes to breeding dogs. So, whatever info you get will probably be the worst info out there, but whatever right? You want to breed your dog, who cares if you do it right.
I have no problem with legitimate breeders breeding their dogs, but you aren't one of them. How do I know? Because a legitimate licensed breeder knows the answer to the question you asked.
Be warned, I'm probably not the only one that's going to come here and tell you to stop.
I won't wish you luck, but I will wish your dog luck, he obviously knows that this isn't right and is refusing to comply with your wishes.
sasha123
Mar 6, 2009, 01:21 PM
You say that kids don't get killed if they don't get adopted and I agree but they get killed the same without water food a shelter clothes ecc ecc so why people get pregnant when they can adopt and give a better life to some precious kid ?and of course I'm not a breeder but neiter a backyard breeder I just wanted to breed my dog once as I want another one of the same blood its not cause he didn't liked the I tried to mate him 6 months ago and I didn't asked my vet cause I took it forgranted that he didn't liked her but now I think that s because I never mated him.. in 2 weeks time I have an appointment at my vet and well see what he says... thank god today you can make this thing artificially ,you just have to pay
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 01:33 PM
you say that kids don't get killed if they don't get adopted and i agree but they get killed the same without water food a shelter clothes ecc ecc so why people get pregnant when they can adopt and give a better life to some precious kid
So do dogs my dear, so do dogs. I love it when people justify breeding their dog by bringing kids into the equation. I made the comment about kids because you brought it up, but it's a totally different topic, has nothing to do with breeding your dog.
and of course I'm not a breeder but neiter a backyard breeder i just wanted to breed my dog once as i want another one of the same blood
You are either a breed, a backyard breeder or a puppymill breeder, choose one. Do you know the definition of backyard breeder?
No Puppy Mills Canada (http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb.htm)
Sorry, but the definition fits.
You may think I don't understand, you have the best of intentions, you have homes for all the pups, you are only going to breed once, you just want another dog that looks like yours, blah, blah, blah. Well, welcome to the epidemic that is called Backyard breeding. You are part of the problem, not the solution.
I'll tell you what. I will answer your question, but first you have to do something for me. This is no big deal if you really want to breed.
Call your local humane society and ask if you can volunteer during euthanasia day. All you have to do is hold down the animals while the tech inserts the needle. Be forewarned, many of the dogs being killed will be puppys or older dogs that have been abandoned. If you can go through all of that and still want to add to the explosive population of dogs, then I'll help you.
Deal?
Silverfoxkit
Mar 6, 2009, 01:34 PM
what can the problem be
Well my first assumption is that the dog is more intelligent then you are.
You cannot compare in anyway human children to animals. To even try blatantly shows your amazing ignorance.
For every 1 human baby born, 7 puppies are born and 7 kittens are born.
Out of every 5 puppies born only 1 will stay in its initial home. The rest will end up on the street or in the pound. Your precious puppies are not exempt. Yes, that mean the puppies you breed for your own selfish pleasure will most likely be abandoned and die. Why does it have to be that way? People like you.
I'm not a breeder but neiter a backyard breeder
Are you breeding your dog? Even one litter makes you a backyard breeder.
I just wanted to breed my dog once
What if every single dog had one litter? You think the shelters are overrun now! Then again, maybe you don't. You don't seem to be able to comprehend that there is a problem.
Tell me, have you ever held a dog in your arms as it died? Maybe you should to understand why we are upset with you and what you are doing wrong.
sasha123
Mar 6, 2009, 02:27 PM
I told you I did nt mate yet so you can call me nothing of all that right ?I told you before I didn't mate him not even once so till then plsss 2nd I mentioned kids cause it's the same thing if you think that you don't have to breed better to adopt why not the same with children or kids have something less than dogs lots of kids are worse than dogs in shelters lots of kid s don't have a shelter so why not doing the same thinking and 3rd on our small island there is no euthanasia day.we people don't know about this day we don't kill dogs the way you do we make them go to sleep only if they are sick like with sandfly ecc...
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 03:44 PM
i told you i did nt mate yet so you can call me nothing of all that right ?i told you before i didnt mate him not even once so till then plsss 2nd i mentioned kids cause its the same thing if you think that you dont have to breed better to adopt why not the same with children or kids have somthing less than dogs lots of kids are worse than dogs in shelters lots of kid s dont have a shelter so why not doing the same thinking and 3rd on our small island there is no euthanasia day.we ppl dont know about this day we dont kill dogs the way you do we make them go to sleep only if they are sick like with sandfly ecc...
Tell me where you live, I guarantee that dogs and other animals get euthanized.
If you want to talk about kids and over breeding in that area, start a new thread. You asked about breeding dogs, not kids.
Also, no, you haven't mated him yet, but not for lack of trying on your part. You said it yourself, you will try again, so yes, you are a backyard breeder, and one of the worst I've seen because you obviously don't give a damn about dogs.
Do what you want, screw the consequences, let's hope other people give some thought to the fate of other dogs and the quality of the dogs being produced. I bet you didn't even read the link I provided.
As for your question. If you want to breed so badly, figure it out yourself, I won't help because I've seen the consequences of your actions and I for one cannot turn away and pretend it doesn't exist.
I'd wish you good luck but it wouldn't be sincere, so I'll say good bye instead. :(
linnealand
Mar 6, 2009, 04:06 PM
i dont think like you sorry if someone really wants adopt a dog from a shelter , millions of pure dogs wont stop him .i wanted to mate him once cause im in love with my dog and wanted to keep one of his it would have been twice the fun ,its like telling a person dont get pregnant instead adopt one there are a lot for adoption which are gonna stay without parents any way dont know why my dog did not wanted to mate the anyone had this problem before ??
Sasha, as it has been repeated again and again, when millions of human babies are being put down every year in shelters, you can make that argument. Until then, it does not apply. You are very lucky if you live somewhere with only no-kill shelters. However, that doesn't mean that you don't have to consider the consequences of breeding without knowing what you're doing, and it doesn't mean that those puppies wouldn't wind up abandoned or living out their lives in a no-kill shelter. If you don't mind, could you please tell us what part of the world you live in?
You can't tell people not to comment because your dog has yet to produce a litter; you've obviously been trying to produce one, and you came here asking for help with it. We're not making that up, are we?
I'm glad that the title "backyard breeder" leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It's not a good thing. You might not want to be called a backyard breeder, but if you try to breed your dog, basing your actions on what you described and highlighting all of it with an "it's nothing" attitude, then you are going to earn that title for yourself. No one else would be doing that for you. By the way, from your posts, you would fit that title so tightly that you could wear it around like a hooker's dress. You could become its poster child.
Take a look for yourself: from What is a Backyard Breeder? (http://home.comcast.net/~NoPuppyMillsVA/What_is_a_Backyard_Breeder_/what_is_a_backyard_breeder_.html)
"Probably the best definition I have found so far to answer "What is a back yard breeder (BYB)?" comes from Boxerworld.com:
'The average pet owner that breeds their dog(s).'
So, why are back yard breeders a problem? Well, they just breed dogs for the sake of it. They may have a sweet pet they want to try and reproduce or they think that their dogs are quality because they have papers and/or are registered with some registry. They think maybe they can make a few dollars selling pups, etc. They just put out dogs without real consideration for the future of not only the breed but the puppies produced.
Often, BYBs breed dogs with faults. This perpetuates fault and problems in the breed. They do nothing to prove their dogs are of sound temperament and that they are breeding good representatives of the breed, etc. They just breed."
I'm not against responsible breeding. The problem is that, as things are right now, I don't see how you could consider yourself a responsible breeder. You don't even know the most basic of basics. I'm going to have to assume that you don't have even the slightest idea of what it is that you don't know. I think that's the biggest problem here. What's more, you've treated it like it doesn't matter.
If you want to breed, then do all of your homework, join a breed club, get a top-notch reputable breeder as your mentor, study genetics, pick the dogs you breed with each other according to their balance of genetic traits and the right dispositions, get your dogs tested for hereditary diseases, save money for emergency care, make up a contract for every person who adopts those puppies requiring them to spay, neuter and return all unwanted puppies back to you no matter what the reason, study early puppy development, learn everything you'll need to know about training; basically, take every ounce of responsibility that comes with the job before, during and after you breed. "just one litter" would not be "just a little thing" as far as I'm concerned.
By the way, as I see it, backyard breeders who come here making excuses and trying to justify any irresponsibility generally come from one of three places:
1) their ignorance of the overpopulation crisis is clouding what would otherwise be better judgment;
2) they are aware of the most likely consequences of their actions, but they don't care;
3) they're fooling themselves into pretending that what they're doing is perfectly okay because other idiots do it all the time.
I'm guessing that you really love your dog, right? And I'm betting that you would naturally be inclined to love any of its puppies just as much. Here's the problem. While any potential puppy you keep might be fine, chances are that at least one of its siblings will wind up abandoned at the shelter at some point during its lifetime, whether the owners let you know about it or not. Your area might be no-kill, but you can't force any adopters not to move somewhere else where euthanasia as a means of controlling pet overpopulation is the norm. where do you think shelter dogs and abandoned dogs come from? The majority of those dogs come from people just like you. Everyone thinks, "it's not going to be my puppies." guess what. That's exactly what the majority of them are. Unfortunately so many of those poor dogs come from back breeders who never bothered to educate themselves on the subject of breeding because they think it's nothing important.
Do you do your own dental work? Not unless you want to pretend you're a dentist. Would you perform surgery from home? Not unless you want to pretend you're a surgeon. So do yourself and the dogs on this planet a favor and don't go playing around with animal genes like they're pick-up sticks if you don't know anything about genetics.
starbuck8
Mar 6, 2009, 05:27 PM
i told you i did nt mate yet so you can call me nothing of all that right ?i told you before i didnt mate him not even once so till then plsss 2nd i mentioned kids cause its the same thing if you think that you dont have to breed better to adopt why not the same with children or kids have somthing less than dogs lots of kids are worse than dogs in shelters lots of kid s dont have a shelter so why not doing the same thinking and 3rd on our small island there is no euthanasia day.we ppl dont know about this day we dont kill dogs the way you do we make them go to sleep only if they are sick like with sandfly ecc...
I would like you to provide us with the information to back up what you are saying, about this remote Island you live on that does not euthanize dogs except in the case of sickness, or "sandfly." I'm curious to know what that would be too! I would also be very interested to hear the rest of your argument when comparing breeding dogs, to adopting children.
I think you need to get an education before doing either of the above. I don't think this is totally a case of a language barrier, if you do not speak English, as you do seem to have a pretty good grasp of text talk.
This is definitely a case of someone who should NOT be involved in breeding or properly caring for dogs.
linnealand
Mar 6, 2009, 07:36 PM
Sasha, I'm still caught up in thinking about this story, so maybe we should have just one more quick chat. Your confusing statements, garbled thought processes and illogical conclusions are so far off that they look like they're floating around in outer space. I realize that some of this thread is on the harsher side, but I would really like for us to arrive on the same page.
if someone really wants adopt a dog from a shelter , millions of pure dogs wont stop him .i wanted to mate him once cause im in love with my dog and wanted to keep one of his it would have been twice the fun
What are you saying? What's this "millions of pure dogs wont stop him" bit? What does that mean? Also, don't you think that most dog owners really love their dogs? So why shouldn't all of us breed a litter from them? What makes you so special that you should breed from your dog? You met the potential mate in the street. Boy, those are credentials. Could you please send someone from that family to speak with us here in the forum so we can help them too? By the way, what kinds of dogs are they? What's the age of the mother? If you don't mind, could you please post of the test results and all of the other information you've compiled that confirms that these two dogs are an appropriate match? Or did you just take a look and say "these two. i like my dog, and their dog is in heat. plus, she's kinda purdy." oh, one more thing. One litter is not "twice the fun." perhaps you could say that if it was likely that the litter would be comprised of only one dog. What happens if the litter runs to 8-14 puppies? Would it be more appropriate to call that "14 times the fun," or would it be closer to "twice the fun, but with 13 puppies that will have to be fun for someone else." if you want another dog similar to yours, why not go to the shelter or to a rescue group to find one? I'm sure you'll find plenty to choose from. I know you've expressed an interest in your dog's, um, blood. Well, if your dog is purebred, that blood will also run through the veins of another dog of the same breed. Why do you have to do it yourself?
you say that kids dont get killed if they dont get adopted and i agree but they get killed the same without water food a shelter clothes ecc ecc so why ppl get pregnant when they can adopt and give a better life to some precious kid ?
We already covered most of this. I'm just wondering what on earth you were talking about with the food and water thing. What does that have to do with you trying to breed your dogs? If anything, you would be arguing against your attempted actions. Also, people don't generally make 8 babies at a time and then keep one while selling off the other 7. is any part of your motivation to make money off the "leftovers?"
and of course im not a breeder but neiter a backyard breeder
Exactly in what way are you not a breeder if you are breeding or trying to breed dogs? Again, we covered this part too, but I'll repeat it anyway so that I know you don't miss it. Hands down, you would be a backyard breeder. Also, now that you've learned some things from this thread, if you do decide to keep going ahead with your plans, you can no longer use the ignorance excuse. You would be purposefully doing things you know to be irresponsible or unethical.
i just wanted to breed my dog once as i want another one of the same blood its not cause he didnt liked the i tried to mate him 6 months ago and i didnt asked my vet cause i took it forgranted that he didnt liked her but now i think that s because i never mated him ..in 2 weeks time i have an appointment at my vet and well see what he says ...thank god today you can make this thing artificially ,you just have to pay
I don't know how I missed this earlier. You seriously want to artificially inseminate your dog? Why not use that money to have your dogs genetically tested for hereditary diseases instead? Why not use that money to buy some books on breeding? Why not use that money to adopt a rescue dog instead and then give what's left to an animal shelter or to a rescue group that works to rehome the abandoned dogs of your favorite breed? I don't know of a vet that would help you with your homemade doggy arts and crafts project if they weren't in it just to make a little extra cash on your ridiculous plan. It's too bad that they can't do a transplant of a moral gestating brain instead. Get informed, and just try to think, think, think about what you really should do (or not do) instead of what you just feel like doing (or not doing) for the heck of it. Do the right thing, and know that you're doing it for the right reasons.
P. S. I'm a little sorry to say this, but I will mention it anyway. It is very difficult to understand what you have been writing. I don't know if English is your native language; if it isn't, I can sympathize with some of the difficulties you could be encountering, and that's perfectly understandable; however, if you are a native English speaker, I would really have to ask you to try to communicate what it is you're saying in a way that can be understood by others. For future reference, you are welcome to read the rules of the forum for more information. Rule #2 of the posting rules: "Use the best English you are capable of. "Chat speak", all caps, lack of punctuation, etc. can be annoying, and will frequently result in the post being either unanswered or removed."
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 09:27 PM
Darnit, had to spread the rep. Amen Linny, Amen! :)
Ana52408
Mar 6, 2009, 10:09 PM
Just listen to these girls. I mean I did, you should too. Don't be another backyard breeder out there, your just going to live with the guilt the rest of your life.
Props to all of you smart ladies :)
I wish I can be as intelligent!
Too bad that linny has a lot of patience. I thought she was about to lose her's before alty's! Lol joking, all of your information should be read, revised and freaking stuck in this lady's brain!!
Animals are voiceless! You make a worse for them I guarantee you, your not going to end up with a happy life, your going to live with the guilt forever and trust me, it comes back around!
artlady
Mar 6, 2009, 10:12 PM
Candles ,lobster and champagne always work for me. And a little Al Green..
starbuck8
Mar 6, 2009, 10:15 PM
Candles ,lobster and champagne always work for me. And a little Al Green..
Well that sure works for me hon... but did I miss something? Huh? LOL! Are we on the right thread here? LMAO! Well now I have to put on some Al Green. I've got candles, but... I'm missing champagne and lobster! :(
Alty
Mar 6, 2009, 10:33 PM
Wrong thread girls, I know it gets confusing.
Back to the other thread you go, shoo. ;)
neverme
Mar 6, 2009, 10:41 PM
LMAO! What are you talking about girls? :D
Ana52408
Mar 6, 2009, 10:59 PM
Linny; too bad your always right! Same goes for alty and starby :) for any topic whatsoever you guys always have the right thing to say :D I guess some people are just meant to inspire more than one person! Nahh more like the whole ask me help desk hahahah <333
Ana52408
Mar 6, 2009, 11:19 PM
Hahaha oh stop it you guyss!! I learned it from all of you :) lol and TOO BAD; that when I opened this thread I was like if linny, alty, and starby haven't posted anything there is something wrong with the world and yup I was right! Lol I love the way alty just says it straight up, starby says it straight up but includes some info and linny puts info and she finds her way to get the point across! Bravo!
All of you just make this site 100% better!
Alty
Mar 7, 2009, 12:11 AM
artlady agrees: Im very sorry if I screwed up the thread.I was trying to get you to relax for r a sec because I know how committed you are and iI was just trying to be diversion I was not ever going to grab the thread.
Sweetie, no worries, I was kidding. I guess not everyone gets my humor. :o
So, just so you know, I'm sarcastic, pigheaded, opionionated, absentminded, bodacious, gorgeous, sultry... now I'm getting off topic. ;)
Big hug Lady, don't worry. :)
artlady
Mar 7, 2009, 12:18 AM
Sweetie, no worries, I was kidding. I guess not everyone gets my humor. :o
So, just so you know, I'm sarcastic, pigheaded, opionionated, absentminded, bodacious, gorgeous, sultry..... now I'm getting off topic. ;)
Big hug Lady, don't worry. :)
Bodacious is right on. And I get you too .Your a nice lady,I get you :confused:
artlady
Mar 7, 2009, 12:57 AM
It's been a while since someone called me nice. ;)
Then they must be insane and I beg to differ, you're a sweetheart ,I knew that the minute I came here.. I think you were the first person that I connected with:)
sasha123
Mar 7, 2009, 06:03 AM
I thought about it really badly yesterday and I came to the conclusion that I would wait until the breeder I bought my dog from have another litter and I buy one from there they will have one that looks like mine I guess I just wanted you people to know,cause its true the one I would take I would know it would be okay but who knows about the other 5 or 6 .I was thinking if they don't get killled like you said who knows if the people who takes them trow them away in the streets and unfortunately no one picks them up to give them a shelter or who knows if a couple will have a baby and they don't want the dog anymore there are people like that as well so my decision is that I buy another beautyful boy from where I bought rex (my dog)even for me ,my puppy would be in better hands till 3 months at a real breeder he has more expirience with puppies I guess my baby saved me as you said before ,thanks everyone
neverme
Mar 7, 2009, 06:08 AM
I'm glad Sasha! The doggies are the VIPs round here! :D
linnealand
Mar 7, 2009, 06:31 AM
Sasha, it takes a whole lot of heart to write what you just wrote. Of course, I can totally identify with your initial feelings on the matter; as I've heard it said, thank goodness we love our dogs enough that we would want to have more just like them. Then again, the real heroes for the dogs are the people who really love our dogs enough, who love all dogs enough, that they're willing to look at the big picture as much as they look at the little picture and are selfless enough to decide that the breeding part of the story is best left in the hands of the professionals. What you wrote takes courage and empathy. I want you to know that I'm impressed, I'm encouraged, and I'm really, really proud of you for being so responsible and caring. I wish you the very best to you, to your dog... and to the future dog you will one day take home and surely love, cherish and appreciate. My best wishes to all of you.
sasha123
Mar 7, 2009, 06:46 AM
Well to say it all at first I was very angry with all you people cause believe me I was going to take no profit out of it I wanted just another puppy ,but then reading hear and there and speaking it with my boy friend he made me understand you people where right .well I have to say he knows how to take me as well .he said that if we want another puppy there is no need to bring another 6 in this world ,he told me if we wait we will find a puppy that looks like him and this doesn't have to be tomorrow till we find one that looks alike we will still have rex
sasha123
Mar 7, 2009, 06:56 AM
Well to say the truth I was really angry with you people yesterday,cause I was going to get no profit out of all this ,I wanted just another baby that looks like rex ,but then reading hear and there and speaking it with my boyfriend ,and I have to say he knows how to take me I realized that you where right.he told me that to have another puppy like the one we have there is no need to bring another 5 ,6 in the world .he told me to wait until the breeder we bought rex from have anotherone that looks alike ,till then he said we would still have rex and that's true .
sasha123
Mar 7, 2009, 07:02 AM
Sorry for wrighting that down twice but I thought I earased it by mistake :)
Alty
Mar 7, 2009, 10:26 AM
Sasha I'm so very glad that you've made this decision, it's the right thing to do.
I hope you understand why we came across so harsh, we deal with a lot of this every day, after a while it gets frustrating because all we have is words and the hope that the person asking the question will listen. I'm so glad you read what we wrote and saw what we were trying to say.
Rex is a lucky dog, he has a mom that not only cares about him but about all the other dogs out there. Because of this decision my dear, you've saved at least 5 dogs, you should be proud of that.
So give Rex a big hug, let us know when you get your new pup and post a picture of Rex, we'd love to see him. :)
starbuck8
Mar 7, 2009, 10:48 AM
well to say the truth i was really angry with you ppl yesterday,cause i was gonna get no profit out of all this ,i wanted just another baby that looks like rex ,but then reading hear and there and speaking it with my boyfriend ,and i have to say he knows how to take me i realized that you where right.he told me that to have another puppy like the one we have there is no need to bring another 5 ,6 in the world .he told me to wait until the breeder we bought rex from have anotherone that looks alike ,till then he said we would still have rex and thats true .
I'm very happy to hear that you've made this decision. We here are very passionate when it comes to dogs. We are harsh with people sometimes, because we are here everyday, and we see how the problem with over-breeding is insanely out of control. The animals are our number one priority. So we are not mean people, we are just frustrated when we can't get through to some people. It makes us jump for joy when we can get just one person to understand. It doesn't sound like much, but it's SOMETHING! :D
Will you Google "breed specific" shelters in your surrounding areas, and enter the breed of your dog. You may just find some. If not, Google just the regular shelters in your area, and keep an eye out. You just never know when another dog that looks like Rex will show up.
Keep us updated please. :)
Silverfoxkit
Mar 7, 2009, 12:14 PM
There is nothing more bitter and harder to chew and swallow then the truth, and the fact that you were able to face it instead of brushing as off as "rude know it alls" as most would and do says a lot. You actually were willing to sit down and think on it, even if the thoughts may not have been so nice at first!
I'm very glad to hear that you have, despite the temptation, decided that it is not the best thing to do. The other person clearly was not a reputable breeder and there is no telling where rex's babies would have ended up or what would have happened to them. Rex's legacy now will not be the puppies born and died on his behalf, but the lives that didn't end because he didn't.
rex123
Mar 8, 2009, 07:34 AM
***I am sorry, I just finished reading the rest of the threads. I just don't like hearing about people who are thinking about breeding their dog, especially because they do it for the money... And I only know that I would never trade away or harm my dog or any other dog for that matter for any amount of money good, on you for not going through with this. By not breeding your dog you gave a whole bunch more a chance to live, thank you so much.
Oh, and did I just read your dogs name was Rex, awesome, I guess great minds think a like, you take care of your Rex, and I'll take care of mine... Deal. Really though dogs are great, especially when they're named rexLOL
carolbcac
Mar 8, 2009, 09:49 AM
Hooray to all you girls... preach on, sisters!
And thanks Sasha, for the thought you put into your wise decision. Your dog is unique and you could never get another just like him, no matter how hard you tried!
rhiannos25
May 16, 2009, 04:08 AM
Wow I bet you're sorry you asked this question?! I wish everyone would chill out. I don't think you're a backyard breeder and a few people have been far too harsh on you here for you asking this question. If somebody wants a certain type or breed of dog they will go to great lengths to get it and even pay hideous prices for it. It doesn't matter how many poor dogs and puppies are wasting away and being put to sleep in dog pounds. It's tragic that so many perfectly healthy and loving dogs are put to sleep because no-one wants them but it's also a fact that people want particular breeds of dogs that you can't always get fom a pound. Instead of having at go at someone for asking a perfectly harmless question, have a go at the mindless morons who let their un-neutered dogs roam the streets and breed every time their in season because it's THEIR fault these poor dogs are wasting away and dying.
rex123
May 17, 2009, 01:41 AM
Woops... I mean to dissagree! What you said was unneeded, I don't even understand if you are for backyard breeders or against them... Either way If you just come on a post that's been closed for a couple months then why put somehting like this??
rhiannos25
May 17, 2009, 04:36 AM
Woops... I mean to dissagree! What you said was unneeded, I don't even understand if you are for backyard breeders or against them... Either way If you just come on a post thats been closed for a couple months then why put somehting like this???
I stumbled across this question while looking for advice myself. I don't understand why what I put was "unneeded"? Surely if this was the case why did you reply to it? Oh that's right... because you can reply and that's exactly what you felt you needed to do. Which is what I felt I needed to do when I read what I thought to be unfair responses to the question. So woops... I mean to disagree!
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 04:53 AM
Your post didn't really make a lot of sense though and I don't think you read all the responses (4 pages worth)
Starbuck stated only a few posts above yours that you can search for breed specific rescue shelters and organisations, so backyard breeders really aren't necessary which is why we go to such lengths to discourage it.
rhiannos25
May 17, 2009, 05:25 AM
Your post didn't really make a lot of sense though and I don't think you read all the responses (4 pages worth)
Starbuck stated only a few posts above yours that you can search for breed specific rescue shelters and organisations, so backyard breeders really aren't necessary which is why we go to such lengths to discourage it.
I genuinely don't understand why people are struggling with my post? It makes perfect sense. Have I frustrated people because I didn't have a go?
All I'm saying is, there were plenty of people ready to jump all over the person (can't remember you're name sorry!) asking the question for trying to mate their dog when somebody took an interest in it. This doesn't make them irresponsible as far as I can see.
Yes it would be fabulous if everybody chose to get their dogs from rescue homes and shelters but it's a fact that lots of people want a pure bred dog from a young age which you can't always get from the breed specific rescues.
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 06:22 AM
I know a lot of people want a purebred dog from a young age which is why they should buy them from a REGISTERED breeder.
Yes the prices are higher but that;s what you have to pay if want the health of your dog to be priority.
Both the stud dogs and b!tches have genetic testing done so that no hereditary traits are passed on the prodginy.
Registered breeders don't simply see a dog on the street and like the look of it, they find other registered breeders who have the same knowledge of dogs that they do and are always trying to improve the breed.
I wasn't having a go at you because you didn't say the op was wrong, I was simply saying that there is a reason there is a list of registered breeders and people should either buy from a breeder or go to a shelter, not stud their dog out because someone 'liked the look of it'.
rhiannos25
May 17, 2009, 07:29 AM
I know a lot of people want a purebred dog from a young age which is why they should buy them from a REGISTERED breeder.
Yes the prices are higher but that;s what you have to pay if want the health of your dog to be priority.
Both the stud dogs and b!tches have genetic testing done so that no hereditary traits are passed on the the prodginy.
Registered breeders don't simply see a dog on the street and like the look of it, they find other registered breeders who have the same knowledge of dogs that they do and are always trying to improve the breed.
I wasn't having a go at you because you didn't say the op was wrong, I was simply saying that there is a reason there is a list of registered breeders and people should either buy from a breeder or go to a shelter, not stud their dog out because someone 'liked the look of it'.
What you are saying is absolutely true and it should be the case that you go to a registered breeder to get a healthy dog. Sadly this is not the case. It wasn't for us when we went to get our French Bulldog.
We're from the UK and we went through the kennel club to seek out what they themselves recommended as a "reputable breeder". After finding one with an available litter, we went to meet our puppy. We saw the health certificates and a vets report and paid a deposit on him - total price £2000 pounds. We were more than happy to pay such a high price because it's not wrong to assume that what you're getting is a healthy dog for such an amount right? Wrong! Our puppy came to us and was great for the first couple of weeks but afterwards I noticed that he started to sit with his back legs totally spread out in the splits position. I contacted the breeder and she said "completely normal, nothing to worry about" my husband and I weren't convinced. An x-ray at the vets then uncovered that he had a hemivertebrae defect in six of his discs. We contacted the breeder but she refused to give a refund or to acknowledge that this dog was ill, saying that we were just trying to threaten her reputation to get our money back, even when our vet sent her a letter. "Fine" we thought the Kennel Club will want to hear about this especially as this is a genetic defect and she was planning to continue breeding from her dogs. Unfortunately they were no help either. They said that French Bulldog breeders already had a bad name and they refused to take this breeders name of their register! She is registered on there still and this was 2 years ago. Unfortunately for our puppy Marmite, 9 weeks after we discovered his disability and 12 hours before he was due for surgery, he had massive fit and had to be put to sleep.
To top it off, about 9 months ago there was a documentary shown here on the BBC that uncovered the despicable practices of registered breeders and totally trashed the reputation of the British Kennel Club because there were all these terrible things going on that they knew about and had even recommended! As a result of that the Crufts dogshow was not aired on television.
So my opinion of these "registered breeders" is not good at all and not just because what happened to me. My sister also had a terrible time with a registered breeder but then there was this documentary that just blew the lid off it all... It's probably different in America but this documentary was totally shocking and interesting! It's a shame really because there are genuine breeders out there that do have the dogs / breed interest at heart and it's not about the money, we just weren't able to find them!
After all that we now have a Jack Russel mix.
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 08:04 AM
I'm so sorry to hear that rhiannos... that is a genetic problem and the breeder obviously was thinking more about the money than the dogs health :(
It is true that there are a few bad eggs out there, I'm very surprised that they weren't immediately struck off the breeders list after what happened to you!
I am also unsure of the specifics in America as I am in Australia... Here if someone deliberately breeds a dog with a known defect they are banned from breeding altogether and struck off the breeders list.
rhiannos25
May 17, 2009, 08:31 AM
I'm so sorry to hear that rhiannos... that is a genetic problem and the breeder obviously was thinking more about the money than the dogs health :(
It is true that there are a few bad eggs out there, I'm very surprised that they weren't immediately struck off the breeders list after what happened to you!
I am also unsure of the specifics in America as I am in Australia... Here if someone deliberately breeds a dog with a known defect they are banned from breeding altogether and struck off the breeders list.
Sorry I thought you were American :confused:
Rightfully the breeder should have been struck off and prosecuted as far I am concerned. Unfortunately it's the dogs have been severely let down.
I've attached a link to YouTube showing a part of the BBC documentary which highlighted the cruelty behind dog breeding - UK specifically embarrssingly enough! It's only part 1 but I think there is about 5. It's very interesting but don't watch it if you easily upset it's VERY disturbing and really sad.
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 08:34 AM
The link didn't show up :confused:
I'll do a YouTube search if you give me the title?
I heard that the UK breeding laws were pretty tough, I know a few people here who have imported dogs from there and they had to have all the vet certificates and pedigrees before they could be exported.
Guess a few slip through the cracks :(
rhiannos25
May 17, 2009, 08:37 AM
The link didn't show up :confused:
I'll do a youtube search if you give me the title?
I heard that the UK breeding laws were pretty tough, I know a few people here who have imported dogs from there and they had to have all the vet certificates and pedigrees before they could be exported.
Guess a few slip through the cracks :(
I am an ;) Forgot to include the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbvv0vBf7t8
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 08:39 AM
Hehe, thanks :)
Unknown008
May 17, 2009, 08:39 AM
Fortunately, there's no real dog commerce in Mauritius... only the MSPCA does, and their dog are thoroughly checked before being sold.
As I said before, the only problem is for the rising number of puppy thieves who sell them for a lot of cash.
Btw, I've got a neighbour who had two females, then, the dog family grew, there're at least seven dogs there! :eek: However, it's a relief when you know that robbers cannot easily come in the neighbourhood :D
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 08:47 AM
Ok well, I stopped the video when they said that one of the reasons for the problems was competitive dog showing...
I show dogs myself so I'm not getting into that argument!! :p
They did have some good points though, and some awful images (the cavalier cunvulsing on the floor in particular)
Also a good point about stud dogs being used to produce many many puppies and that a lot of the problems come from the dog...
My main point is that a responsible breeder would test for these things and not breed the dog...
To sum it up... good points but they singles out all pedigree dogs... not just dodgy breeders.
I think I'll have to watch the other videos in the series though before I dig my grave any deeper :)
Alty
May 17, 2009, 11:53 AM
Here are some of the dogs in my shelter right now;
19861
19862
19863
19864
Do they deserve to die because someone wants to breed?
Just saying. :)
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 12:05 PM
I would take the Staffy, he look gorgeous :)
Alty
May 17, 2009, 12:06 PM
I love the Golden retriever cross. I have to say, those shelter people sure do know how to take a picture. Those eyes, the faces, how can you say no to them? How can you let them die? I can't!
If I wasn't at my pet limit I'd be running down to the shelter right now!
Stupid sappy heart. ;)
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 12:20 PM
I'm at my limit now with 2...
I have to apply for a kennel licence before I can own any more.
Sadly I'm one of the 'evil' people who have purebreds :p lol
My parents have been breeding great danes for over 20 years and their very first one was from a shelter. Poor thing was starved, they took her home and gave her a 10 course banquet... big mistake
They were cleaning up diarreah for the next few days...
They had her for about 8 years I think... then when I was born they got a rottweiller (had to rehome her because she was aggressive)... then they went back to great danes!
Silverfoxkit
May 17, 2009, 12:25 PM
Great Danes are such lovely dogs. I couldn't love my Kane anymore then I do. Its hard to say who's more attached, him to me or me to him. It hardly feels like its only been two weeks since we adopted him, and now he is here I can't imagine life without him, or a Dane period in my home.
I'm going to throw huge hugs at shaz for that. :) If it weren't for you I may not have him. I owe you a huge debt.
Sorry, Can't fin the cord and I'm a procrastinator on getting a new one. Pics will eventually happen.
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 12:36 PM
Aww *hugs back*
You deserve him, I know how much you wanted him and will love him.
Give him a big slobbery kiss from me lol
Yes.. still waiting for those pictures *taps foot* :p
Silverfoxkit
May 17, 2009, 12:37 PM
He is soiled rotten excuse typos, can't see the screen through his head. He is demanding... fkjggrggrg head on keyboard.
shazamataz
May 17, 2009, 12:44 PM
Hahaha, yep I can picture it now!
Have you had the head on the dining table experince yet?. nothing like a bit of drool covering your roast lamb dinner :p
rex123
May 18, 2009, 03:01 AM
Here are some of the dogs in my shelter right now;
19861
19862
19863
19864
Do they deserve to die because someone wants to breed?
Just saying. :)
Oh my god, they are all so gorgeous. I've noticed something about shelter pets, dogs or cats they all have that same look in their eyes, you know like they've given up. All it takes is for someone to come along and give them a nice home restoring their hope and that beautiful twinkle in their eyes.
Since there are no shelters around my house,(there is an spca but no shelter, so no dogs and sometimes only few cats) I got my dog from a reputable breeder. We did get our cats from a shelter though. And you know I hear people talking about all these breeds of cats. But to me it means more to know that these cats were given a second chance. Someone though they didn't deserve but they do deserve it and that's why we adopted them 4 yrs ago.
Unknown008
May 18, 2009, 08:20 AM
Just Dahlia agrees: Where the heck is Mauritius?
See there: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/lounge/where-world-our-members-347230-9.html#post1700784
shazamataz
May 18, 2009, 08:27 AM
Yep Rex, I'm with you... reputable breeder or shelter is the way to go...
One of my poodles (Prada) my mum bred
And my other poodle (Brody) We bought from a breeder.
Both were intended to be show dogs... Prada had some temperament issues and Brody well... he was supposed to be white and by 11 months he was still dark cream/coffee...
He is now a little over 1 year old and he is pure white... his coat lightened AFTER we clipped his show coat off... hmph!
I toyed with the idea of growing it back but he loves doing tricks so I'm teaching him obedience and agility at the moment.
One of my bunny rabbits was from a pet store (Yes, I know... naughty me)
And the other I adopted from the shelter...
And Unky... I'm so, so Jealous of you!!
Edit - forgot the fish :p They were from a pet store :p
Alty
May 18, 2009, 09:29 AM
Shaz, one of my bunnies is from a pet store too, so don't feel bad. I didn't intend to get him, we had gone to the pet store for dog food, but there he was, it was love at first site. I couldn't leave him there. That's Cotton, our little fluffy butt. ;)
Two are shelter rescues, the other, Oreo, was found by a neighbors friend wandering the street.
My oldest dog was from a friends accidental litter, very accidental. The male was supposedly neutered, but the vet screwed up, it didn't take. The female was under a year. So, he thought he had no worries.
It was right before our wedding, we had gone to visit him and up comes Nala (the female). I took one look at her, looked at my hubby and said "Do you want a puppy?" He said "One day" I said "No, do you want one of Nala's puppy's?" he said "She's not pregnant", I said "Yes she is, I wonder if our friend knows".
I told him, he didn't believe me. He rushed her to the vet and sure enough. So, when we returned from our honeymoon we drove to his place to see 7 adorable puppies (one died at birth). That's how we got our Indy.
Jasper was a shelter rescue, and abused pup, scared of his own shadow, I had to take him, he was on death watch.
Chewy is from a reputable beagle breeder, in fact, she's one of the best breeders I've ever met. I had to jump through hoops to get him, and that's how it should be. She still writes me emails at least once a month to see how Chewy is doing and asking for pictures. I adore her. She's been breeding since she was a child, her parents were breeders, taught her everything they know. She's now in her 60's, does it still because she loves the breed. I'm glad she does, because of her we have our little stinker Chewy.
Another book by Alty. Sorry. I love my fur babies.
Should I tell you about Marty our bird? Kidding. ;)
shazamataz
May 18, 2009, 09:50 AM
Wow... I know that neutering can be messed up but I've never known anyone who has a dog that isn't 'fully neutered'
I'd be sticking the vet for all the puppy food and vaccinations!!
Alty
May 18, 2009, 10:09 AM
Wow... I know that neutering can be messed up but I've never known anyone who has a dog that isn't 'fully neutered'
I'd be sticking the vet for all the puppy food and vaccinations!!!
It was a farm vet. He usually neuters horses and such.
What he did was more of a vasectomy then a neuter. He didn't remove the entire package, he just cut the "wires" but he didn't do it right.
I'm not for backyard breeding, you know I'm not, but this poor guy took all the precautions and still ended up with a litter. But, had this not happened we wouldn't have our Indy.
As soon as the pups were weaned Nala was spayed. Sadly, she got hit by a car less then a year after the pups were born. :(
Unknown008
May 18, 2009, 10:10 AM
Aww... sorry to hear that Alty :(
shazamataz
May 18, 2009, 10:12 AM
Yeah same here, poor thing :(
At least you have your little Indy as a memory.
Did your friend keep any of the puppies?
Alty
May 18, 2009, 10:15 AM
Aww... sorry to hear that Alty :(
It was sad but she lived longer then she should have.
She was found in a junk yard along with her brother. Our friends neighbor had gone there to dump some garbage, and low and behold he found two little black pups.
The vet guessed that they were around 4 weeks old at the time. They were starved, nearly dead. The neighbor took one, our friend took the other.
It was touch and go for a long time. He got up every 2 hours to feed her from a bottle, spent a lot of money on vet bills, and she made it, so did her brother.
She was living on borrowed time for the moment she was born. She was never completely healthy though, always sickly.
If our friend had realized that she was pregnant sooner her would have aborted the pups, it took too much out of her.
The two years she was alive was more then anyone expected and she gave us our Indy. :)
RIP Nala.
shazamataz
May 18, 2009, 10:20 AM
That makes me so angry!
I know that accidents happen but if your dog has puppies that you don't want or can't look after take them to the shelter not dump them in the garbage... poor thing :(
Alty
May 18, 2009, 10:25 AM
That makes me so angry!
I know that accidents happen but if your dog has puppies that you don't want or can't look after take them to the shelter not dump them in the garbage... poor thing :(
She was a poor thing, but she had a great life, even though it was short.
I have videos of her after the puppies were born.
Our friend had to put her and the puppies in a kennel for feeding time, otherwise she wouldn't nurse them. She was way to young for puppies.
Our friend felt so guilty that she got pregnant, but he did everything right, it was just a fluke, or fate.
He was waiting until she was at least a year old to spay her because of her poor health. The vet had recommended not even doing the procedure because she was so sickly. After the pups though, he felt he had to. She couldn't have tolerated another pregnancy, and he wasn't taking any chances.
She was such a sweetie, quite the mixture, mainly black lab but tiny. Ahh, memories.
sajjw
May 19, 2009, 06:44 AM
Sasha, I don't know if you are still reading the responses to your question and admittedly haven't read this entire thread so don't know what happened with your dog but please be warned, breeding is complicated, expensive and VERY hard work. It can also be heartbreaking. Before even considering it you need to research many things such as... are there many of your breed of dog available to rescue? It would be wrong to produce more puppies if many existing of that breed are looking for homes. Do you have an experienced breeder you can use as a mentor? You WILL need this... do you have the money for the appropriate pre mating tests such as hip scores and eye tests and to feed/worm/advertise the puppies and any vets bills you may incure? When you have a litter you can't really go out for at least 9 weeks, you need to be there to keep an eye on your pups, feed them four times a day (first feed at 6 am), continually clean up their mess and wipe them down, socialise them etc. Then you have the stress of all the people who want to buy your puppies who would not make suitable owners and the heartache of letting them go to the people who would. For years afterward you will have the owners ringing or e-mailing you for advice with their various problems with their dog which can be time consuming and worrying and you may be in a position where you have to take back one of the litter because the new owner can't keep it. If you bring a puppy into the world you are responsible for it even after its sold. It can be a very rewarding experience but should be thought about very very carefully first with all the information you can get about what doing it responsibly involves.
shazamataz
May 19, 2009, 06:51 AM
Had to spread the rep sajjw but you are exactly right, well said :)
Unknown008
May 19, 2009, 12:21 PM
No worry Shaz! :)
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 09:42 AM
I breed and show my dogs as well. It is a very extensive process and costs money. You should only be breeding to better the breed and to create a better conformation dog. Good breeders always keep a puppy from a litter to show. That is the purpose. I have a litter once every two years. My pups are only sold on a spay/ neuter contract unless the are going to show. Then they are put on a show contract.Why are you breeding just to breed? There are tons of dogs in shelters who were a result of what you are doing! You need to really look into the diseases that male could have and testing that if that other male doesn't have could leave your female sterile or create unhealthy pups. My sister bought an american pit bull two years ago. She looked into the breeder and visited where the puppies were and the parents. She thought she did everything she could. After coming home for only two days it was in the vet. It had hereditary mange and parvo!! The breeder is breeding dogs with mange and three of her pups were at a vet for parvo as well.
Don't breed your dogs because someone likes it! I agree with shazamataz. Good breeders spend the time and money to get great dogs. They don't breed for the money!
shazamataz
May 21, 2009, 09:45 AM
You're a show person greatdanelover?
Welcome to the club :D
I have pretty much the same values as you when it comes to breeding... As does my mum... but she has only ever made one post on this forum as she got too angry reading some of the questions :rolleyes:
Alty
May 21, 2009, 09:50 AM
You're a show person greatdanelover?
Welcome to the club :D
I have pretty much the same values as you when it comes to breeding... As does my mum... but she has only ever made one post on this forum as she got too angry reading some of the questions :rolleyes:
I hope it wasn't because of me Shaz. Oops. Me and my german temper. ;)
Alty
May 21, 2009, 09:56 AM
I breed and show my dogs as well. It is a very extensive process and costs money. You should only be breeding to better the breed and to create a better conformation dog. Good breeders always keep a puppy from a litter to show. That is the purpose. I have a litter once every two years. My pups are only sold on a spay/ neuter contract unless the are gonna show. Then they are put on a show contract.Why are you breeding just to breed? There are tons of dogs in shelters who were a result of what you are doing!! You need to really look into the diseases that male could have and testing that if that other male doesn't have could leave your female sterile or create unhealthy pups. My sister bought an american pit bull two years ago. She looked into the breeder and visited where the puppies were and the parents. She thought she did everything she could. After coming home for only two days it was in the vet. It had hereditary mange and parvo!!! The breeder is breeding dogs with mange and three of her pups were at a vet for parvo as well.
Don't breed your dogs because someone likes it! I agree with shazamataz. Good breeders spend the time and money to get great dogs. They don't breed for the money!
Welcome to AMHD. It's nice to have a breeder on board.
I love your post, well said and so true. This is what we've been fighting for for a very long time. None of us has a problem with a legitimate breeder breeding their dogs, but it's never about money, in fact, most breeders spend more money ensuring that they have healthy pups then the price they charge for those pups. It's all about furthering the breed and ensuring the quality of the breed.
We'd love to see pictures of your dogs, we're picture fiends.
shazamataz
May 21, 2009, 10:06 AM
I hope it wasn't because of me Shaz. Oops. Me and my german temper. ;)
Haha, no, there was a lady a while ago asking about if she should put her dog down because it was drinking a lot!!
Mum wasn't impressed, she gave her a blunt 'no, take it to the vet idiot' answer and never came back.
Yes, we LOVE pictures!
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 10:46 AM
The brindle great dane is Hercules, he actually just survived parvo, a result of my breeding, The red/black german shepherd is Chocolate, he is also a result of my breeding, the black/tan shepherd his chocolates brother demon, same litter, (I kept two out of this gorgeous litter, they are both 4months here) the dachshunds is cocoa she is almost to her championship, she also has 22 champions in her 5 generation pedigree, A dabney is my Harlequin, I got her as an adult, still working in the ring with her.
shazamataz
May 21, 2009, 10:51 AM
My personal favourite would have to be Hercules (He is a very nice looking Dane!! ) but they are all gorgeous :)
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 11:00 AM
Thank you, he is my other child lol!
shazamataz
May 21, 2009, 11:01 AM
I'll have a proper look at the Shepherds later... just had a bad run in with one so me and them are not on the best terms :)
While we are sharing I'll shove mine in there haha
This my mums dane... it's a fairly old photo, he was only about 8 months old there...
(I think you can see my purty car in the background haha)
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 11:07 AM
LOL he is gorgoues!
Alty
May 21, 2009, 11:10 AM
Love the pics!
My fav is the one of the dane sitting on the couch with his bum on the couch but his feet on the floor. Classic.
Good God they're big dogs! ;)
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 11:16 AM
LOL they are huge. You definitely don't get a dane to have a small dog!
Alty
May 21, 2009, 11:23 AM
LOL they are huge. You definitely dont get a dane to have a small dog!
My kids could ride those dogs! ;)
I have a lab cross a border collie cross and a beagle, I thought the two crosses were big, but they're half the size of a dane! :eek:
I can't imagine it. The two bigger dogs knock stuff over all the time, a dane could actually sit on my kitchen table! ;)
greatdanelover3
May 21, 2009, 11:59 AM
19998
I thought you might like this, in response to your kids could ride them lol
Silverfoxkit
May 22, 2009, 03:58 PM
Such beautiful dogs!
Since I have the attention of two great dane owners here, can maybe you guys help me out?
My new dane Kane is a pain when it comes to getting him to eat. He went to the vet yesterday and has a clean bill of health. He's just picky I guess. I've been using the same food he was on when we adopted him but we can barely get him to eat 3 cups a day! How can I get him to eat more?
greatdanelover3
May 22, 2009, 07:13 PM
What kind of food are you feeding him? It could be just that he doesn't like the food. Danes have a very sensitive stomach and you need to be careful what you feed them. Check this website Great Dane Lady | Dog Health, Nutrition, HOD, Allergies (http://www.greatdanelady.com) it's the best ever! I am also going to ask my vet for some suggestions. Remember a dog will eat. As long is it is healthy dogs will not starve themselves.
shazamataz
May 22, 2009, 11:19 PM
Such beautiful dogs!!
Since I have the attention of two great dane owners here, can maybe you guys help me out?
My new dane Kane is a pain when it comes to getting him to eat. He went to the vet yesterday and has a clean bill of health. He's just picky I guess. I've been using the same food he was on when we adopted him but we can barely get him to eat 3 cups a day! How can I get him to eat more?
My mom is having the same problem with her Dane at the moment.
They are notoriously fussy eaters.
The other night she cooked a lamb roast... for the dog! He still didn't eat it :D
He is slowly picking back up with his eating (this has been going on for 2 months and he is 1 year old)
Unless he gets physically skinny or is not eating anything that would contribut to a balanced diet get him vet checked for any nasties but persoanlly I wouldn't worry too much :)
Ohh and go to the Great Dane Lady site, mentioned above, it is excellent :)
Silverfoxkit
May 23, 2009, 12:47 AM
He was vet checked yesterday shaz. He's clear of nasties and other problems. He is physically skinny, not emaciated but real, real thin. He only weights 101 right now. We called the rescue back and they said they only ever gave him 3-4 cups a day. I read that at adulthood danes should eat about 8 cups a day split up into multiple meals. How much do your danes normally eat?
Oh and he's on Purina dog chow. The same kind he was being fed before we adopted him.
I might just have to try a different brand I guess.
shazamataz
May 23, 2009, 04:57 AM
Glad to hear he is in good health :)
8 cups a day is about right, we feed ours both wet and dry food plus a few chicken necks for breakfast.
You could try adding a different brand slowly and see if it makes a difference.
Have you tried wet food at all? They still need the dry to keep their teeth healthy but wet adds a bit of variety.
I'd be interested to hear danelovers input as well.
Silverfoxkit
May 23, 2009, 11:22 AM
He'll eat canned food better but not always and I know he can't eat just canned food. If you put a can on top of his other food he'll eat it off and ignore the rest. If you mix it together its too much effort for him to dig around and he'll ignore it.
He has no problem with people food. He may not be a counter surfer, he just lays his head down next to it and stares but if he can remotely pretend he perceived an invitation its going to be gone the next time you blink.
He also well adjusted into the home so its not that either.
For once I would like a dog to not be a picky eater. One of my huskies is a pain to feed as well, but not nearly as bad as Kane.
shazamataz
May 23, 2009, 11:54 AM
Hmm I'm pretty stumped with this one.
Only thing we did was wait until he started eating again.
Kade got pretty skinny, his ribs were poking out, it wasn't from neglect it was just from him being stubborn!
He put the weight back on in a matter of a few weeks, he still isn't quite as heavy as he should be but he looks fine now.
He had his first dog show in 4 months yesterday, beat a fully mature dog so we were pretty happy.
He was so naughty for best in group though he didn't even get a look in :p
Sorry for the hijack :o
greatdanelover3
May 23, 2009, 02:46 PM
Try to keep him away from
Table scraps. My Dane is a picky eater to! I just switched it from diamond to wellness n he really enjoys the wellness!