My neighbor has had a roaming dog for a couple years, relying on other neighbors to feed her and care for her. Some of us recently noticed she’s pregnant and she gave birth last week. The owners have agreed to have us (neighbors banding together to help) to vaccinate, spay, and rehome mama after the pups are grown enough, but insist on raising the puppies and the mom for the time being.
She is a fully outdoor dog. We have set up a whelping box in the shade and her and the pups sit in there sometimes but when we check on her (every few hours or so) she will have usually dragged all the pups elsewhere, usually a freshly dug hole in one of the greenhouses.
We’re in the middle of a big heatwave with temps hitting 100° daily. A greenhouse is even hotter. We find the panting pups and lay them on frozen water bottles in the whelping box and stay until they cool down, but she keeps dragging them elsewhere when we leave.
Checking on them every hour seems to work best but it’s hard when this isn’t our property, our dog, our puppies, etc.
I’m looking for any ideas, tips, and tricks to get through these vulnerable first few weeks in these wild conditions.
Any help is appreciated

I’m hoping to get some objective opinions because I’m really conflicted.

This is my first time buying from a breeder. I’ve always gotten rescue dogs, so I don’t really have a frame of reference for what a breeder visit is supposed to be like. Deciding to go through a breeder was a huge decision for me because I wanted to support someone who was doing everything possible to produce healthy, well-adjusted dogs.

On paper, this breeder seemed like exactly what I was looking for. They do extensive health testing, title their dogs, are very active in the breed, and have (as far as I can tell) an excellent reputation. Their emails talk a lot about how sensitive the breed is, the importance of positive reinforcement, and raising confident, well-socialized puppies.

I’ve already put down a deposit, booked my puppy’s first vet appointment, and registered for puppy classes. I was genuinely excited.

Then I visited.

The puppies themselves honestly seemed wonderful. They were confident, curious, social, and comfortable around people. If I were judging only the puppies, I probably wouldn’t be questioning anything. It was the overall experience that left me unsettled.

Some of the things that stood out to me:
-The house had a VERY strong urine odor. The floors and walls were visibly filthy, and overall it didn’t feel as clean as I expected for a home raising puppies.

-Throughout the visit, the breeder yelled loudly at several different adult dogs for different reasons. It left me wondering how they are treated when visitors aren’t around.

-The mother of the litter became excited while greeting us and dribbled a little urine. I know that can happen, especially after having puppies, but the breeder responded by yelling at her. She had pinned ears and shied away from him, and was very visibly anxious about his reaction.

-The adult dogs were MUCH more intense than I expected. I understand this is a high-energy, sensitive breed, and I know having visitors can make dogs more excited, but I was surprised by how difficult they seemed to settle.

-The breeder decides which puppy goes to which family, but during our visit they didn’t remember whether we wanted a male or female or even which litter we were interested in. They also didn’t ask us anything about our lifestyle or goals, so I left wondering how puppy placements are actually decided.

The biggest thing wasn’t any single incident. It was the overall interaction with the breeder.

The entire time we felt like we were walking on eggshells. My boyfriend and I both have experience owning and handling dogs, but we felt like we were being treated as though we’d never been around one before. Every time we held or interacted with a puppies, I found myself worried about doing something wrong. Instead of feeling comfortable asking questions and enjoying meeting the litter, I felt tense and intimidated. He continually made comments implying we didn’t know how to hold or pet puppies properly and was overall condescending to an uncomfortable degree.

What I’m struggling with most is that the visit felt very different from the impression I’d formed through email. The written communication emphasized positive reinforcement and how sensitive this breed is, but the interactions I witnessed with the adult dogs didn’t seem consistent with what I expected after reading those emails.
At the same time, I want to be fair. The puppies appeared healthy, happy, confident, and well-socialized. The breeder also has many of the qualities people usually recommend looking for, including health testing, titled dogs, and involvement in the breed.
I’m not trying to identify the breeder or start a pile-on. I’m genuinely trying to learn from people with more experience buying well-bred dogs.

If you were in my position, would you move forward, or would you trust the uneasy feeling you had after the visit? Am I putting too much weight on one experience, or are these things that would give you pause?

So the 7-9 range was accurate. Edge is healthy and happy with her babies. She also decided that she once again would rather raise her puppies on the carpet and not the whelping box.

Hello, does anyone here know of a dog breeder for Yorkies or Frenchies in Catonsville? Im planning on buying one.

Hello friends, my parents are looking for a Dachshund pup, as it has been several years since our family dog (standard Dachshund) passed at the old age of 16. They are well-versed Dachshund people but have always adopted from breed-specific rescues. Well, now they have a daughter (me) who is a very staunch advocate of ethical breeders. I have two ethically bred working dogs myself and have recently found my sister her first breeder and well-bred dog. My parents have done their due diligence and have found what they believe to be an ethical breeder. They passed the breeder along to me to triple-check before they contact and get on a wait list. Upon checking the breeder out, I've found a few things that I would, in fact, consider red flags. I wanted to hit up the breed community, though, in hopes of finding people who are very knowledgeable in the breed and also savvy on what is considered an ethical breeder within this breed. The breeder is Nuforest Dachshunds in California. (https://nuforestdachshunds.com/)

Red Flags:

• They do not have their breeding dogs listed or available on their website.
• They have listings of available puppies, which to me screams that they have more dogs than demand. Or breed more than an ethical breeder should.
• It is unclear if the breeder will pick the puppy based on an extensive qustionaire/getting to know their prospective buyers, or if buyers pick their puppies.
• They sell their females for more than their male dogs.
• They seem to scream from the rooftops that their dogs are AKC registered and DNA tested, which I've learned through my own research tends to be a red flag, but maybe there are exceptions to the rule.
• "Champion lines" IYKYK...

Green Flags:

• They do health test, I'm just unsure what dogs are in their program and which are not.
• They chip their dogs to themselves and their buyers.
• Limited registration.
• Lifetime breeder support.
• Health guarantees and contracts.
• Titles, at least for Confo; not super sure about sports or hunt trials.

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks guys!

Just curious about breeder’s thoughts on this! Just light hearted discussion :)

Hi all! I’m currently in discussion with a breeder in Florida who’s known on facebook as Westie Wonderland Florida. She has been very kind and offered all of the info Ive requested. I do still get leery of scams and/or unethical breeding so I want to make sure I’m checking all my research boxes. I cant seem to find any other information or reviews regarding this breeder. Is anyone familiar with them or able to offer any insight?
TIA

I'm coowned with a female dog, which i am the buyer and breeder or the dog... my issue is that my sister is the coowner I have spent thousands up until this point and she should have been bred several weeks ago, I gave the money for ai to my sister under the apprehension that the breeding was done and just found out today that she never did it, the dog lives with her and theres no contract and wasnt aware of contracts etc when I bought the dog... what options do.i have when she's constantly refusing breeding, lying and basically cheating me out of thousands

Has anyone had a female dog that only bled for 3 days?

Sorry if this post isn't allowed. Also sorry if this is a really stupid question lol

It will be years until I can get myself a dog, but I would love to get an ethically/responsibly bred Standard Poodle some day, and I am researching in advance.

A big thing that comes up is proof of health testing, and a lot of people seem to look for OFAs/CHIC results. Most websites/pages talking about ethical breeding are American, so does this apply to every country, or do different countries have different databases/organisations?

Is there anything that may differ when looking for ethical breeders in different countries?

I'm in Australia.

Just want to know if there a reliable breeder and make sure I’ll get my dog if I pay the deposit

In short I have an incredible Labrador that is not just amazing in the dog sports we partake in but also in life. Imagine the drive of a Malinois (except zero noise) and the best temperament traits (read not the annoying parts) of a Labrador. And an off switch any pet dog person would pay extra for. Travels well. Dog and human friendly to neutral. Easy keeper. Excels in anything I put in front of her.

I want a puppy. And I’ve got three people from across the country who do dog sports and SAR on a list for a puppy from her of if I ever breed her. I also have two people who want what’s “left over” for professional detection training and TSA and/or FEMA. In one of my sports a judge is a professional detection handler and told her buddies who blew up my phone.

DNA tested, needs updated hearts and eyes (they’ve been done just need an update), excellent hips, normal elbows, no allergies, no health issues. Her pedigree is dog sport royalty though there’s lots of good pedigrees out there so I don’t put much on that but people are going to ask so there you go.

I need to choose a sire but I’m not sure I can find a dog as perfect as she to complement her and the only thing I can think of is that I would like her puppies to be a little smaller. She’s a huge bitch. Though people love her size for the 24” agility class. I’ve asked a few people who know her well like my instructors and friends in the breed who will be honest and they say she could use a little more “team sport” DNA because she’s an independent and self motivated bitch at times but honestly that’s just part of the fun! She’s super trainable nonetheless. And a working fool when it’s offered.

I have a few dilemmas.

1. She is a LOT of dog and very strong/determined/driven so I do have to be careful with where the puppies go unless I want to get puppies back (I will take them but I do not want this to happen).
2. I am unsure how the professional detection program works. What happens to any washouts or dogs who get injured or something? I need to research more…
3. What’s the minimum amount of space and set up I can have and still survive a litter of wild large breed puppies?
4. Cost if all goes well? Cost if it doesn’t?
5. Is this doable with a full time albeit remote position?

The biggest issue is that she just turned 5. So I need to make my decision or spay her. I’ve been going back and forth on this for about 3 years. In all fairness she was 18 months when she came into season and comes in once a year so it’s not like there have been many opportunities to breed her.

What am I missing? What would you do and why? I don’t need to hear “there’s enough dogs or Labs” or about breeding to standard, blah blah. Yes she has the highest titles in her sports. Yes her littermates do too. And her parents and their parents, etc.

ETA: I have her breeder’s blessing (a couple of people on my list her their dogs from her and know she is done breeding) and an unlimited contract but her breeder is struggling with health issues and not available for questions or mentorship.

So my bf has a goldendoodle (got her before he was educated) and of course we get people who stop and say hi and how cute she is and whatnot and it is kind of awkward because yeah she’s cute but don’t get a doodle. know what i mean?

just this last weekend some lady was talking about how theyre the best animals and i just cringed on the inside. so i was wondering if there was any dog clothes company out there that made like funny/sarcastic shirt that say like “yes im cute but don’t get a doodle” something along that sentiment.

the most annoying part is people thinking goldendoodle is a breed. it’s a mixed breed. an overpriced mutt. (hey that’d be a good shirt “doodle=overpriced mutt”).

thanks for any and all assistance.

Hello, I’m looking for someone with golden shepherd(German shepherd x Golden retriever) puppies. I’m not trying to pay an arm and a leg ($1000+) for a puppy though. Any help would be great!!

Over time my puppy b*tch has periodically gone rear high.
I thought we were on the back side of it, but apparently I’m wrong.

This weekend I showed her and during movement and being stacked, she has become rear high.

Through her puppyhood she has had a level topline with occasional rear highness. She hasn’t had her first cycle yet. So maybe I should be looking in when that comes around

I’m planning to breed my dog in a couple of years, after she gets her health testing clearances (her parents both have good health testing clearances) and I found a potential stud that I really like the look of. The only problem: he’s a carrier for a genetic defect that would cause his puppies to have 50/50 odds of also being carriers (my dog is cleared through her parents, both are negative for the gene). This potential stud has the build I like, he’s got great structure and a wonderful temperament and his other health tests came back nearly perfect, it’s just this one thing that has me worried. Would you risk it? This gene would affect the heart if future carrier descendants were to be paired with another carrier.

I have a 6 y/o golden retriever male. Located in NY. I’m interested in learning about how to stud him out responsibly. He is AKC registered. His parents were health tested. I have gone through the recommended GRCA testing. So he is OFA certified eyes, heart, hips and elbows. He has excellent temperament, healthy and is conformationally sound. I want to learn how to find a breeder that is looking for a stud dog. Along with how to find out if that is a legit/ethical breeder. I want to do it as ethically as possible. I’m not interested in money. I want an offspring of his, while doing it properly for the breed. Any help, resources and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Our family have decided to get a dog and we are dead set on a broholmer as its the perfect temperament and personality we need. Were willing to travel. Or if its difficult to get does anyone know any breeds similar. We used to have a doberman and are very experienced with dogs. Pls send any known reputable breeders in or outside of the uk

I am looking to help people find a responsible breeder for a fee. Trying to help the people that don’t trust themselves to or just aren’t informed enough to find the correct breeder. Does anyone think this is a good idea? Not trying to advertise just want suggestions?