Airedale puppies weigh LESS THAN one pound when they are born
We made the choice to do this, but it is WORK!
Not all Momma dogs are excited about Motherhood. Some do not care much for it. Those ladies we never breed again.
If the Mom is not “all for” birthing, feeding, cleaning, nurturing and WANTING to be with her pups WE DO NOT breed her again. This has happened a few times over the years. It is an incredible chore for me to care for a Momma and a litter of pups that the Mom is not excited about being with. And it is heartbreaking.
There are a whole lot of factors that go into decisions about our breeding program.
Some Moms have a difficult time breeding.
Some have a difficult time conceiving.
Some Moms have a difficult time in labor and delivery.
Some just do not like it at all!
Some do not want to nurse the puppies, and do not want to care for them.
Some don’t have enough milk.
Unlike specialty dog breeders, who have to breed the dogs who have the special feature or pedigree or the desired show titles ‘no matter what’ - we have choices. Keeping with the man made 'breed standard' does not help a lick if, left to its own the breed would go extinct for lack of maternal instincts!
Just an FYI, If a Momma does not lick her pups and want to feed them… it is a crazy amount of work for me.
I have to rub the pups to stimulate circulation. I have to ‘potty’ the pups if the Mom won’t. (puppies cannot go to the bathroom on their own unless Momma licks them. It is 2 weeks of this before they can go on their own).
I have to make sure they are warm if she won’t stay with them, and I need to make sure they get enough calories if she won’t nurse or doesn’t have enough milk. Any Moms that fall under these headings only have one litter here no matter how awesome they are.
Besides the hard work involved, I also don’t want to ever add a female from one of those type Mom’s who didn’t love the process into my breeding program because it is possible, she might be like her Mom.
That said, the Momma dogs that we have are AMAZING individuals! They LOVE to be Mommas. What are our Momma dogs #1 requirement? ... they must LOVE PEOPLE. Our Mommas love to be around people... they look to US for direction. This is key to having a happy, trainable puppy for future families.
These girls don't mind me helping them while they are whelping.
I have heard of other breeds / other Mom dogs who would run people viciously out of the room when whelping.
That is never going to work here!
We breed 'people dogs'. Mommas welcome help with their (usually large) litters.
They are capable. But they recognize that we mean no harm.
They are loving and loyal and trustworthy,
and they expect us to be the same. :-)
If the Mom is not “all for” birthing, feeding, cleaning, nurturing and WANTING to be with her pups WE DO NOT breed her again. This has happened a few times over the years. It is an incredible chore for me to care for a Momma and a litter of pups that the Mom is not excited about being with. And it is heartbreaking.
There are a whole lot of factors that go into decisions about our breeding program.
Some Moms have a difficult time breeding.
Some have a difficult time conceiving.
Some Moms have a difficult time in labor and delivery.
Some just do not like it at all!
Some do not want to nurse the puppies, and do not want to care for them.
Some don’t have enough milk.
Unlike specialty dog breeders, who have to breed the dogs who have the special feature or pedigree or the desired show titles ‘no matter what’ - we have choices. Keeping with the man made 'breed standard' does not help a lick if, left to its own the breed would go extinct for lack of maternal instincts!
Just an FYI, If a Momma does not lick her pups and want to feed them… it is a crazy amount of work for me.
I have to rub the pups to stimulate circulation. I have to ‘potty’ the pups if the Mom won’t. (puppies cannot go to the bathroom on their own unless Momma licks them. It is 2 weeks of this before they can go on their own).
I have to make sure they are warm if she won’t stay with them, and I need to make sure they get enough calories if she won’t nurse or doesn’t have enough milk. Any Moms that fall under these headings only have one litter here no matter how awesome they are.
Besides the hard work involved, I also don’t want to ever add a female from one of those type Mom’s who didn’t love the process into my breeding program because it is possible, she might be like her Mom.
That said, the Momma dogs that we have are AMAZING individuals! They LOVE to be Mommas. What are our Momma dogs #1 requirement? ... they must LOVE PEOPLE. Our Mommas love to be around people... they look to US for direction. This is key to having a happy, trainable puppy for future families.
These girls don't mind me helping them while they are whelping.
I have heard of other breeds / other Mom dogs who would run people viciously out of the room when whelping.
That is never going to work here!
We breed 'people dogs'. Mommas welcome help with their (usually large) litters.
They are capable. But they recognize that we mean no harm.
They are loving and loyal and trustworthy,
and they expect us to be the same. :-)
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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