Scottie Puppy for Adoption

[Pajama Girl]

I breed and show Scotties. I have an 8 week old litter; three puppies will be adopted out to pet homes. A woman came over yesterday with her vet cousin to look at the litter. The woman is very nice but her know-it-all vet cousin rubbed me the wrong way.

I adopt out my pups at 10 weeks rather than 8 weeks because I believe Scotties need a little extra time with mum and littermates. Vet cousin said I was wrong. Spent a long time telling me why. The information that she passed to me was interesting but it was the hitting over the head bit -- I-Know-More-Than-You and besides I'm a vet -- that I found uncomfortable.

I ask that the family wait until the puppy is at least 10 inches at the shoulder to spay or neuter because I believe that Scotties need their joints to develop to avoid problems as they age. This translates to about 8 to 9 months old, just before the female's first heat and just before the male gets his first big hit of testosterone. Miss Cousin Vet spent another half hour discussing why Lab breeders were wrong about this and that pups should be spayed or neutered at or before 6 months. I have Scotties, I said. Well, it is all old wives tales, said Miss Cousin Vet. You can imagine how well that went over with me.

Here's my question: should I let the nice lady adopt my puppy? Her cousin the vet will be very involved in the pup's life. I stay connected with the families. I usually check up on the pups at least once a year. I have a gut feeling that Miss Cousin Vet will be a thorn in my side over the years. Since she does know everything and I am just a rank amateur.

Or am I just getting my feelings hurt and responding emotionally? I might even agree that compared to her I am a rank amateur. But they are my puppies and I have other families who have expressed interest. Good families too.

[rutineli]

Pajama Girl, go with your feelings. If you have doubts then listen to the little voice in your ear it is rarely wrong.

You say that you have other families, good families, with whom you would feel at ease, which probably means that although Pup might not be obeying the letter of the vet's manual (when did she qualify??) it is odds-on that Pup would feel at ease too and there is a lot to be said for that in a doggy life.

Let us know which way you go............ rutineli

[SaxyJag]

You know your dogs, and although the vet may know more than you about dog health and maybe some breeds, she doesn't appear to have any specialist knowledge of Scotties, or she would have said so.

Dogs are a bit like kids - we all have different ideas about how to raise them. We wouldn't let someone look after our kids long term if they had very different ideas on discipline or diet, for instance. We shouldn't do it with our dogs, either. I agree with rutineli - go with your gut reaction.

[raysparx]

My instinct would be the same as yours,I wouldn't let them have one,I hate people like that vet,it isn't nice,go with your heart,as you say they are your puppies.

Good luck, Ray

[drgnrdr]

Okay, here we go, I agree with you: yes you're a bit protective of your dogs, and your letting your emotions get into this, but I hope you are doing so as a responsible breeder, and want the best for them, I would say let them have a pup at least you know they will be taken care of. Now I am going to disagree with you: I disagree that you have to wait till late in life to spay/neuter..this is not needed to develop bones and stuff, the best time is to fix your dog by the time they are 6 months old, joints, bone does not grow when testosterone in on the scene

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=574 I have had people wait till they are 8 months and the dog went into heat at 6 months, they said the breeder told them to do this and the other was a vet told them, both had very good reputations, but misguided, new info and research has been brought forth.Now you on keeping the pups with mom and littermates till they are 10 weeks, from a trainers point of view this is not as good as letting them go at 8 weeks, but if you keep them till they are 10 weeks make sure you are introducing different sounds, smells, people, children, babies, and other animals to them to start the socializing aspect, the PRIMARY social stage is 4 weeks to 16 weeks. 7-8 weeks is the imprint on human stage, which is why they need to go to their new home, this is recommended by guide dogs raisers and supported by studies. I would have them go to an Accredited trainer when they get a pup, I disinfect and sanitize my area and ALL pups have to have at least 2 sets of shots, I am asuming you start their shots since you have them till 10 weeks, my classes get pups at 10 weeks old and we can guide them into the best dog you can have, since pups start with a clean slate

[ruthann58]

stick with your instintcs dont let your pup go to these people

[noxlumos]

If you don't like the people, don't let your pup go there. I too keep any pups I've ever had until after 8 weeks and they go being largely lead trained and housetrained so very rarely do new owners have any problems as long as they do asyou say. Trouble is there is always some clever dick who just has to disagree with what you know works. Stick with your instincts.

[alijangra]

Im afraid I would be inclined to think that the vet probably does know more than you. I really dont get how you think having a vet in the family can be a bad thing? You are not going to let this woman have a pup because she has a vet cousin who claims to know more about animals than you??

[ProperBoPeep]

In my experience - nearly all breeders seem to think that their specific breed of dog is somehow "different" to to other dogs. In my job as a vet I hear daily comments like

"Did you know that all (insert breed) are sensitive to anaesthetics, or need neutering later, or need to be fed raw eggs and chicken on a full moon"

My feelings are that, yes, you do know a little about dogs. But you are not a vet and do not know everything!

I spend a lot of my time undoing the harm that breeders have already done.

Sorry if this rubs you up the wrong way too.

[Pajama Girl]

Thank you all for your thoughtful advice.

alijangra, Proper Boo, and drgnrdr: I took your comments to heart and thought long and hard about your positions. Yes, I know that I do not have all the answers.

raysparx, saxyjag, rutineli and noxlumos: Thank you very much. You helped me understand why I am having problems with the Vet Cousin.

You see, it is not just that we may have differing opinions. Vet Cousin may be right. But there is something about her over the top, in your face, I know everything -- that has me concerned.

If something goes "off" -- say the pup urinates all over the house -- I have a suspicion that it will be my fault. The problem will not be that the woman has been inconsistent with house training or tooooooooo sweet (a distinct posibility!) with the pup. It will be my fault because I had a different opinion than Cousin Vet. I don't want the confrontation. And my gut says that this is very, very possible.

But I will look into the neutering and homing-time to better educate myself.

But for right now and with this adoptive family, I will go with raysparx, saxyjag, rutineli and noxlumos, and trust my instincts. I just can't get around the nagging fear.

Thanks again, alijangra, ProperBoPeep and drgnrdr.

[Pajama Girl]

Oh, and thank you too ruthann.

[lankeela]

Why bother with these people when you have other families who want one of your puppies?

And ask yourself how many vets have much experience of breeding/rearing puppies. They might well have lots of technical know how, but practical experience cannot be learned from a textbook.

[SAMMYLEE]

Why let some person have one of your babys because thats what they are to you that you are not realy happy with getting intuch with. i think if you pick a person to love your puppy for the rest of its life you should be happy with it going to there house. if she is like this before she gets the puppy home what will she be like when the puppy lives with her. im a exbreeder and no one ever had one of my babys if i had the feeling you are having.all the new owners of my puppy where people i wanted because you need to get on if you want to keep intuch through your puppys life. dont do it you will not be happy and once the puppy as gone there no going back, all the best,