Just One Litter....

Question:
 Think you want to breed just one litter? Think you know what it will entail? This story written by someone who thought it would be fun to breed just one litter describes how it can turn out....
You say, you want to just have one litter. What can it hurt you say, my friends are lining up for the puppies. Read on.....
"I have wanted to share this story since before Christmas but it took me until now to sit down and write it. I learned a tough lesson through this experience, and more importantly became even more enlighted to all the "Angels" out there that sacrafice so much to rescue unwanted animals.
Some of you may remember my story, I have 2 bichons, a boy, TJ and a girl, Annie. My Annie is so cute that I thought before I get her fixed it would be fun to have one litter. So last June I mated Annie with my sister's bichon and on September 1st she gave birth to 1 girl and 2 boys.
From the beginning I had two friends that were planning on taking the pups, and one was going to my mom. I had no intentions of selling them for profit, all I wanted was for them to have loving homes. I kept the little pups until they turned 12 weeks old and hard as it was, I gave them to their new owners. Now keep in mind, they all left my home with a storage container filled with new toys, bones, collars and leashes, doggy beds and books on how to take care of Bichons and doggy toothbrushes. Oh, and they had all their shots and were chipped in case they got lost. I made it clear to all the new owners that if for any reason the new pups did not work out, they were to give them back to me..I never dreamed of what happened next.
Three days after they left, I got a call from the woman who got the little girl Molly. It seems that Molly was going through separation anxiety and would cry loudly whenever her new mom left the room. Since they lived in a Condo, they were receiving complaints about the crying and the management told her that the puppy had to go or she would be evicted. So she brought Molly back to me.
Three weeks after they left, I got a call from my other friend who said that she did not realize how much responsibility a dog was, and her and her husband had decided that,"they are just not "dog" people" so she brought back Simon.
Connor the last little guy was going to stay with me until he was potty trained and then he was suppose to go to my mom. Do you know how hard it is to train 3 puppies at once?
So, after they were all back with me, I realized that there was no way I could let my pups go to people I did not know. After all, my friends that I trusted, who entered into being puppy parents with all the best intentions ended up giving them up. I could not bear the thought of my dogs ever ending up at the Humane society or even wandering the streets because people just decided that they didn't want them.
So this week my sister took Molly, (she now has 3 bichons). My mom is taking Simon on Wednesday of next week (instead of Connor) and my husband and I are keeping Connor.
The moral of the story is, FIX YOUR PETS!! Don't do the "one litter" thing. Although I love all my bichons more then anything, it has turned my life upside-down emotionally. It was an incredible experience, and my pups ended up being like my children. As hard as it was to let them go, it was even harder to have everything fall apart with their new homes.
I apoligize to all you rescuers and foster parents out there, I have incredible respect for what you do every day to save all the unwanted homeless pets. I learned a tough lesson, but I will make it right by loving my pups and will take full responsibility for their lifetime love and care. (Annie has already been fixed!)
So if any of you out there are considering "just one litter" Don't do it. It is selfish. There are too many unwanted dogs out there that need homes, don't add to the problem!!
Kmac and the macpherson bichons T.J., Annie, Molly, Simon and Connor "
From: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/justonelitter.html

Answer:
 Wow, thats a tough lesson. It is a very good story to share. Keep on sharing!!!!:)

Answer:
 I think everyone who is thinking about breeding...HAS to read that...it just might save a few lifes in the end

Answer:
 Thanks so much for posting this! This story shows yet another side that many never consider when making the decission to breed their dog(s). I love puppies as much as anyone but I too am a huge advocate of spaying and neutering your pets for many reasons. Overpopulation being one reason and also because I hate to see the amount of dogs have their lives end with a needle in a shelter or worse situations.
If it isn't enough to read a story like this, check petfinder, craigslist, classified ads in the newspapers or your local shelters and rescues. See who all is out there waiting for a home right now. In fact, on petfinder, put your breed in and try to hold back the amazment that the next page never seems to end. Of those with that breed, alot of them are pure breeds and come in all ages and those that aren't are the result of someone having a purebreed and oops.. either tangoed with another breed in the home or with the naughty neighbor dog, then again, sometimes they're mixed bred on purpose too.
I don't mean to offend anyone, just sharing how I feel and it's a very strong passionate stance I carry with this.

Answer:
 I do have mixed feelings and would like to voice my views and or opinions. First of all, this person must have been high on something to think it would be "fun" to have a litter of pups. She should be grateful that her bichon only had a few pups. My lab/collie mix Vanilla is now 14 years old. What I would give to turn back the hands of time and not had her spayed. Maybe because we have been through so much togther that when she does pass I will have nothing but the memories of her and not an offspring/s to say that these pups were part of my beloved Vanilla. Yet I did what I thought was right at the time. I had three small kids running around and I did not want the experince of heat, or pups. Three kids took too much of my time....how could I divide my time between 3 kids and possibly half a dozen pups? I just could not physically do it. Vanilla was one of 6 pups. Out of the 6 pups 5 were met with traumatic deaths because the owners did not take care of the pups. She is the last of her so called breed/mix. Then I look at Uma and I know I did the right thing in spayeding her because I did not want a weak breed in mastiffs. So in affect I am torn on the subject. I can and will say though that if you have a female and do decide to breed whether it be purebred, AKC with papers, show dops, companion dogs or just mixed breed be PREPARED in your your mind and in your pocketbook to be able to care indefinetly for ALL the pups from a "fun" breeding. Unless you are prepared to care for each and every one of the pups your dog produces, please do not breed.

Answer:
 I think it is an important article for any pet owner to read. Yes I bred, yes I think breeding is ok if done properly-even in cross breeds. BUT people must go in with their eyes fully open and their heads full of knowledge.
I had only 1 pup come back and it was due to terminal cancer in her new owner, she went to another on my list quickly. The 2 moms even keep in touch, so she has seen her since as have I. It's a good example for anyone wanting to breed. Information is power.

Answer:
 Great article. And I agree anyone thinking of breeding needs to read this. it is not as simple a matter as putting two dogs together and raising a litter. It is finding the right forever homes too. All of which is hard work if you are doing it right. The only fun part of raising a litter is playing with the pups and watching them grow, and that is only a fraction of what you do if doing it right. The rest is hard work and costs loads of money.
Just my opinion.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies

Answer:
 Well,Thank-God,she only had 3 puppies anf not 10 like both my dogs came from!.
It's a great story and should be posted,all over the place.
It's not only raising a healthy litter and finding the right home but also being a responsible breeder by being willing to take a puppy back if the family has a problem.One of the reason why,I've always chosen a small breeder over a large one(more than 10 breeding dogs) was because they are more willing to mentor you and help you,for the life of the dog.
Breeding is not for the faint of heart!.There's a lot of joy mixed with sorrow with the potential loss of the Mom and babies.

Answer:
 You'd be suprised. I've heard it so many times....
"I want to have a litter of puppies because puppies are so cute and fun!"
Those are the people that scare me the most. They obviously don't have a clue.