To keep or not to keep?

[elly's mom]

Thanks everyone for the help, I will be sure to discuss these posts with my parents. Elly doesn't participate in any sports although I may start showing her in AKC Junior Showmanship. She is registered with AKC but not sure about the health certificate I don't think anybody in my family noticed how much breeding could cost. I will definetly discuss the costs with them, although I think we have enough money and they may have already considered this stuff. We have time and the money for the puppy, though. Is this making a bad reputation for me because I'm feeling it is... To tell you the truth, luvofallhorses, I really dont know why we are breeding her... It's my step-dad's dog and he wants to breed her.

[chocolatecoffee]

Is this making a bad reputation for me because I'm feeling it is...

Hey, of course not! There's nothing at all wrong with not knowing, the thing that gets you a good reputation is when you make an effort to become educated (like you are) and take appropriate steps when you find that knowledge. When I got Mocha (my first little pup) we had a family friend that bred and I thought, "Oh, it would be so adorable to have a bunch of little Mocha's running around!", so I looked into it and realized how very wrong I was and got her spayed as soon as she was old enough (which, I now realize is as young as 8 weeks!). I got her from a backyard breeder before I knew better also, and of course he didn't spend the money to spay or neuter the pups - another expense. Since then, I've learned from my mistakes, have rescued my other two dogs, and am very involved with rescue. It's a very rewarding experience!

Sometimes when you're young it's hard to get your parents to listen to you when they have their mind made up, but don't give up! I talked my parents into fostering and sooner or later, it really does work !

It definitely sounds like you have given Elly an incredible home and, if you have the time and money and want to hear that little patter of feet around your house, a rescue dog would love your home . If your family decides that they do want another dog, I'm sure all of us here would be more than happy to help you find another dog from a reputable source!

Please don't get your spirits down, people aren't born knowing all of this and they only way they find out about everything, including the huge pet overpopulation problem which results with over 5 million homeless dogs being euthanized in the United States alone, is by becoming educated, just like how you're doing!

Please keep us updated!

[Corinna]

If you do breed I would not keep a pup as the mom would be more dominate and pups don't reach their full potentioal.
We here on this board are a lot of rescue pet owners so we tend to get a bit touchy about small pet breeding. I have 3 rescued dogs now . I drove 4300 miles to get one of them that a pet talker had saved.I would not choose to breed (parents raised and showed springers when i was a kid ) never made any money at it actually lost most of the time.

[Lori Jordan]

Good luck with the Breeding,Make sure you consider everything before doing this it is a big responsibility,and some people arnt ready for that at any time!

[Kfamr]

IMHO, your family doesn't seem to knowledgable on breeding. Please print out, or show them this thread. They really have a lot more to learn about breeding the safe and proper way.

[zoomer]

IMHO, your family doesn't seem to knowledgable on breeding. Please print out, or show them this thread. They really have a lot more to learn about breeding the safe and proper way.

I strongly agree with Kay

[BitsyNaceyDog]

IMHO, your family doesn't seem to knowledgable on breeding. Please print out, or show them this thread. They really have a lot more to learn about breeding the safe and proper way.

I also agree.

[lute]

IMHO, your family doesn't seem to knowledgable on breeding. Please print out, or show them this thread. They really have a lot more to learn about breeding the safe and proper way.

i also agree!

i personally don't think you should breed her. even though she is AKC registered doesn't mean you have to breed her. it just means she's purebred. it doesn't mean she's well bred. is she up to the breed standard? you can find a copy of the breed standard on AKC.org. i hope your parents understand the HUGE resposability it is to have a litter of puppies. do your research on all the time and money it takes to breed a litter. honestly in the end you don't make a profit. you end up spending a great deal of money.

also, there are a rediculous amount of labs in shelters. a great deal of them get killed simply because there are no homes available for them. after working at a humane society for some time i have witnessed many PRUEBRED labs being killed for this very reason. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't breed your dog!

[dab_20]

I agree w/ everyone above. Just because you want to breed your dog for the heck of it, or you just like puppies around WHY breed? Go get a puppy at a shelter if you want one. PLEASE DON'T BREED!!!