Deja is in season at 3.5 years old. She is everything I ever wanted in a dog; beauty, intelligence, intensity, health, obedience, intuitive etc. Her hips were checked as a 9 month old and determined healthy without OFA certification later. I look at her and feel like it is such a waste not to breed her and would have loved a male pup from her. But I am not going to breed her. And I want to let you know why: she comes from a good breeder who knows what he is doing and is known for it. He wasn't interested to breed someone elses dog, including from his own lines, due to bad past experiences. If I were to breed Deja, where would I find the people who will be great owners for all of her (possibly 10+) pups? Do I want to run the risk of something happening to her in her pregnancy or birth or afterwards? (NO!).
Do I have the facility, energy to take back several adolescent pups from her if, for some reason, they din't work out and/or have developed troublesome behavior? (NO!)
Because of all these uncertainties and the NOs, I won't be a BYB, no matter how in awe I am over my own dog.
If I decide to get a male GSD pup, I won't breed Deja but will go back to her breeder and get a sound pup without having had all the heartache of raising a BYB litter.
I hope that this helps keep people from breeding their dogs just because they love them or want to experience a litter. If you do want to experience a litter, foster a pregnant shelter dog. I did this years ago and it made me realize what a responsibility this is. I kept a detailed journal in which I wrote that I would never create a litter, even though everything went well and I enjoyed every moment of it. If you do it right, your life is on hold for three months. In these same three months you can raise a new pup very effectively.
Do I have the facility, energy to take back several adolescent pups from her if, for some reason, they din't work out and/or have developed troublesome behavior? (NO!)
Because of all these uncertainties and the NOs, I won't be a BYB, no matter how in awe I am over my own dog.
If I decide to get a male GSD pup, I won't breed Deja but will go back to her breeder and get a sound pup without having had all the heartache of raising a BYB litter.
I hope that this helps keep people from breeding their dogs just because they love them or want to experience a litter. If you do want to experience a litter, foster a pregnant shelter dog. I did this years ago and it made me realize what a responsibility this is. I kept a detailed journal in which I wrote that I would never create a litter, even though everything went well and I enjoyed every moment of it. If you do it right, your life is on hold for three months. In these same three months you can raise a new pup very effectively.