Smkie, are you a "guardian" of your dog? I am not. A quality life is always somewhat risky. All our most interesting breeds had been created under harsh conditions of life and physical work. For you personal feeling, it is important so the dog would live long. Evolution is made not by individuals, which live long, but rather by individuals, which left more viable offspring. You spay (or neuter) your dog and keep it for hagging, kissing and looking at him at home. However, such a dog is evolutionary dead, because it cannot contribute in future generation genetically. Look at the population, not individuals, if you care about breed. To my taste, active and capable to perform in field (hunting primarily) dogs are most appealing esthetically and as my companions. Wild animals are most beautiful, but they live in populations, struggling for existence and this is what made them so efficient, tough and beautiful. Aboriginal dogs, which are less dependent on humans and their care, are closer to wild animals and to remain so they must be put to a test to make sure they are what they ought to be. Good dogs love life to a purpose, not just for eating and sleeping. They share with us (well, some of us) the excitement of hard work outside. Those are best dogs for able bodied people. Their very existence is in jeopardy, because of absence of the right environment.
IF your not there an inexperienced bitch will lay on or step on her newborn pups and they will die. A rediculous loss that could be easly prevented. I saw a pup from a mother at a field trial that bit the belly out of her pup while chewing off the umbilical chord. Wild animals very often lose a first litter and a whole lot of them die because of fleas. I assume you use preventative there as well.
THe only benefit of your way is to make it less effort on your part, and cheaper for your financial standing. IT has nothing to do with making your bitch or the puppies stronger or more independent.
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