Talk me off the puppy ledge!

krissy

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#1
Gah! I need to be talked off the puppy ledge!

My breeder has a female that I really love, and I've already mentioned in the past that I want one of her puppies. That was back when Kili was only about a year old I think. She was going to try to breed her that year (didn't catch) and then again in another few years. I was sort of planning then for about 2016-2017 that would probably happen... Kili would be around 4 and hopefully settled and running consistently in agility, and Summit would either be quite an old fella not doing much of anything except enjoying the couch or gone (sadly, but have to face facts... he'll be 10 this year). I don't really want 3 dogs. I'd be happy to have some overlap because it would mean Summit is still here, however, I don't really want more than 2 "permanently".

I'm guessing since she didn't catch last year that "future" breeding plans got moved up from a few years to this year. She just sent me the webpage of the dog she's looking at for the sire. Damnit! He's gorgeous, has a great conformation that I really like... damnit! Talk me off the ledge! I was not wanting another puppy at this time, and normally it would be simple... just wait a few more years. My fear is that if she never breeds this bitch again (or she doesn't catch again, etc etc.)... I will kick myself. She has lots of other wonderful dogs obviously, but I've kind of got my heart set on this bitch.

I'm jumping the gun a bit since she isn't pregnant yet, but she's due in season any day now and the plans are being made for the semen to be shipped. And the puppies will go FAST. This girl could probably have 4 litters and everyone would be spoken for (but I doubt she'll have 4 litters... I think 2 is probably the most).

Give it to me straight and talk me off the ledge! ha ha.
 
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#3
Well, I never wanted four dogs either but I'm so happy we got Toast. Sometimes an opportunity comes along and you just have to snap it up.


Oops. That wasn't helpful.
 
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#4
If you can do it, I would.

By the time the puppies are here and would be ready to go home it would be closer to 2016. If it seems like the perfect breeding, it is almost in your timing then I would do it.

I definitely understand what you are saying though, I have my current 2 right now one is almost 5 and one is almost 12 years old. I don't really want to have 3 dogs myself, but I don't think it will be that big of a deal because Angel is really slowing down and sleeping a lot more lately..
Chloe is really turning around as well with all the training/managing.

But I can't really do what I want to do with either of these two, and I really want to start getting into sports again. I am using Chloe for now to practice/play with, but she just doesn't have the drives like Angel did..

I also want a dog that I don't have to brush constantly, and would like a little bit bigger of a dog- teaching nice heeling isn't as fun when you have to hunch way over, harder to see them when they are at your feet, etc. I also dislike having to be careful around what other dogs they are around.

So I am planning on getting a koolie probably around 2017 probably, when Angel would be 14, Chloe 7.

On top of this, the SO wants to get a Flat Coated Retriever puppy, so we would be up to 4 dogs if Angel is still around.
 

Beanie

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#5
You are asking in the totally wrong place to be talked off the puppy ledge LOL.
 

skittledoo

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#6
I'm not going to be much help. I went back and forth before I decided to bring Itztli home. It was sooner than I was hoping for, but I really didn't want to pass him up so it was a tough decision. In the end I brought him home making 4 dogs in my home and while sometimes I want to kill him because he is a pain in the ass, I don't regret bringing him home at all. I think 2 is probably my ideal, but I'm happy at 4 too and I'm already planning on another dog (sport prospect) which might not be for a few more years or until my oldest, Bamm, passes on.
 

krissy

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#7
ha ha, you guys are so not helpful!

It'll be a fresh frozen AI, which my breeder has only done once before and it didn't catch. So I guess we'll see... she might not even catch. Luckily, I was speaking with her more tonight and she does plan to breed this female again in a few years to one of her own males. He's a nice dog too, and it would be more in my timeline... though I have to say I really like this male she is planning for this litter. So I told her I am a definite for the next litter, but I guess we'll see what happens. If she has a really good prospect this time around maybe we'll bump up sooner. I just think my boyfriend might kill me if I do!

And it's not just the 2 dogs we already have, I also have 3 rabbits and I work a lot. Getting Kili to agility practice regularly is hard enough as it is. In a few years maybe my schedule will change and be better... who knows.
 

krissy

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#9
Uhm, don't go visit the litter.

That never helps.


/nothelpful
lol. Thankfully they are 4000 km away. I did request pictures of the puppies when they're born... that's probably a bad idea right? But by then they'll probably mostly be spoken for. They're going to be great colours though... which won't help. All blues and blue brindles. I love brindles. It would guarantee me not getting another white dog.

Le sigh.
 

Grab

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#11
If I wanted a pup from a specific female and she wasn't likely to be bred again or for a long while, I'd definitely jump at the opportunity :)
 

FG167

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#12
If I wanted a pup from a specific female and she wasn't likely to be bred again or for a long while, I'd definitely jump at the opportunity :)
If it were me, the timeline is close enough...and I would rather be on the list, and then move to a later litter if I really thought the timing wouldn't work. Than take myself off, find out there's the perfect pup, and then she doesn't catch again later. For now at least, I'd stay on this current list.
 
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#13
I am not one to talk anyone off the puppy ledge...I'm usually the one who leads others to it! :)

When I'm feeling the pull, I usually tell the breeder about my plans and that I would like to be on the list. With all my dogs I have felt connection with them upon seeing photos. It's not based on markings or color, it's just I can tell which one is MINE.

If I don't get that soul clenching feeling, I tell the breeder and I get off the list. All of the breeders so far haven't had any issues with this as they had many others who would love to take my spot on the list.
 
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#15
Listen, this is the year of the sighthound takeover. Resistance is futile, you need to add to the ranks :p
 
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#16
I'm always a bad influence on these things....only one life right? Saying that, it sounds like there may not be many chances to get a pup from this girl, so maybe....

I don't know, I'm never practical when it comes to dogs. I shouldn't have got my last two dogs, but I did and I don't regret it even though I got Rip under the idea that I would have a fence. When I got taken on that, things became a bit rougher because I lost the main source I was going to use to burn his energy...but I wouldn't change getting him [I'd change other things, but not him].

I say go for it, life's too short. ;)
 

Romy

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#17
Also, I love how everyone refers to them as "my breeder". Like they're crack dealers or something. :rofl1:
 

Sparrow

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#19
I was absolutely NOT getting another dog until Zoe was gone, then Rook became the best thing to happen to me in years. Sometimes things happen and opportunities come up that change plans, and you should grab the chance!

Not helping? :D

Honestly, if it were me and I had the funds and the time I would go for it. It's the bitch you want a pup out of, and the sire is good, and the timing is ALMOST right.
 

krissy

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#20
So in updated news... bitch finally just came into season. The sire's semen was frozen and tested for quality and I guess there were issues... so they're going to try for a live cover. If she catches pups will be born roughly early September, making them November to come home. Kili came home in October and that was rough, and I was still in Ontario at the time. We had a pretty mild winter here in Edmonton this time around and even so it was pretty awful. I can't imagine raising a puppy here in the winter.

I'm still on the fence. I really would rather wait another year or two. Kili is JUST starting to find some maturity and consistency in the agility ring, but we still have a lot of things to work on. There's also her chronic, ongoing "injury" problems that I'm still working with a multitude of people to get to the bottom of. I'd like to figure it out, but my trainer pointed out that perhaps I would be less frustrated by them if she wasn't my only agility dog (i.e. not all my eggs in one basket).

And then there's the 3 dog situation. Summit just turned 10. He's getting up there where I unfortunately have to start to face the reality of his mortality, and yet at the same time he has no real health concerns and I hope to have him around for another 2-3 years at least. I really don't think I want 3 dogs. First of all, we don't own our own home... and although our current landlord has no problem with the pets and our next home will probably be our own... it's still a consideration. My vehicle also only holds 2 dogs of greyhound size comfortably. I think 3 would be pushing it. Unless I put a cap on the back of the truck and pad the bed... making it essentially useless for any other cargo which is less than ideal.

So I think I'm going to wait and see how this all plays out. We'll see if she catches to start with. And then I'll start worrying about what I'm going to do. If she catches I may have to bite the bullet and accept the less than ideal timing... but I'll see how many pups she has and see if she even has a female that suits what I need.
 

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