Pitfalls of removing a puppy early from its mother Discussions

There was no way I would walk, let alone run away, even if I could, leaving Tikva to a very uncertain future. No more than I could have left either of my newborn human babies.

This was not a case of having left a deposit on her, as no money was involved. It was a case of either I brought the puppy home or - what?

This is Israel where dogs and puppies are mostly a throwaway commodity. Yes, Tikva was far too young but having had experience of hand-rearing more than a few puppies I knew I could look after her. And I have done. She is fully weaned, sturdy and healthy, and well on the way to be fully raw fed.

Supposed I had "run away" and left her? I had already just lost Ziva while I was in hospital and the person "looking after" her somehow lost her?

I did not take Tikva because I could not wait to bring her home, and if anyone here has had to hand-rear a puppy and then try to wean them, they will understand how exhausting it is. Just as exhausting as having a newborn baby. Feeds every few hours, cleaning them, but a newborn human baby does not rush around in between feeds. A puppy does unless it has been hand-reared from birth before it can run around.

Tikva did not come from a byb or a pf - her dam was owned by the "girlfriend" of the owner of the agricultural plot and was the result of an accidental mating.

I do not regret having brought Tikva home when I was told take her now, the unspoken words being "or else". She is happy, she is thriving, she is gaining weight, and as I say, she is thriving.

She is a cross breed. Not a mutt as I know the breed of her dam, but this is Israel and very few cross breed or mutt puppies are ever homed. Especially bitches. No homes then then are dumped or, as poor Ziva probably was, thrown into the nearest agricultural field.

I am not going to post again on why I brought Tikva home when she was so young, because if people do not understand why then that is their problem.

To be fair that wouldn't be what a reputable breeder would do, firstly they don't generally let anyone view before 4 weeks at the earliest. They don't generally take non refundable deposits either and what kind of emergency would necessitate the removal of the pups from the mum, only the death or illness of mum and a reputable breeder has a network of friends amongst other breeders and generally one of them would step up to the plate. You're not talking about any breeder the likes of me or Jackie would see as reputable.

Well I thought Tikva had her own thread anyway and this one wasn't about Tikva but Pups in general.

So why am I being made to feel so guilty about what I did? This thread is about me bringing Tikva home at such a young age, and is trying to make me feel guilty for having done so.

Why was this thread started had I not brought her home? To show how selfish I was?

@Bulldogs4Life Before spending £26 a class for a Champ show, I think the bitch would need more than a couple of weeks conditioning before being back in show nick. OK, I had coated breeds, but would be allowing enough time for a change of coat.
Times may have changed, but I've never taken a deposit - or been asked for one.

As Trouble has pointed out, this thread is not about you, it's about a subject on removing pups to young.

This thread came about due to a situation posted on the forum, it highlighted a important topic that may help others in the future.

You can keep out of it if you feel it's all about you, no one made you highlight your situation here, you did that yourself.

Threads often start of the back of other threads, it's can bring up a subject that otherwise may be ignored.

Yes its very common over here in England - When I use to show my previous male dogs in CC shows, there would be breeders there that had removed their bitches from the puppies in order for their milk to dry up giving them extra weeks on top of the 3/4 months for them to get their bitches back in tip top conditions.

Well Azz started the thread with this.......................

The topic has been raised in another thread - what are the pitfalls of taking a puppy home earlier than the recommended age, and when, if ever, are there any exceptions to this rule?

No mention of any specific dog or pup and I would guess he did it to highlight the issues of early removal.

Yup. That's what is think too. 4-6 weeks conditioning in general is what I've done for any dog. I've shown with less time but not in Champ class. Some are also in great condition naturally but not a bitch right after having pups.

They have 3-4 months then what's 2 more weeks? I don't understand.

I have never heard of anything like this, so I'm not sure it's that common. But either way, there are always bad eggs in anything you do. Just because you knew of breeder's doing what you claim them to have done doesn't make it right.