Accidental litters...

[Ayoka]

If a breeder had an unaltered dog who somehow got loose and impregnated one of the breeder's bitches what would be the right thing to do?

Would anyone here that's a breeder even admit that the breeding was accidental and sell the puppies as a planned litter or just not even acknowledge the litter happened but place/sell the puppies anyway.

Would it depend on the health clearances of the dogs? Would it be better just to abort the litter?

I have heard roumors of this happening with a local notweiler breeder (littrer was not advertised and as far as I know the puppies were brought to term and either placed or sold) All appearances made me think this was an ethical person but something about this scenario doesn't sit well with me - either the roumor is just that or something really NOT COOL is going on.

If I understand well thought out breedings to be somewhat of a crap shoot, even with the best planning, I can only imagine what an accidental breeding could produce both health and temperment-wise.

[Cdn1050]

I'm not a breeder but I would hope that a COE breeder who had an accidental litter would keep a potential show dog out of the litter for themself and place the remainder into those homes of those only wanting a pet quality puppy that is on their waiting list.

[Da05128]

The only time I have heard about an "accident" was from a breeder (and I use that term loosely) who had a male she bought for stud that ended up not being suitable for breeding - bad hips, bad eyes. He 'accidently' got loose and impregnated one of her bitches. Those puppies were sold - none of her dogs are sold as show quality to my knowledge.

Of all the COE breeders I know I have never heard of an accidental litter - (and most have been breeding for 10, 20 years +) Litters are always carefully planned months and months in advance. That's just me though...maybe someone else has had a different experience?

[frontierrots]

We had an accidental breeding. I worked next door and put the male (15 months old) in a "secure" pen and left the two girls in the larger pen. They were both in season but he had made not a single indication that he cared. HA!

Came home a couple hours later to put them away and there was the boy in the pen with the girls He had squeezed his 100lb body through a 7 INCH gap between the dog house and fence AND bred one of them

21 days later I took Mr Stud muffin and both girls to the vet. The girls had blood pregnancy tests and HE got a prelim hip Xray done and sent it to OFA

One bitch WAS pregnant and it was one I did not want pregnant as she had mild SAS. So we spayed her the next week and prayed that she lived through the surgery- she did.

I tell this story often to impress upon people that boys can get to a girl no matter what so be darn careful

Had it been the other bitch that was pregnant instead (a breeding we planned for later on) I would have certainly whelped the litter, kept my choice and placed all the rest as pets (spay/neuter).

And yes my decision was based partially on the males lack of appropriate age and health stats. BUT full disclosure was/is always my motto

[frontierrots]

Originally Posted by Da05128

Of all the COE breeders I know I have never heard of an accidental litter - (and most have been breeding for 10, 20 years +) Litters are always carefully planned months and months in advance. That's just me though...maybe someone else has had a different experience?

Many reputable breeders have had accidental breedings (not always litters though) but it is usually just ONCE and then it never happens again (some I know of have involved house sitters and spouses accidentally putting Joe and Jane together- "for a second"), as in my case. I'd be suspicious of someone with multiple "accidents"

[Da05128]

Very good point - multiple 'accidents' would be a very red flag.

I did have to giggle about Mr. Stud muffin (although at the time I'm sure it wasn't funny)...never underestimate the power of a determined Rottweiler huh? :-)

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Da05128

Very good point - multiple 'accidents' would be a very red flag.

I did have to giggle about Mr. Stud muffin (although at the time I'm sure it wasn't funny)...never underestimate the power of a determined Rottweiler huh? :-)

errrr... never underestimate the power of hormones.

[spoiledgirls]

And to boot they can tie through a chain link fence! Wouldn't want to be the Big Boy then? So watch your girls when they're let out in the yard.

[Carol Burke]

Years ago I had a male with some temperament issues, I neutered him hoping for some improvement and not wanting to breed him. Shortly after he was neutered (a couple weeks) I look out in my yard and there is my girl, who is in heat, and my neutered male tied. I was panic stricken, called my vet who calmly explained, through suppressed laughter, that many males can still tie with a bitch but no puppies will result. Sure gave me a minor heart attack.

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by Carol Burke

Years ago I had a male with some temperament issues, I neutered him hoping for some improvement and not wanting to breed him. Shortly after he was neutered (a couple weeks) I look out in my yard and there is my girl, who is in heat, and my neutered male tied. I was panic stricken, called my vet who calmly explained, through suppressed laughter, that many males can still tie with a bitch but no puppies will result. Sure gave me a minor heart attack.

I know of another breed where an in-breeding occurred with a neutered male that resulted in puppies. I know the owner of one of the puppies. The male had been neutered more then 3 weeks earlier. It was a case of where the male still had live sperm in the plumbing somewhere. I think there were 3-5 puppies born.
So still be careful of your recently neutered males and bitches in heat. It can happen and I have seen the results.

[Carol Burke]

<I know of another breed where an in-breeding occurred with a neutered male that resulted in puppies. I know the owner of one of the puppies. The male had been neutered more then 3 weeks earlier. It was a case of where the male still had live sperm in the plumbing somewhere. I think there were 3-5 puppies born.
So still be careful of your recently neutered males and bitches in heat. It can happen and I have seen the results>

Fortunately we got no puppies.

[toobad]

Accidents can and do happen. A friend had a litter not long ago ( two young dogs ) and the male honestly climbed a 6 foot fence to get to a female. He cut himself up pretty good doing it. Pups were born and my friend and I each kept a pup to show, the other two went to great pet homes and were given away for FREE without papers so it wasn't like he was breeding to make money. He now plans to keep THAT male at another friends house when a female is in heat

I don't think some people realize just how hard it is and how much extra work it can be to keep dogs away from one another at that time. I have one male and two females that I have to keep apart and it really is a lot of work. I have to let them out at seperate times, keep them apart in the house, etc. I feel kinda guilty putting one in a crate while the others run free. I don't want any of them to feel like it is punishment. I don't keep my dogs outside in kennels and owning three dogs who are able to make pupppies IS a lot of work.

[Liz]

We've had an accidental litter, and we've made utterly sure it will never happen again. No intact females here It was a nightmare - long story short - even females who aren't due to be in heat for two months, don't show any signs of heat and are only mounted for a minute or so in play can get pregnant!!

I'm sure we'll have intact females here again some day, but there won't be any more play of that nature allowed I've also threatened to get the intact males collected and stored then neuter them

Liz

[spoiledgirls]

Tough lesson to learn! Interesting idea about collecting from the prospective stud. Hopefully he will have a chance to prove himself in a few different fields before hand.

[Liz]

Dizzy, my husbands dog, has his health certs, BH, BST and multiple V ratings - he's working on his SCH1. Muck, the youngster, is only allowed out with spayed females

I did forget to answer the original questions. We placed all three resultant puppies as pets with an agreement that if their veterinary care was done by our vet we would pay for 50% of the bills.

Liz