[javasmom]

Hi everyone,

I have a 6 month old chocolate female named Java. In October we will be getting a second chocolate female at 8 weeks of age (she'll actually be Java's sister-same mom and dad). Java will be 9 months old at that point and the new puppy Moka will be 8 weeks. What kind of challenges can I expect? I have been doing all the training with Java (walking on a leash, recall and other commands) and she has been doing extremely well (ok, she still gets really, really excited when she sees other dogs and pulls to go to them, but we're working on that). So...how bad/good is it going to be?????

 

[hark67]

Java is adorable! Sounds like she is well loved.

As far as your question.....no way I would be doing it....9 months was right smack in the middle of Guthrie's teenage rebellion period..the last think I'd have wanted was another puppy. Not just because it would be lots of work but also because I would have been worried that a rambuncious teenager would mistakenly hurt my new puppy. I'd caution you and suggest you wait until your pup is 2.

Sounds like your puppy's momma is working overtime too...two litters back to back. She must be exhausted.

 

[Tanya]

I had the same thought as above - your current dog is hitting the age when most (though not all) dogs go into the rebellious stage and are a handful. Adding a puppy means you will have alot of work ahead of you. My personal worry on two dogs so close in age is having two senios dogs, which is hard on the heart and finances (my parents are having to pay $100/mt in pain meds) as well as physically (their dog needs help up and down stairs as well as in and out of the car). PLus I very much enjoy being active with my dog (long walks, running, agility or whatnot) which you can't do (or at least not as much) as they age.

Do you know why the breeder chose to breed back-to-back? It is SOMETIMES done for good reason, but usually when the heats are farther apart (like 12mts apart) and with a really really good reason.

 

[javasmom]

Oh Java is definitely a handful....I have had second thoughts, and I have considered the fact that they would be seniors together also. But we get so much joy from having Java and enjoy her so much that we thought two would be great and she would have another dog to grow up with. We've figured that between myself, my 16 year old son (who is Java's bestie, as he says) and my boyfriend we will be able to handle the 2 of them and also spend plenty of time with them together as well as individually. I hope it works out. I love my Javadoo to death!!

 

[javasmom]

I forgot to answer the other question....no, I don't know why the breeder chose to breed her again so quickly. I didn't realize that it was not the usual. Why is that?

 

[Tanya]

don't forget the 16 year old will likely be moving out soon (and if not already, getting a job) so I wouldn't RELY on that help when considering a second dog.

look at the flip side, by having ONLY java you can pamper her and spend extra time with her, more time training, more time loving her) and then add another dog later.

Don't forget you will have to put in even MORE time with each dog individually especially as Java is she still so young. YES you want them to bond but they must each bond to you (and the other humans) FIRST, and each other second. This will require ALOT more of your time every day.

does the breeder do all the health testing (OFA for hips/elbows, I think it is CERFS for eyes and I forget the test for heart?)

 

[Tanya]

I forgot to answer the other question....no, I don't know why the breeder chose to breed her again so quickly. I didn't realize that it was not the usual. Why is that?

As Kate mentionned in the other post, just like for a human, it is alot of work on the dog's body to carry, deliver and weene a litter of puppies. Some dogs deal with it much better than others. But in the end, a female should only have maybe 2-3 litters in her lifetime (any more than that and there had better be a very very very good reason) so why the rush to breed again so soon?

There are expetions. If the dame comes into season every year or more and recovers quickly, MAYBE it is acceptable to breed again. But from the dates you give, it seems as though she will have only had 7mts between births (including the time she weened Java's litter AND the time she carried the new pup's litter). So what, she had 4 months of freedom to be a dog, then back to being a mom? Hardly sounds fair, how could her body recover that quickly?

 

[javasmom]

Yes, the breeder has done all the required testing and we have all the documentation. We were very careful to make sure that all the testing was done and it was all acceptable. Java was from the mom's first litter.
We went to visit the breeder with Java a couple of months after we got her and Amber (java's mom-she's 3) was very bouncy, full of energy and seemed fully recovered. This will be her second litter. I'm not sure why she was bred so soon after her first litter. The breeder retires her females at approx. 5 yrs of age and she has not bred any of her other females more than 3 times, I did ask that. I'm not sure what the rush is.

 

[hark67]

Love her nickname....Javadoo! Very cute.

I can totally understand wanting another like her....she is a very, very cute pup!! And it sounds like you have thought it through thoroughly. I am sure you will do fine with the new pup.....you know you are in for some tough times! One practical warning ..keep in mind that if you get a pup now you spend the next decade(or more) suffering from "puppy fever" That is, unless you can afford a third!