Urgent Question - Page 2

I know this is not the situation that caused this post, but certain breeders have used this type of breeding on purpose in order to see (really guess) which sire produced a better match with the female. In days past the verification of the puppy's sire was at best, a guess. Now we have DNA testing that can prove the parentage. I know this breeding practice is not widespread, and I just thought that I would mention it. Regards, Bob-O

Thought you guys might enjoy this... We had a couple bring in a litter of pups to the shelter get this... The Mother was a GSD, she had over the course of her heat several visitors, and it was obvious that the people were telling the truth, As they confirmed seeing a male of each of the following breeds visiting, ready for this... 1 father obvious German Shorthair 1 pup 1 father obvious Newfoundland 1 pup 1 father obvious Doberman 1 pup 1 father obvious Jack Russel Terrier (don't know how that one happened) 1pup 1 father obvious Border collie 2 pups... So we had 6 pups sired by 5 different males.... The people were horrifically but admittedly naive, and were having her spayed, They did real good by the pups gave them shots at 6 weeks and again at 8 dewormed them at 8.5 weeks and then brought them to the shelter at 9 weeks old... They are fat happy and healthy, and they are well socialized and in excellent condition. I was very happy to see these folks had VERY well cared for these pups and were trying to do the "right" thing... they're biggest mistake was when she quit bleeding they thought her "heat" was over, LOL... They had seen the above sires visiting but never caught them tied up...

As a related question, is it possible to have two breedings take place spaced far enough apart in the cycle that the pups are noticably different in development? We have 2 pups right now (non GSD) and the first seems to be considerably more developed than the second. Weight on first is almost double at 3 weeks than the weight of the second. Eyes opened a week earlier on first than second. Both pups are very healthy but you would think they were from different litters!

yes, the smaller pup could be a week younger than the other one, conceived a week earlier. molly

Yes agree with Molly, have witnessed this myself not with the shepherds, But with dogs in the shelter, one pup so much smaller and so underdeveloped that it did not have an opening where it should have had, and was euthed by vet... Vet was the one said it was conceived later than the others and possibly the reason for the "underdevelopment" of excretion area... It's head was very oddly shaped as well, and had a large soft spot in the middle of the skull.

when I've had a "runt" in the litter they are normally perfectly healthy, just a little smaller and behind the other puppies - obviously younger as they are some days behind the others in eyes opening, walking/playing etc. But nothing is wrong with them otherwise. The puppy you describe here sounds like an underdeveloped pup, not developed properly, deformed, not healthy. The younger puppies normally are fine and eventually catch up with the others, it's just the first few weeks that are noticeable differences and that is only by a few days to a week at the most. molly

Thanks! Thes are two of my DH's toy dogs. The are both very healthy and doing well. We are supplementing feeding due to the fact that the first pup is so large that the dam is tiny and does not make enough milk to keep them both fed. One is definitely ahead of the other in development. His hair is even noticably longer. The second looked like a premie at birth but is doing great.