Yuku free message boards
Username or E-mail:
Password:
Forgot
Password?
Sign Up
Grab the Yuku app
Search:
Free Speech Horse Forum
>
General Discussion (Not Horse Related)
>
Bernese Mountain Dogs
0 Points
Search this Topic:
Remove this ad
«Prev
1
2
Next»
Jump
Add Reply
New Topic
New Poll
Forum Jump
Announcements and Information for New Members
Training Logs and Stories
Training the Next Generation
Training Questions and Advice
General Discussion (Horse Related)
General Discussion (Not Horse Related)
Conformation Critiques
Memorials
Emergency Preparedness Information
Foaling Camera Discussions
Beware of..
Horses for Adoption or Sale (Under $1000)
Horses for Adoption or Sale ($1000+)
Horses Wanted
Other Animals - Wanted/For Sale/Available
Tack For Sale
Tack Wanted
Stuff Wanted/For Sale/Available
<< Previous Topic
Next Topic >>
Re: Bernese Mountain Dogs
Author
Comment
GreatGotlands
#1
[-]
Posts
: 1663
Aug 28 12 10:31 AM
Reply
Quote
More
My Recent Posts
Sorry I did not respond. I am kind busy right now, this week we are saying goodbye to our old Kuvasz bitch. So this week is all about her; fun walks, pictures, petting and cuddles. Tomorrow the vet comes out to euth her. I'm kinda distracted right now. Hope this makes sense.
Often at 5-6 weeks mom does the weaning, no matter how good a mother she is. Because the teeth are coming in. OUCH! (the scratches look real painful!) She also leaves them more with the other dogs (my parents' best puppy sitter is a girl from the first litter). She is very maternal and tolerent. But she is still supervised by mom. In their house there is always plenty of safe dogs to socialize the pups. But they are still supervised by people.
The pups go to their new homes no earlier than 8 weeks. No expections. They need that socializing time with mom and even more, their litter mates. If they are going to a home with no other dogs, 10 weeks is prefered, just to get a little more time. It may not sound like much time, but they learn an awful lot in that time and are so much better off for the extra 2 weeks with the littermates and adult dogs.
Spay neuter info (sorry, this is all I have bookmarked and can find quickly):
http://www.caninesports.com/SNBehaviorBoneDataSnapShot.pdf
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
There is also an interesting Rottweiler study on AVMA that links (kept) ovaries with exeptional longevity. Keeping a female intact until at least 6 increases the chance of her living to 13 by 4.6x. (Average lifespan is about 9 years).
My parents' puppy contract spells out a bunch of restrictions, and one is no spay/ neuter until (at least) 26 months (I think). Early alteration null and voids their health guarantee. Because it increases the risk of temperament, skeletal, connective tissue and cancer problems. If my parents cannot trust them to properly keep an intact dog at least that long they simply do not get a dog.
One thing about Berners. It is a
very
closed society, and they are extremely protective of their dogs. If you are talking to a good breeder, they will have A LOT of questions. Be open and honest. My parents have a 6 page questionnaire. It has turned off a number of potential puppy owners. But that's just fine with them. If someone does not want to share that much, than they are less likely to keep you involved as the puppies grow. And my parents like to keep in touch for their lifespan. Also, the questionnaire helps to pick just the right puppy for the person, and decreases the chance of people picking the wrong puppy.
A good breeder will be happy to spend time with you now, put you on their puppy list, even if you are not ready for a few years. Expect to meet the mom, but often the sire will be elsewhere. AI is becoming very common with the good breeders (thank god, cause it expands the already limited gene pool).
<< Previous Topic
Next Topic >>
Add Reply
Forum Jump
Announcements and Information for New Members
Training Logs and Stories
Training the Next Generation
Training Questions and Advice
General Discussion (Horse Related)
General Discussion (Not Horse Related)
Conformation Critiques
Memorials
Emergency Preparedness Information
Foaling Camera Discussions
Beware of..
Horses for Adoption or Sale (Under $1000)
Horses for Adoption or Sale ($1000+)
Horses Wanted
Other Animals - Wanted/For Sale/Available
Tack For Sale
Tack Wanted
Stuff Wanted/For Sale/Available
Share This
Email to Friend
del.icio.us
Digg it
Facebook
Blogger
Yahoo MyWeb
«Prev
1
2
Next»
Jump
Free Speech Horse Forum
>
General Discussion (Not Horse Related)
>
Bernese Mountain Dogs
Click to subscribe by RSS
Click to receive E-mail notifications of replies