[Dailydrool] What does a reputable breeder do when....

[saraberry at aol.com]

I think it is hard to place two from the same litter in one home.  Especially sisters.  

They can age with adulthood and get extremely upset with each other long term.  It is actually a known phenomenon in other breeds.  In some breeds, bitches who are full siblings from the same litter have been known to kill or seriously wound each other after sexual maturity.  

So far, my girls only throw one girl puppy in each litter, so I don't know.

I prefer to match half-sisters and half-brothers, from different litters and subsequently, slightly different ages and developmental levels, and I feel strongly that mothers and a daughter should stay together if possible.  But I like two dogs together with bassets, or four.  Don't like three or five because that leaves one out, unless one is old and doesn't want anything to do with the rest.

As far as screening the home, it is a tough one.  I like home visits and trying to take a visiting dog of the same age and temperment for a weekend or overnight, once all else checks out.  I have a "terrorist" adolescent I could take to someone if I really wanted to see what they could handle... but I would have to be very sure of security etc. first.

I do think that many with older dogs forget what it is like having a puppy and training, and are really freaked out when little things happen like the dog won't go out the dog door on it's own to go pee.  It is also possible that to really have them read stuff like "Before and After Getting a Puppy" by Dunbar, and reviewing things like chewing, housebreaking, sep anx and demand barking, and how to deal with all of that.  But yeah, I have also found that seeing an older dog through a lifetime is not necessarily a sign of a good puppy home.

I also get individuals ready by separating them and keeping them for a few hours during the day alone in the van.  If they are going to be with a cat, I will stick a cat in with them.  Also we do individual car rides and crating.

I have separated fairly bonded pairs pretty easily by using the group of bassets as distraction.  Most will refocus on new dog friends and then I can wean them away from the dog they are attached to using different yards and parts of the house.  I will start them sleeping together and then crate train separately but near to the other, then slowly move the crates away nearer to other dog friends.

I like a well-bred basset matched with a rescue, if someone is going to have only two dogs, or family members.  Marilyn has half-brothers, a rescue and a nephew.

Sara*



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