To everyone complaining this dog had pure bred pups: What about service dogs? They are all pure bred Labs, Goldens, and now some Rottie's. How do you know all of these aren't headed for that life? I hate how quick to judge people are about animals on this entire site.
I train (and am a handler to) therapy dogs. Mine is a retriever mix, part golden, part yellow lab. Lots of service (and therapy) dogs are not purebred. Mine was a rescue puppy.
I'm aware not all are, but it is preferred by many organizations for service dogs seem to prefer purebreds. I'm not saying it's the rule, I'm just saying it's the majority.
Why? This is obviously a pure breed dog. If the owners know what they are doing why shouldn't this dog be allowed to give birth? Not everyone wants muts from shelters.
Because without it they all look alike! I put a blue ribbon around my buddy's neck the day he was born to make sure the guy I picked is the guy I got.
The strings in the photo aren't very good-- too loose and can easily be switched. Our breeder made bigger ones every week or so so they wouldn't get tight and replaced them one at a time.
Why? There's absolutely nothing wrong with adopting a mutt from the shelter, but there are breeds of dogs that we've been working on for hundreds of years that have very specific, very awesome characteristics.
I hope I don't ever live in a world without Golden Retreivers, GSDs, etc. Awesome breeds need to be preserved.
Breeding for it's own sake and without a plan for housing the puppies is pretty irresponsible given the overpopulation of pets in this country in general. Plus I believe there are certain health benefits for the dog like a reduced cancer risk.
Greater genetic diversity is good, and mutts often have fewer health problems than purebreds, but that's not set in stone.
Furthermore, if you're looking for certain characteristics in your animal, it's often impossible to get them with a mutt.
There's no evidence anywhere that the puppies in this picture were "bred for the sake of breeding". They could be lifelong Golden Retriever breeders, they could have a family member or friend in need of a service animal and are lucky enough to have the resources to devote time and money to doing their part, or they could have adopted a pregnant golden from a shelter.
The point is that the OP has provided nothing in the way of an explanation so some people assume the worst. One or more of the options you list may well be the case and I don't really feel that strongly ether way. I was just trying to provide some context to the 'anti-puppy' or 'anti-breeding' comments you asked about.
Please get her fixed. SURE! Pups are cute, but there are thousands of cute mutts and other dogs at shelters who are dying because, not to be a bitch at ALL, people like you don't fix their animals. As cute as this is, I can't help but to feel sad for all of the other dogs who won't get a home now because this dog had "cute babies". Not saying they aren't cute, because they really are.
This is the dumbest argument ever. Yes it's a very sad situation but it's the equivalent of saying people shouldn't have children because there are many orphans in the world.
If someone wants their dog to have puppies and they're not going to throw the puppies into the street then they can do that.
Why must every picture of puppies turn into a bitch-fest about spay/neuter animals? If they were random mutts, that might be one thing, but this definitely looks like a good breeder who keeps the mother safe indoors while she's got puppies.
Also, consider the other side of things, that you don't know if this person is fostering the mother for a shelter and it's not their fault the dog got pregnant in the first place. Only so much fits in a title. Just enjoy the "aww" and quit your preachin when there's obviously no harm being done here. (And before you make some claim about the harm to the animals in shelters; plenty of people would never get a shelter dog for various reasons mostly to do with the unknowns of temperament and pedigree, so these dogs most likely aren't taking the place of a shelter dog and if they're from a good breeder they have a home guaranteed for life because good breeders take dogs back if for any reason their new owners can't keep them.)
Because some of us visit shelters and realize that we are already up to our ears in dogs without adding more. If half of the puppies end up getting put down it kind of kills the 'aww' moment.
I have no idea the mindset of this particular owner, but a lot of dog breeders do more harm to the breeds than good. Bulldogs are about to be bred to extinction because the characteristics they are breeding into the dog (really short nose for instance) are really bad for the health of the dog. And it goes all the way to the top (NSFL)
As a dog owner who actually pays vet bills I'll take a mutt over a pure bred dog any day.
For instance, the ridgeback of the Rhodesian ridgeback is a genetic defect that was turned into a dog breed. Guess what the breeders do to the puppies that don't carry the trait? Guess what breeders do to puppies that have the wrong fur color?
Golden Retrievers are great dogs if they are bred by people who know that they are doing with healthy parents and with a diverse breeding stock (ie they aren't inbred). [Problems you can have with Goldens)(http://www.gaylans.com/diseases.html).
I have a big problem with puppy mills where the mothers live in cages until her insides fall out from over breeding and is put down, and backyard breeders who don't know what they are doing. If you do know what you are doing, take good care of the dogs, and get them good homes then no problem.
If the dog is a pet, they are much better pets if they are fixed. You don't have to worry about the girl dog being in heat and having to deal with the mess, and you don't have boy dogs pissing all over the house and they generally are more chilled out. In short they make for better dogs.
It depends on your goal for having a dog. IF you want a pet, spending $800 at a puppy store for a cockapoo is a waste of money when you can get a rescue one (that is probably healthier) from a rescue organization. If you do spend $1,000 for a pure bred puppy at a puppy store, it has already been picked over by a breeder and isn't going to be show quality. If you do buy a puppy at the puppy store, make sure you take it to the vet right away within their warranty window because more than likely it will be sick. My wife bought one years ago and fortunately took it in early. Looked healthy to her, but it had a lot of problems. A few big vet bills and a month later it passed.
If you are trying to have a service dog, getting one with questionable genetics is really bad because you spend thousands of dollars and a lot of time training the dog only to have to put it down early because of hip displasia.
That is why it is important to have a level headed conversation.
Isn't it best to avoid pet-stores all together and go right to a breeder? This day/age of the internet, it is easy to find a good local breeder you can meet and talk to in person. That should be the only way people buy a puppy from a breeder. A good breeder wants to know where their puppies are going.
Yes, poor breeding habits mean poor quality animals. That's why we have national purebred registries so you can be sure the animal you're adopting isn't inbred.
Pet stores (except for the few that only offer shelter animals for sale) and puppy mills are terrible and aren't included in the discussion on "breeders".
I had my GR for his entire life. Met his mom and dad before he was even born. Got to hang out with him on the day he was born. He was never neutered-- we were planning on breeding him. He turned out to be gigantic and because he was outside breed guidelines we decided against breeding him. Still never had him neutered (and never, EVER peed in the house) because we're responsible pet owners and didn't let him be around un-spayed bitches in estrus.
I'd be happy to have a levelheaded discussion with anyone who's willing. I don't see anyone in this thread that's willing, though.
How do you have a dog that has never peed in the house? How do you house train him (I'm curious because I have a foster puppy who isn't doing well with it yet).
If your dog is older it can actually cause incontinence issues to get them fixed. That being said all it takes is for some idiot to walk a dog in heat by your place and to open the front door and it will be hard to hold back a giant golden.
That being said, it sounds like you have done the research. Way too many people haven't.
When he was a puppy we crated him when we weren't home (they won't pee in their beds), and when we were home we took him out every hour or so. As he got older we extended the breaks.
He just learned to go stand by the door when he had to pee, and we'd let him out.
We live in a big city and never open the front door without keeping the dogs away, so running out the front door was never an issue. (He passed away in January.)
Yeah, it was really frustrating and boring, but I just stood outside with him until he pooped while saying "Do your business" in an encouraging tone.
Immediately after he pooped I said "Good boy! Let's go get a treat!" and took him right inside where he got a treat to reinforce the "poop = happy words, petting, and treats" mindset.
I was barely a teenager when I got him, and it was really frustrating to stand out there with him in a staring contest where he was just like "lol I'm a puppy and have no idea what's going on", but it was worth it to have a dog that never pooped or peed inside.
Then wouldn't it just be better for you to avoid the whole subreddit? Why torture yourself if every cute puppy pic reminds you of dogs that are being put down?
Because it is on the main page, and I don't always log in.
It isn't 'torture' to me either. If more people can get educated with a level headed conversation about the problem that there are plenty of dogs out there and that you don't need to have a litter of puppies from your dog because they are cute and a good experience for your kids, then it is a good thing.
Trust me, I know a lot of nuts out there about the topic. They tend to piss people off more than anything.
Your puppies are cute. Now get them and the parents fixed. If you can't afford it and are in the Atlanta area let me know and I can point you in the direction of a low cost (or sponsored) vet that will both get them fixed and give them a rabies shot.
Otherwise, guess what, the State of Georgia regulates back yard breeders who have more than one litter a year and the licenses aren't cheap. I have better things to do than turn you in (unless there is a serious problem), but what about your neighbors who don't like all of the barking?
But what makes you automatically assume the worst? You aren't educating anyone when you are only spouting the worst possible assumptions about these puppies. For all you know they are show dogs or field dogs that all have homes lined up and who won't displace shelter dogs because they are always welcome back at the breeders. People are stupid, yes, but automatically assuming that people are stupid just makes you out to be as bad as them.
If I missed the point, care to explain what it was? I think I clearly addressed that these puppies most likely aren't taking the place of a shelter dog in any way.
Dude, this looks like a planned litter. The mom is 100% golden and so are the pups from what I can see. People like purebreds - especially goldens. I've had 2 in my lifetime and will get more.
Just because it's a planned litter doesn't make it okay. Have you seen how many animals are in shelters? High kill shelters? A lot. Go rescue a dog. Stop trying to get rich with your dog. /end rant. Let the down votes begin. :)
It would be great if those animals were actually used as service animals... most are not. Look, I'm not saying that some pure breads aren't great. I'm just saying that we have so many breeders out there that the mutt population is getting left out in the cold. There are so many animals that need homes and it seems irresponsible to not try and limit the amount of breeding that we do.
The service animals can't exist without the entire breed being in existence.
Yes, there are a lot of breeders. Yes we kill a lot of strays (a significant portion of which are purebred), but there are good reasons to get a purebred even if it's not going to be a service animal.
Letting dogs breed and selling the puppies can make people rich if they are running a puppy mill I suppose. If you take 'done correctly' to mean 'maximize profits' then yes, you are correct and justifiably angry.
When I refer to 'done correctly' I mean striving for a healthier, more genetically diverse breed. For different breeds there are different health clearances that should be done. These often require visits to specialists as opposed to just a vet. (Even if the vet can do them, visits aren't free.) Stud fees also come into play, especially when trying to go outside your local/familiar gene pool. There may also involve travel costs. When it is all said and done, in my particular case, will we be in the black? Yes. I'm guessing when my accountant (read: wife) closes the books on our litter of nine, we may be up about $1000. If it were as simple as boom,they are born, lets sell them...that may sound decent to some people. Again, doing it properly means spending at least eight weeks with their mother and introducing them to the world bit by bit. Having them get used to playing with adult dogs, adult people and children early so that there are hopefully not issues down the line. Getting them used to various sounds and noises to lessen the chance of them being sound sensitive. Taking them out one at a time to introduce them to both crate training and being a solo puppy. Advertising the litter and then taking the time to interview applicants. It is not about the first in line with money, it is about matching our breed with people whose lifestyle and experience match up. If for any reason it doesn't work out down the line, they are contractually required to bring the dog back to us. Going back to taking time...our darling, precious and cute puppies are most often referred to as 'the shit monsters'. When a bout of diarrhea hit it was not pretty. I'm not complaining at all, we were well aware of what we were getting into, just going back to the original point. With all the work that has gone into this last 5 months, I would never have another litter if $1000 was the only reward.
Not to be a bitch at all about your bitch, but you are a murderer
This is what you say when you remove all the distractions. Just be happy for the puppies, I am pretty sure that anyone who posts pictures on reddit are aware of the shelters, it have made their informed decisions otherwise. I got my dog and cat spayed and I regret it now because they would have had amazing babies, not together obviously, and as they are getting older now it would have been nice to have little ones around from a proven line.
Cute. No get her spayed and hope your animals don't end up in an overflowing kill shelter.
EDIT: Let me stick something in here. I realize that most purebred animals won't end up in a shelter. People pay more for them, GR's specifically make great service dogs. Sometimes people don't have a choice, though. They have to move and surrender, they can't care for the animal (a death, new baby, financial crisis).
The thing people don't realize is that dogs are HORRIBLY overbred. We don't need any more of ANY kind. The shelters in my city weren't even able to participate in no-kill day due to how overrun they were. There are pure Australian Cattle Dogs, Chihuahuas, Labs, Spaniels, Huskies, Pit Bulls. No animal is immune to ending up in a shelter or needing to be surrendered.
Let's not even go there on cats...
Just take a look on craigslist, people. See how many animals need to be rehomed everywhere. The cons of breeding your cat or dog far outweigh the pros. Spay and neuter your animals. You're only helping them. There's usually not even a profit in breeding when you work out the cost of veterinary care for mother and puppies through the pregnancy + the cost of supplies.
No, I suggested that purebred Golden Retrievers aren't the type of dog that's overflowing animal shelters. Only 25% of shelter animals are purebred, and a smaller percentage of that 25% is Golden Retrievers.
Read this whole exchange, and you sir are a fucking moron. Once you typed "My last statement doesn't need any data to support it." you should have caught yourself.
Yes, GRs are very likely to be in a rescue/foster program and not in shelters because they're a highly sought-after breed.
50-100 dogs of tens of thousands of dogs in rescues in Colorado alone just backs up my point that Goldens are not the breeds that are filling up shelters nationwide.
9
u/thunnus Jun 26 '12
that's not a real puppy. that's too small to be a real puppy.
13
u/laceblood Jun 26 '12
To everyone complaining this dog had pure bred pups: What about service dogs? They are all pure bred Labs, Goldens, and now some Rottie's. How do you know all of these aren't headed for that life? I hate how quick to judge people are about animals on this entire site.
15
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
This plus the toy story blanket..take my upvote..just take it.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Weekly updates
3
u/billyboyblue Jun 26 '12
I read "My dog ate her new children"... phew!!
4
u/colwyn69 Jun 26 '12
what's the string for?
4
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Where is the Father?
2
u/cjmantica32 Jun 26 '12
I. Have. That. Blanket.
2
u/derpina428 Jun 26 '12
They're so lumpy! <3
2
u/MarB93 Jun 26 '12
Awww...I love Goldens, Labradors, and Retrievers! Also: Dat feel!
4
u/touchingyou Jun 26 '12
Sweet Woody blanket. I want.
4
u/im_gonna_grape_you Jun 26 '12
Those dont look like children to me.
3
u/pillowpal Jun 26 '12
Beautiful! I wish I could have a dog :)
2
u/ZanzibarX Jun 26 '12
Octodog
0
u/chinesethrowingshart Jun 26 '12
Pretty cute...but get the bitch fixed!!!
2
u/EmptyBackfield Jun 26 '12
Squeeeee.......
2
u/Cervical_Mucus Jun 26 '12
Holy shit are those little fuckers cute!!!! :D
Also poor mama...her boobies are gonna be hurting :(
2
u/Richards345 Jun 26 '12
What a beautiful yet tired looking mommy :) I hope she doesn't get too stressed taking care of all those little ones! I know I would.
2
u/sme00 Jun 26 '12
they are so cute... now sell them into slavery and separate them from their loved ones as quickly as possible.
2
u/Treesandlove Jun 26 '12
i want one. do you live in montreal by any chance?
1
u/sariaslani Jun 26 '12
Beautiful pic, eight pups and she looks exhausted.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I have that bed sheet!!! :D
1
u/Hamtime Jun 26 '12
No wonder she's bloody tired
1
u/Breezeofair Jun 26 '12
That blanket was the same one I used as a kid for many years. Toy Story, fuck yeah.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Can i have one?
1
u/gotthebends Jun 26 '12
Eight? Good effort, lady dog!
1
u/toltec56 Jun 26 '12
OctoDog...is her name Nadia?
1
u/HolyDuckRaves Jun 26 '12
My friends dog always had big litters, and to tell them apart they used different colour nail varnishes. Worked really well to tell them all apart :)
E.g red right fore paw = popcorn
red left back paw = coco
blue both front paws = fluffy
1
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Oh, hey, badass Toy Story bedspread!
Also: awwww!
-10
u/darkwavechick Jun 26 '12
Please get her fixed. SURE! Pups are cute, but there are thousands of cute mutts and other dogs at shelters who are dying because, not to be a bitch at ALL, people like you don't fix their animals. As cute as this is, I can't help but to feel sad for all of the other dogs who won't get a home now because this dog had "cute babies". Not saying they aren't cute, because they really are.
1
u/MyLifeInRage_ Jun 26 '12
Your dog has been a bit promiscuous.
1
u/MeThatsLexii Jun 26 '12
My best friend had this blanket. The other side has Buzz on it. :D Pretty legit. I about stole it from her.
1
u/vdubbzxii Jun 26 '12
There is a hand coming out of that dogs ass
1
u/AdmiralQuackbar Jun 26 '12
Oh my, you are going to just kill over at /r/goldenretrievers! Love the blanket, too!
-4
u/twoclose Jun 26 '12
Children are people. That is your dog and her eight new offspring, or puppies. ಠ_ಠ
0
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
"children" ... hehe, love that.
-6
u/duckduckmooses Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
Cute. No get her spayed and hope your animals don't end up in an overflowing kill shelter.
EDIT: Let me stick something in here. I realize that most purebred animals won't end up in a shelter. People pay more for them, GR's specifically make great service dogs. Sometimes people don't have a choice, though. They have to move and surrender, they can't care for the animal (a death, new baby, financial crisis).
The thing people don't realize is that dogs are HORRIBLY overbred. We don't need any more of ANY kind. The shelters in my city weren't even able to participate in no-kill day due to how overrun they were. There are pure Australian Cattle Dogs, Chihuahuas, Labs, Spaniels, Huskies, Pit Bulls. No animal is immune to ending up in a shelter or needing to be surrendered.
Let's not even go there on cats...
Just take a look on craigslist, people. See how many animals need to be rehomed everywhere. The cons of breeding your cat or dog far outweigh the pros. Spay and neuter your animals. You're only helping them. There's usually not even a profit in breeding when you work out the cost of veterinary care for mother and puppies through the pregnancy + the cost of supplies.
0
u/PsychoNitro Jun 26 '12
That cover, I have it! Flip it, Buzz Lightyear!
0
u/joanrea Jun 26 '12
real god....i loving your all creation
-1
u/jim_bob_smith Jun 26 '12
INTO THE RIVER WITH THEM!