Following a discussion on breeding the following questions
were raised, and make up our first FAQ.
How many in a litter?
There can be anywhere from 1-20,but an average
litter is about six puppies.
How many are "show" quality?
Unless a puppy has a major hereditary fault
such as retaining one or both testicles - all Irish Wolfhound puppies are
show quality if they have 4 legs, 2 ears, 2 eyes and a tail, because there
are no disqualifications other than monorchidism or cryptorchidism in the
standard. The number of truly worthwhile show puppies varies depending
on the litter quality. In some litters there may only be one or 2 stars,
in a larger litter there can be multiple worthy puppies, but no litter
is ever entirely show quality.
How often do you feed them and how
much?
The mother nurses them the first few weeks
and then feed is added several times a day. When the puppies are weaned,they
receive four meals a day to start.
Do they require supplemental feeding?
Only if the bitch cannot nurse or if they aren't
getting enough milk or its a very large litter, or if a smaller puppy is
getting pushed away without getting time to nurse.
How do you pick the stud & dam?
Look for the qualities needing improving in
the bitch. A good temperament and complimentary bloodlines.
Health screening should be done to rule out potential
problems, and both parents should have approximately 75% champions in the
first 3 generations.
When are the puppies weaned &
what are they weaned to?
I start adding to their food between three
and four weeks, and they usually wean between four and five weeks,or when
the bitch says ENOUGH! They are weaned to puppy formula mixed with milk,softened,and
usually put on adult at about ten to twelve weeks.
When do the puppies' eyes open?
The eyes begin opening at about ten to twelve
days, but may not be totally open until 14-16 days.
How active are they?
You can't imagine! They are walking before
the eyes open and at weaning they are in and out of the whelping box!
How much room does a Whelping box
take?
People vary but generally hand made boxes are
about 5x 6 feet. Sometimes they are a little longer. Big enough for the
bitch to stretch out.
How much room does the nursery take?
The nursery takes up one whole room. At about
five weeks they will leave the whelping box and go out onto the paper to
potty and back on the blankets in the box to sleep. Change papers every
few hours at this stage!
When can they go outside?
If there are no problems, and no parvo worries,
they can go out about five to six weeks. Thats if the weather has been
timed right.
Who gets first pick?
There is an agreement between the stud dog
owner and the owner of the bitch as to who will get which pick. If the
stud dog owner takes a fee insteead of a puppy, the owner of the bitch
gets first pick, then purchasers looking for show puppies, then pet purchasers.
What is custom for establishing
which pup goes to whom?
For pet puppies I usually try to place puppies
according to temperament and attitude. Rowdy pups go to homes who are active,
etc. Some breeders do puppy aptitude testing to help match puppies with
their new homes
What is the ratio of boy to girls?
It varies from litter to litter but the average
would be 50/50 - boys to girls.
Why is one bigger or smaller?
It changes as they grow and size at birth usually
doesn't mean anything. Because a bitch can conceive over several days,
some puppies may be the result of a later breeding and therefore a few
ounces smaller. In the long run they will all grow to be the size they
are genetically programmed to be as long as they receive proper food and
exercise. Quite often the smallest IW in a litter ends up as the biggest
dog.
How do you keep track of them?
Many breeders use coloured ribbon or wool to
identify puppies. Others use nail polish and paint a toe nail.
What does the vet do with them?
The vet checks the pups and vaccinates them
and fills out a health report. Many breeders will also have the vet remove
the dewclaws.
What shots do they get and when?
Vaccination programs will vary slightly between
veterinarians. Most give a puppy shot (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza
and Parvovirus) at approximately 6 weeks, and ten weeks with a final adult
booster and Rabies vaccine at 14 weeks. There has been concern in recent
years that we may be over vaccinating and some breeders are now spreading
out their innoculations rather than giving the group shot.
What about dewclaws?
Most people remove dew claws at two to four
days, but some don't. A matter of preference.
Do tails or ears need corrections?
Tails and ears are not usually anything to
mess with. You get what you get. You can help rose them but we don't tape
or glue like terriers.
What support will breeder supply?
Breeders will vary in what they supply with
the puppy. Some simply supply the registration form (and some not even
that!) while others will also supply food, information about your puppy,
a pedigree and material about raising your puppy, toys, dishes, etc.. The
better breeders will be a 24 hour a day/7 day a week resource for you when
you have questions or problems.
What information do I need to take
my puppy home?
As a minimum you should
know what type of food the puppy is eating,what quantities and how often.
You should know what vaccinations the puppy has had and when it is due
for additional boosters.
How do I fly/drive the puppy home?
It is always safest for
your puppy to travel in a crate for his own protection. Some breeders will
not fly puppies until they are at least 3 months of age.
Should I give breeder my old clothes
so puppy knows me?
Yes, it is helpful to
let your puppy get used to your scent.
What will they do after the flight/drive?
The first thing the puppy
will need to do is to relieve itself. Have a collar and leash ready and
immediately carry the puppy to an appropriate place.
What is the wellness/health report
on the puppy mean?
Wellness report means
the vet has examined the puppy and states it is healthy and free of communicable
diseases. Or the breeder verifies whatever guarantee,such as free of genetic
problems.
Why should I see a vet when I get
puppy home?
You should see a vet
as soon as you get home to get an independant opinion to verify the pup
is healthy and free of problems, before you become too attached to give
it up.
Why does breeder insist that I return
the puppy if there are problems?
Breeders don't insist
you return puppy if there is a problem, only that they are willing to take
the puppy back if there IS a problem. Some have a clause in the contract
that says if you decide to not keep the puppy it HAS to be returned to
them. Sort of a safety net for the breeder.
What does "puppy proof"
mean?
Puppy proof is to remove
anything of value or harm that a puppy might find entertaining,but not
good for the puppy!
Many thanks to Kathy Cummings who
provided most of the answers to these questions.
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