I hadn't thought of that it could be worth looking into.............

As a small breeder reading this thread
It's a really scary thought, you just don't know. who or what anyone has done in the past unless they tell you.
i once phoned a propesctive owners vet (I had their permisson) the vet said
 "they couldn't tell me anything about this person as it was private info"    so that really helped NOT.
i just go with my gut feeling and unfortunatly sometimes we all get things wrong, luckly i've never heard of any of my pups having problems with their owners but i know this happens to animals across the UK (& the world) every day and the sooner we can get some kind of data base up and running that we can all use to check bans the better..

Hey!!! well done Storm!!!!!!!!!
my lot just stood behind me barking when we found a strange man in the back garden (just a drunk neighbour who got the wrong gate) they were really funny as they then stuck to me for the rest of the night.....bunch of softys.

also ask if the breeder will help out with training na dhealth questions later in life. does he/she keep in contact with any other puppies that they have bred? check if the puppies are handled on a regular basis and check out mums temperment hopefully you will be able to pet and handle mum, she may be a bit grumpy if the babes are young but you should be able to see what kind of girly she is. my girls all trust me so they them trust anyone i bring into the house and they are happy to be stroked and petted by prospective puppy owners.
anyone who wants to go on my waiting list has to meet with me (long before puppies are born) and prove to me that are the right family for one of my pups. so yes expect the third degree. if you don't get it.....worry.
make sure the area where the pups are is warm, clean and smells fresh... with that in mind there will be puppy poo but the area shouldn't smell "heavy" or dirty. and the pups should be clean and look content. don't expect them the all be running about. puppies sleep loads!!!!! but they shouldn't be sluggish.
mum may look a bit on the skinny side because most of the food she is eating goes to make milk to feed pups, but in general she should look happy and healthy. Ask what type of food they are all being feed on so you can stock up, changing pups food in the first few days of getting him/her home is not a good idea you would need to do this slowly over a week or so. defantly as about worming they and mum should have been wormed at least three times before you collect at eight weeks. and ask about seeing the health certs and Kennel Club registerations if it's not KC query.....why?????
all the best i hope every thing goes well and you soon have your fluff ball.

Hi
the treat ball i have is a canac (just looked at it) it's really tough and about ten years old so very safe to leave with him. i've never had a problem with pups eating cardboard i know they do eat it but....... it comes out the other end ok..... nice.......
what about blocks of soft wood? you can buy wooden dumb bells for chewing from most "pets at home" or big pet stores. and the plastic bottles i leave for mine are fine as long as you check them each time before you leave them out once they start to get over chewed and look like bits are coming off i throw them out and give them new bottles. i also leave out rawhide chews as once they start teething noting is safe  do you stuff your kongs?
what breed is your pup??

Hi
i'm new here as well.
it seems to be a really nice place and everyone is really helpful. you sound as animal mad as me, we have five dogs, three cats and a house rabbit. my husband thinks i'm totally bonkers and is worried every day i'll bring something else home    i've got some good care tips on my website about caring for your dog, i know they're cockers but on a whole puppies need the same kinda care you just need to amend for size and enviroment.
all the best

Oh also i meant to say try and remove some of your puppies toys when you are at home. this way when you go out or leave pup in another room to get used to being alone. the toys you put down are different!! if you leave the toys down all the time they will become boring. i have two boxes of toys and i swap them around once a week so they have "new" toys all the time.

Hi Mickey
the Molecuball (if it's the one i'm thinking of) is a hard plastic ball you can put treats in the dog then has to push the ball around the room to get the treats out. they are great as long as pup likes his food i've had the same one now for about ten years and each new pup i've had has played with it. Mine all like plastic drinks (cola) bottles as well. just make sure the lids have been totally removed i put the odd treat into the bottle and they happily throw them about the room to release the treats.
hope this helps

i leave my babes with OXO flavored ice cubes to crunch they love them. also rope pullys and egg boxes. they make one hell of a mess but the pups love ripping the boxes to pieces and i can get more in my recycle bin once the pups have set about them  

Bad news that.
i think though if she was one if my girls i'd just get her spay and let her live a happy maiden life, she may just not be a natural mummy. did you intend to breed with her? is this a normal occurance in her breed??
my vet recommended the "morning After" Jab for my girl, said it would be fine and we very nearly lost her  I'm not saying they're telling you the wrong thing but do some research first please.

Hi
i just joined today and i have to say what a nice place this is!!!!! i've checked out a few other forums before and thought "how rude" many anwers were. i thought the idea was to seek and get advice am i wrong?
But this forum seems to be a place where you can ask questions without fearing for your life.
thank you
Kitty
by the way i share my life with 5 cockers, 3 cats (2 moggys 1 ragdoll) and a buck rabbit called Susan. Oh yer and a husband!

Hi
that's really good advise (last Post), we have five dogs and three cats they all live happily togther often sharing beds, the cats are well above the dogs on the pack ladder (but don't tell the dogs that). Cat food on the floor isn't touched by the dogs as they know it's not theirs. we just brought each new animal home and let them sort it out. the cats can get upstairs to higher ground if the play turns too rough and they will also "tap" the dogs around the nose if the licking gets too much. All in all the live together as a pack and are happy to share the house. although if a strange cat comes into the garden it's seen off by all our four legged ones! we also have a house rabbit.

I totally agree that your dogs don't owe you anything!! you bought them because you wanted them???
i have been breeding for the last six years and as yet i haven't made a profit. that's not why i breed to make money.
regardless of this if you are determed to go ahead and breed from your female (even after reading all these replies) please do some research and buy a few books. breeding isn't easy!!!!! it can be very costly and can totally take over your life. on occasions it's heartbreaking.......
please think really carefully before going ahead with mating your girl. also you should really keep them apart as a mating should ALWAYS be controlled by you to lessen the risk of damaging both dogs.

Kitty

please don't do get your girl jab'd to come into season,   mucking about with her hormones may have a really bad effect on her. we had an accidental mating last year my dog climbed a six foot fence to get to one of my females who was in season, we took her to the vets and had the "morning after" jab not knowing this would increase the chance of pyometra. Four weeks later we had to have her spayed, besides the fact we very nearly lost a very loved pet we also had a massive vets bill.
please just hang on she will come into season when she is good and ready.
Each dogs cycle is different to anothers they don't all have seasons every six months.
Kitty