Our Basset Hound is Prego

[bossynbella]

I don't think she should abort these puppies just because they are mutts. I agree her dog should of been spayed or kept away if they planned to breed her to a Basset. However that isn't what happened and now there will be puppies. Lets help her think of ways to find Good homes for them instead of Killing them. These could be wonderful puppies. Just because they are not purebreds doesn't make them unhomeable Many of my favorite dogs have been mutts.
Please get her fixed after this since you seem to be the only responsable one in the household. If they didn't notice she was even in heat they don't need to be breeding dogs.
Try local papers and even craigslist if you need to. There are homes out there for these puppies it just might take some work to find them.
Goodluck and let me know how it goes.
Melissa

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Just remember,Christmas is only a few months away and free puppies get picked up fast.

 

[horseyjess]

I agree spay her qucik!! A friend of mine had an accidental/ not so accidental breeding of 2 Bassetts and her dog had 14 yes 14 pups and she has been fighting to save them mom is underweight all ready and there are only 8 pups left AND they are only two weeks old!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Free puppies picked up for special occassions also get dumped at the pound (if they're lucky) when they are no longer cute little puppies.

I would do whatever necessary to get rid of the pups now, as stated before, the world doesn't need anymore unwanted animals. Go to your local animal shelter and love on all the dogs/cats there, chances are most of them will see the 'one way door'.

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Your right shelleyd,same goes for that cute lil pony people by their little girl and then dump them at actions because they lose interest.I doubt the OP would abort the pups because she didn't mention it in her first post.I would abort if she was only a few days/weeks pregnant.I hate when people wait till the last min to abort .If people were more responsible for their animals maybe there wouldn't be overpopulation.
But everybody is entitled to their own opinions.

 

[redhen]

I STILL dont see why people get all up in arms just becuse the dogs arent $2000 papered mutts..(yes..even PURE breeds are mutts...if you go back and check the breed lines..MOST..were mixed with other breeds to get certain wanted traits etc...like Saint bernards for instance..THey are mixed with Newfoundlands and Mastiffs... YET..they are considered PURE...)

and THEN..they named the dog a 'breed' and now they can charge $2000 a pup...

A dog is a dog...is a dog! In MY opinion..
Some of my best dogs were mixed...
and just because they are mixed does NOT mean they will end up in shelters..
I KNOW that i can go to my shelter right now and pick up a 'pure' breed dog any day of the week.

What REALLY matters is if the owners are responsible for the pups... if they find them GOOD homes...

 

[tonini3059]

Quote:
I agree!! Mixes have less problems, look at all the problems pure breeds have!
Found this http://www.dogpack.com/breeds/dogBreedsA.htm
I know that dalmations have problems with their skulls being to small and it causes mental problems, and Sharpeis being bred to be so wrinkly they have major skin issues. I know there are more I just cannot think right now.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Pure breeds often have problems because of backyard breeders and puppy mills, get a mix from the same environment and they will have health issues as well.

Just because you have a purebred dog, doesn't mean it needs to have pups. Many times people will have a pet quality purebred dog and will find the first purebred dog of the opposite sex and breed them to have "purebred" puppies.

Same thing with puppy mills, they breed anything that is cute or has papers. Pick up a purebred from a puppy mill or back yard breeder and pick up a "designer" mutt from the same place, chances are good both the mutt and the purebred will have issues. It lies in the responsibility and seriousness of the breeders.

 

[tharrell]

In my mind atleast this isn't an issue of mixes coming into this world. I am all for breeding mixes if and only when the resulting offspring have been produced to create a better dog to serve a purpose. Just as you said, all dogs are mixes. Those mixes were bred over many generations to create a dog with a certain look to preform a certain function. If someobe has a lab golden mix who is a supreme hunting dog and another person has a lab pointer mix who is as well I say great breed them to create a superior hunting dog! Same thing with sled dogs. All the best in the world are mixes. That's all top breeders will breed because they do the best job. And no, mixes aren't always healthier. If you breed two dogs of any breed with genetic problems the offspring will have or carry those same problems. Most pure bred genetic issues are caused by poor breeders who don't know their lines that choose to linebreed. My problem with this litter is that the puppies will perform no job or improve any breed. I also worry about the health issues the pups will have because of the genetic makeup of each breed. If she was willing to have every puppy spayed or neutered before placing them then I would be much more comfortable. As a breeder myself I will fix a dog that has one tooth go out of line That dog might have 50 champions in its pedigree, but that doesn't mean a dog is of breeding quality!

 

[KDbeads]

As stated a few lines up, even mixes have issues. I have NOTHING against mutts/mixes! Love my 90 lb mutt to death but she has MAJOR problems with anxiety, has serious allergies and a ton of immune problems. Purebreds from BYBs and mills have lots of problems as well.

Just because it's cute as a puppy doesn't guarantee it a home for life. If it did I wouldn't be needed in rescue. I wouldn't have 5 bassets or the mutt in my home right now. I don't have any more room for the next one that's going to the back room because someone no longer cared to keep their mutt or high dollar champion line puppy. As much as we rescuers want, we can't save them all but we'd like to be able to help prevent the overpopulation problem.

If the OP can get real homes for these pups, fine, but it's still early enough to prevent this pregnancy from continuing and most likely producing puppies that will have problems.