At what point should one be concerned about the number of whelpings for a female dog, when we are talking about a top priced standard poodle breeder who does genetic testing, etc.?
For example, would a 5th pregnancy in an 8-year-old dame give you pause? How about, if asked how many litters the mom has had, the breeder gives a vague answer?
I am starting to feel like some others on this board, that it is hard to trust breeders. Even when they look good on paper, there seems to be a lot hidden things going on. I was trying to help my son purchase a standard poodle puppy with tail and dew claws intact.
His breeder agreed in the contract to leave these intact. Then she accidentally cut off one dew claw, but still says that they "turned down" the puppy (who is still less than a week old) and declines to give back their deposit until the puppy is sold.
That, added to the age and number of litters for the mom, really makes me wonder.
For example, would a 5th pregnancy in an 8-year-old dame give you pause? How about, if asked how many litters the mom has had, the breeder gives a vague answer?
I am starting to feel like some others on this board, that it is hard to trust breeders. Even when they look good on paper, there seems to be a lot hidden things going on. I was trying to help my son purchase a standard poodle puppy with tail and dew claws intact.
His breeder agreed in the contract to leave these intact. Then she accidentally cut off one dew claw, but still says that they "turned down" the puppy (who is still less than a week old) and declines to give back their deposit until the puppy is sold.
That, added to the age and number of litters for the mom, really makes me wonder.
