Cross Breeds

Getting my dogs fixed, aim a little nervous!?

i dont usually ask for advice but here it goes!! :) I have two shih tzu's, full breed. Theyre my hairy babies.. lol Love'um both to death! There's Milo, he is about ten months old, and Coco, she will be six months in a week. Theyre both going to be fixed on Friday. If they were to have babies, i would have good homes for all the puppies... friends have been asking about it because they think theyre cute and a very docile breed too. Anyway, Coco could go into heat any moment, and Im not home all the time to make sure nothing happens (if you know what I mean). I could lock them in different rooms I suppose... but even when Im sleeping? Its too much trouble for me and my doggies, and I think its just mean anyway. I've read if puppies get pregnant at six months during their first heat cycle, its bad for the mother... and the puppies could be still born, or she would still be too immature and not know what to do with them. Even if that all went great, I have four young children. Two four year old twin boys, a 6 and 8 year old. I would be a nervous wreck. Soooooo I thought, duh, lets just get them fixed. I never got them for what they could give me... I just loved'em when I saw them! I grew up with 2 also, RIP Snowball and Chewie!! They were both boys tho, so i dont even have experience with newborn pups. Everyone i know is giving me flack about getting them fixed because they are both showdog quality. Am I wrong, or over reacting? I figured if they wanted a dog that bad for free, they could go to the pet shelter. Anyone had their dog fixed? what should I expect when they get home... anything i should pick up at the store? Im a little nervous about it. Thanks for listening!! Wow, I hope you all are reading the question right! Where did backyard breeder come from? Maybe a little support and less badgering. I haven't done anything wrong They are going to be fixed, what can i expect when they get home from the vet?

Public Comments

1. What's even meaner then locking them up is letting a 6 month old puppy get pregnant. It is not mean to keep them separated, it is responsible. If your friends want a Shih Tzu there are thousands in rescues and shelters they could adopt, instead of bringing more unneeded puppies in this world. Show quality means nothing unless they are earning titles, you will be nothing more than a back yard breeder, if you breed your dogs. Do the right thing for the dogs sake and have them spayed and neutered. It's good that they are getting it done at the same time, that way they can heal together and no chance of one playing to rough with the one trying to recover and rip a stitch, the vet will let you know everything you need to do, it can take a couple weeks before your dogs are back up and playing, but before you know it they will be back to their selves. ADD: I am not "badgering" anything all I said was that IF you did breed your two dogs, you would be considered nothing more than a byb.....I do not see how that is badgering, but ok.
2. There isn't much you should be expecting when getting them fixed. It's not a very complicated procedure. The vet will go over everything with you so you know what's going on. I think that getting them fixed is a good plan.
3. Fixing your pet is the BEST thing. Dogs aren 't free, even shelter dogs charge a small adoption fee. I alway fixed my pets, and NEVER had an issue. No change in temperment, behaviour or personality. Show dogs DON'T need to be breed, If you friend wants puppies-Tell her to the visit the animal shelter! Instead of asking to create more unwanted dogs and tell her NOT to go to a PETSHOP The Reasons People Should NOT Breed Their Dogs: •I want another one just like my dog. This never works according to plan. When a dog gets pregnant, the puppies will take the father's traits, personality, and physical, and the mother's traits, and mix them up, taking some of one, some of another, and developing their own altogether. You will never get a perfect match. In stead you may end up with the worst traits of both dogs. Even cloning a dog (see Cloning Your Dog) has proven that while a genetic match is possible, looks and temperament are still in the hands of Fate. •I want to make money. I can't believe people can still think they can make money off of puppies. The cost of breeding will overshadow any profits you think to make. The puppies need their first shots before going to their new homes, the mother needs frequent check-ups, and heaven forbid if something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong. •I want my children to witness the miracle of birth. This "miracle" can now be easily viewed by both children and adults thanks to such wonderful programming as "A Baby Story" and "Maternity Ward", both available on cable television. Not only that, but how much of a "miracle" will your child be seeing if your beloved pet dies halfway through delivery? •Puppies are cute, there's always people who want puppies. No, unfortunately this is the most ignorant assumption made these days. Not everybody wants puppies. Hundreds die everyday because of the lack of homes. How heartbreaking to hold a twelve week old puppy and put her to sleep because somebody thought for sure there would be somebody else who wanted her. For every puppy born, three die in shelters. There are too many out there and not enough homes for them all. If this is not enough reasons to stop you from breeding your dog, then here are a few more: Complications in birth and pregnancies happen all the time. You could face losing your dog to death, and all the puppies with her. Will YOU pay the $1200.00 for a much-needed emergency cesarean section when she cannot deliver the pups? What about sexually-transmitted diseases? That stud dog you had picked out may have one. They are more common than you think. How about genetic diseases? They abound. Breeding is not a careless affair, it is so much more than bringing bitch and stud together during a heat cycle. Please think it over carefully.
4. it's a very good idea to have your dogs fixed. don't second think it. it's the right choice :) theres a lot of dogs out there that don't have a home, and if you breed your dogs, then theres a ton of other dogs that wont get a home cause of it. and if the people who take in your puppies don't spay/neuter them, theres more puppies and so on. even though they are show quality, please don't breed. anywayyyy. lol as for keeping them apart, just try your best. nothing major will happen before friday. what you do is you'll take them in and then the vet will check them over, you'll go home and your dogs will get their operation that day and then you will pick them up the next morning :) they will be tired and groggy, probably a little sore but just let them rest and give them their space. don't let them romp around too much for a few days until they are fully healed, especially the female. the Coco will have an incision in her tummy and if she plays too hard it can break. Milo will have a tiny incision where his parts used to be.. lol. they'll be back to their selves in about a week. =] lots of treats and tons of love will make them recover better. good luck! xx
5. You're absolutely right! Don't worry about what your friends think- they're not their dogs! The girl's surgery is more involved than the boy's so she'll be sore a little longer. You might ask if your vet recommends any pain meds for her for the first few days. I would keep them separate the day after surgery. It will be important to not let them play rough or do a lot of running for the first week or so. They should be leash walked & not just put out in the yard during this period. You'll be asked to withold food the night before surgery. Also, just like with people, anesthesia will slow the bowels down. I'd plan on picking up a can of pure pumpkin from the grocery store & give them each a little bit with each meal to help them "get going" again. Thanks for doing the responsible thing!
6. I've had six dogs total (all American pit bull terriers) i currently have four of them two stay with me and two with my parents for protection. All my dogs are male so idk when it comes to your female but three of the four dogs i own were fixed. The dog will be a bit calmer than before but he wont really change he'll be the same dog as b4. when your dogs get home they will have a cone around they're neck to prevent them from chewing at the stitches. There isn't much you can get from the store just make sure they have a soft place to lay down and they'll be back to normal in a few weeks. p.s. you only need to get one of your dogs fixed to prevent pregnancy and will save you a little money. you will also need to give them they're pills the best way to do this is put a small amount of peanut butter on a small piece of bread then place the pill in the middle of it and fold it in half and feed it to the dog
7. Kudos for getting your dogs fixed! "Dont Breed Or Buy While Homeless Pets Die"
8. Both will need a quiet place to go where they can rest & recoup. So you can place their beds someplace like that. Do not allow them to jump on or off of the furniture or beds. As for picking anything up at the store, I wouldn't bother. The female will have stitches & should not be rough housed or picked up. You will be instructed to bring them both back in for a check in 7-10 days. They will then remove the stitches & be sure the incisions healed correctly, etc. But for a day or two, I would try to just let them be. They will let you know when they need to potty or when they need to eat or if they want attention. Try not to worry about it, you are definitely doing the right thing.
9. Your friends might see your dogs as the cute little things they are but they don't care about them like you do. They aren't the ones who have to go through all the drama and problems in trying to keep them separate until Coco is old enough to breed which wouldn't be for another 18 months at least. You are quite right in being concerned about her getting pregnant while still a puppy. She needs the calcium and nutrients in her body for her to grow up strong and healthy and if she were to get pregnant the puppies would deplete these important nutrients in her body so she wouldn't be healthy, and neither would the pups. Having so many young children to look after is enough of a job for anybody, let alone adding newborn puppies into the mix. There are so many things which can go wrong when breeding - the need for a caesarian, mother rejecting the babies, mother killing the babies because she isn't mature enough to be a mother, to name a few. You could well end up having to raise a litter of newborn puppies for 2 months, on top of looking after your own babies. I wouldn't want to have to do that. It doesn't matter how well bred your 2 beautiful dogs may be, if they haven't been shown and had success in the Showdog world then they shouldn't be bred. There is a big difference between "champion bloodlines" and being a "Champion". I think that you are doing the right thing for yourself, your family and your dogs. I am sure that your friends will be able to find some lovely examples of the breed for themselves without you having to go through the expense and worry. As your dogs are obviously well bred why don't you suggest they get one from the breeder of your dogs?