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I would
like to take a minute to speak to those who are new to the wolfdog world and who
are just beginning to get the notion you would like to breed or own several
animals.
It's no picnic folks! Owning wolves and wolfdogs is a full time job!
It is expensive in both $$ and time. They can consume you. If you have a mate in
your life or ever plan to, they must be as committed to the animals as you are.
It really isn't enough that they "understand" your devotion and
commitment to them. They have to feel it too, at least to some extent because
there will be times when they (the animals) will have to come first. The house
payment may be due but one is sick and needs emergency medical care. The house
payment will have to wait. The kids need new school clothes but you are out of
the high priced feed the animals require so the animals get fed and the kids
make do with hand me downs or only a couple of new outfits. It's Christmas but
new fencing has to be purchased because you have 2 females who are coming into
their own and one of them is going to die if you don't separate them.
Then comes breeding time. That can stress any sane person. It is a constant fear
that one of the more aggressive animals may tear out of their pen and try to
kill another animal. It is a constant commotion with females wanting to fence
fight. Some males tend to become overly possessive of their mates and can turn
nasty during the breeding period.
The list goes on and on.
I am ASSuming you have done your pre-sales and have properly screened homes and
qualified buyers for those expected pups long before you allowed breeding to
take place. If not, I surely hope you separated "Rover and Lady" and
never allowed them to breed.
After breeding season, there is a lull for about 6 weeks. Then you have to start
preparations for the new arrivals. If you don't already have birthing areas set
up, that has to be done. More money and hard work!!!
When you separate the dams from the sires there will be
constant crying and again, the worry about one getting out to find his/her mate.
Then comes puppy season. Joy, joy!!!!! "Oh SH--!!!!!!! Kismet had 7 puppies
and I only have 4 qualified buyers!!! Now what????" You get on the phone
and call everybody you know. You talk to other breeders and explain your
predicament and beg them to send any buyers they don't have pups for to you (and
pray they will).
If they are high content, chances are you will have to pull and bottle feed the
pups. Now don't get me wrong. I loved my pups and I have missed not having them
but by the end of puppy season, this was one tired, stressed out old lady.
Starting at about 10 days, sleep becomes something someone else gets, not you.
You are up feeding every 2 to 4 hours. All 7 of them are screaming at once.
"Damn, have I already fed this one or was it that one?" The bedding
has to be changed several times a day. The washer and dryer never shut down. The
microwave goes out and you have to get into town to buy another one before the
next feeding with the car payment money. Better run by the grocery store too and
pick up more formula makings. "Never dreamed it would take so much to feed
the little rascals. Hell, I'm going through 3 cans of goats milk a day at a cost
of $2.00 @ and all that high priced yogurt, and on and on. Oh well, that's ok.
I'll make enough off the pups to buy that new set of tires for the
car."
"What's this? Why have the pups got the runs? This one looks weak!"
Off to the vet's office you go. "They have coccidia? The medicine is how
much??????? You gotta be kidding! and I gotta give it for 2 weeks?" Between
the vet visit, the worming and the medicine, you just spent what you expected to
get for at least 1 of the pups. There went the house payment again. Oh, yes,
let's not forget about the puppy vaccinations. Even if you give them yourself,
it is expensive and they will need a couple of shots each before they are placed
in their new homes.
The pups need to be socialized so you hold and cuddle the nasty little buggers
and talk to them and rub their tummies and beg your mate and/or kids to do the
same. "But Mom, I have a date and I just got my shower!" "Sorry,
Hon. I am just give out from a long, hard day. I really don't feel like
it." So you do it all.
Now they are old enough to let out on the floor to play. You buy stock in the
paper towel and the pine cleaner/disinfectant companies ahead of puppy season if
you are smart because you are gonna use a LOT of each. Also, I hope you and your
family don't mind that the carpet will never be the same not to mention those
hardwood floors.
The buyer you were just sure was RIGHT for one of your pups so you didn't get a
deposit tells you when you call to let him know his pup is ready, "Oh
sorry, I meant to call. I got a pup from Joe Blow a couple of weeks ago. I'm
sure though you won't have any trouble placing the pup. Thanks for the call. Do
keep me in mind for next year." Yeah, right.
So now you have 4 un-placed pups and they are ready to go and they are eating
you out of house and home.
Then you get that dreaded call. One of the pups you placed last year has to go.
The owner can no longer keep him. "What to do, what to do?" You build
another pen with money you absolutely DON'T have or you find someone else
willing to take him.
This is only a small part of what it means to be a wolfdog breeder and why it
takes commitment from every member of the 2 legged family.
If you are thinking of breeding, read this letter again and keep it with you and
remember, I just hit some of the highlights. There's a lot I never even touched
on.
--
Christine
http://casalobo.com
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