Does anyone know when winter edition of DH newsletter from club due out?
Thanks

It shouldn't be too long now - as far as I know, Joan's got all the stuff in and it's just a case of getting it printed. It should definitely be out well before Christmas.

Sid - thanks for that I look forward to recieving my copy. Make a cuppa, feet up and a good old read of the newsletter

I received it in the post this morning, its a very interesting issue.

I've still not heard anything from my application.

I think it's normal as they only have meetings occasionally. My application took ages.

Got mine yesterday too! I love it, trouble is, nothing gets done when it arrives!

CiCoch wrote:


My application also took an age - apparentley they only meet so often to decide who they will 'let in'. I rang up in the end and it wasn't long after that the letter 'approving' me came.

Just recieved lastest copy of newsletter and was disappointed to read a bit about the culling of deerhound puppies by M J Girling. Surely by knowing that deerhounds usually have very large litters if it is then a problem to rear '14 puppies or more' why breed in the 1st place? I cannot condone culling puppies just because they are surplus to requirements or are 'hard to sell' and why should it be your vets responsibility to find the puppies homes and why should vets approve of culling?

Rant over - for now!

houndy wrote:


I've not read the article, but I should imagine the 14 puppies would be a problem for anyone... bitches don't have that many nipples! I think any bitch would struggle to feed that many pups, and that would be detrimental to the whole brood. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it though - I guess it would be puppy formula and midnight feeds !

Well , my youngest puppy is from a super litter of 15 puppies - all thriving, sound and healthy , as is the mother , who 2 mths after whelping already attended a show ( with getting an excellent grading at the Suisse Club Specialty ) and lure coursings again. She reared the litter almost completely by herselffor the first 2 weeks , though the breeder offered extra milk early on to whoever puppy wanted some ( only a few took it ) . The breeder's first 2 litters were 13 puppies each and she had been hoping for a " relaxing litter of 8-10 puppies " , but no such luck. By the age of 5 mths everyone has found beautiful homes - 2 staying at home . As far as we heard ( from a vet and deerhound breeder ), deerhounds tended to have bigger litters in former times ; if mom and pups are doing great , I'd think good so , it might show some good strong " life force/vitality " in the line.

Verena

That's great to hear and is fine if the breeder is prepared for some hard work and to be prepared for problems in selling the pups.

The article I was referring to (in latets edition of D/H newsletter) was in response to the KC general code of ethics number 3 that states that 'no healthly puppy be culled'. Miss Girlings responsed to this by saying that she personally worries over agreeing not to cull puppies and refers to D/H's having such large litters and the problems rearing them and finding them homes

At the risk of starting a flame war, I'm with Mary Girling on this. Fortunately, I've never had to consider culling, but if I felt that it was in the bitch's and remaining pups' best interests to reduce the size of a litter, I wouldn't hesitate for a minute.
Mary quoted Miss Noble and Miss Hartley as being in favour of culling. Both of these ladies were in a position to keep any and all of the hounds they bred, so financial considerations didn't come into the equation, but they were both well aware that the Deerhound gene pool needed to be kept as open as possible, so that rearing six puppies from each of two litters was ultimately better for the breed than rearing twelve from one litter.
We shouldn't be getting human-centred ethics and good stockmanship mixed up. Anthropomorphism is the eighth deadly sin in my book.

I don't disagree with culling but I am not sure I could do it. Thankfully we have never
had to make that decision.

Evryone is entitled to their opinion, Sid. I certainly couldn't do it but then I don't agree with it either.

Why breed from a dog that you know is capable of having large litters in the first place? I suppose if it was a life or death thing, then it has to be done, but not because it is going to be hard work raising too many pups, not nice.

Methinks I had better keep quite hear otherwise I will end up being banned from this site!

All I will say is that I do not think being opposed to culling a perfectly healthy puppy (or any animal) for reasons such as not being able to sell them is anthropomorphisim (SP)at all.What is wrong with human centered ethics and relating it to animals? I believe it is called moral goodness. We, as humans, mess too much with animals as it is. Who are we to decide which puppy lives and which one is culled? Sorry but it makes me go cold and I am so glad that I am not a breeder.

Are you saying puppies are culled in the womb or after being born?

MrsMc wrote:


Is this question for me?

After they're born. I know it's not an easy decision to make, but I do believe it's in the Deerhound population's best interests to keep diversity as great as we can. I was discussing this very subject with a friend earlier today. She's been in the breed for much longer than I have and she says that it used to be a condition of being allowed to use a stud dog that you would cull a litter if more than a certain number of pups were born and it was certainly the norm when I came into the breed in 1981. As I said earlier, it's a matter of stockmanship and the greater good of Deerhounds as far as I'm concerned, but everyone has to reach their own moral position on issues like these, and I wouldn't presume to lay down the law on how to go about breeding and managing a large litter. But I'd like to retain the option nonetheless.

Sid - I totally respect your opinion and the fact that you have so much more experience of DH's than me - I just don't agree with culling. But that is what I like about this forum. People can and do have a difference of opinion but no-one gets nasty about it

If culling is to maintain diversity then why not neuter the surplus puppies. There are plenty of people wanting Deerhounds as pets who have no desire to breed from them. They could be sold for less money but enough to cover the cost of rearing them.

I agree that we have already interfered too much with species other than our selves. We've wiped out wolves, bears and lynx in this country and many farmers would like badgers to be next. I know the arguement for wiping out wolves, bears and lynx's was that they attacked people but that was a very rare event and not a reason for exterminating the species.

I understand that somebody wants to re-introduce wolves on an island off Scotland but is being stopped "In case they swim to the mainland". I've heard it all now!!!