I'm for breeders that cull their litters 100%. I'd like to know how many others feel the same way. I feel like there are many reasons to do this. I think if out of 8 pups and 2 have to be sacrificed for the litter to receive better care then so be it. I feel real breeders have to be able to do these things. I think it's much more humane to do this rather than let many dogs die slow and miserable. If that makes me Jack Kevorkian, then I'll live with it.

The only thing I don't know what I would do or expect done is when a litter is too big. I'd like to know what are some other reasons to cull, besides obvious deformities?

This is usually a very immotive arguement. Should be fun.

I for one do not cull for a litter that is too big (my last two litters out of my No1 bitch have 12 and 13 respectively) but rather prefer too get in and help the bitch out if that is necessary. I am not for one second saying that this is right or wrong but rather it is a personal decision for each breeder. I certainly do not have an issue with breeders that cull more regulary than I do. I will cull any pup with any obvious abnormaity at birth or soon after, or if the bitch is to seperate for any reason. I accept their judgement.

But if she is trying to keep them alive and I can help that a little I will. Others would argue that I am interfering with nature and whilst I understand this arguement I do not agree with it. Once again I let the bitch make the decision I am simply helping out so that the litter will be as health as possible. A very good breeder friend totally leaves the litter alone and lets nature takes it's course. Neither is really right or wrong, just a difference in ideology.

The only pup that I have culled after this time was the runt from my last litter at six weeks of age (the runt, if there is one, I will usually give away to someone who would like a pet, nothing more) as she was so fearful and of such low nerve threshold that I saw little if any real hope for her and with so many low nerve threshold Rottweilers in the community I decided the best thing was to cull her before I read about her in a newspaper somewhere after taking a piece out of some poor child. For me it was the only correct thing to do. The person I had lined up to take it (for free) got rather P***ed off but for me it was the right thing.

Mick.

I agree with Mick. The only reason to cull a litter is because specific puppies are deformed or seriously failing. If you are convinced that the pup is going to die and you are just saving it from a slow death then this is an acceptable practise.

I do not know anyone (nor do I want to know anyone) who kills puppies because the litter is too large. This would be a cruel and stupid practise.

I have raised many litters of 12 pups. If a surogate bitch is not available I will rotate part of the litter on mom and make sure she has the help to do the job for the first three weeks. I will also get pups started on milk replacer at 3 weeks rather than 3 1/2 or 4 weeks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I am going to close this thread.