Stick around, Jessica. You are getting (and will get) good help here.

Oops litter are regarded as very irresponsible by the serious dog folks on the board, but they happen.

It's GOOD that you are asking questions about what to do now.

As an amendment to my last post, since editing time is up, I am only cutting this kind of slack because she had been trying to keep them separated. I have zero tolerance for oops litter that weren't really oops litters, ie, someone decided to allow their dogs to breed because of any one of a number of idiotic "reasons." Jessica, it sounds like, had a litter even though she tried to prevent it. I know of several serious dog people/breeders who even occasionally have had a similar situation. For every legitimate mistake/accidental litter, I think there are 20 born to morons who simply don't care. I just think we should differentiate and help the dogs in the process.

For the sake of keeping things all together, here is what I posted on the other thread:

They are 4 weeks old??

They should be with the mother, no other dogs should be around them, they should be kept together, and you shouldn't be doing ANY training with them.

I dont remember exact feeding schedules, someone will correct me im sure, but at 4 weeks you can start weening them off the mother and giving them milk from a puppy dish (the kinda milk you buy at petsmart, not regular people milk I think). At 5.5-6 weeks you can start giving them mushy kibble mixed with the milk to get them started on solids.

Keep them with the mother till 8 weeks, then start seperating them with crates. You can start taking them away from the mother for short periods of time at 6.5-7 weeks to start getting them used to being away from the mother.

You shouldnt be worrying about training AT ALL for at least another 4 weeks. Personally I dont do any training till at least 6 months, if not longer, but 4 weeks is too young! They should be in a puppy pen with the mother, but low enough for the mother to get away from the pups when she is sick of them.

Most importantly, don't let your female get pregnant again until you know what you're doing as a breeder. This means spaying her, or neutering the males, or being very strict about seperating the female from all other males when she is in heat, for 21 days. There's too many "oops" litters as it is. Puppies are cute, but I'm sure the thousands of puppies that are put down every day from these "oops litters" aren't all that thrilled with it.

I came to this website when looking for advise on a very old aging cocker spaniel. Cocoa has been with us since she was 2 months old, and just turned 16 Nov. 9th.

Cocoa is blind, deaf, has always had ear issues, major surgery and all. She has now lost control of bowl movements. Seems to just go wherever she is, and when we put her in laundry room while we're gone, she will make messes, step in them or lays in them. It is so so sad. She doesn't seem to be in pain, when we pick her up or hold her.

My husband and I just don't have it is us to end her life. Are we being selfish? Bloodwork done this summer all came back pretty good for a dog her age. She continues to eat and drink, but continues to loose weight.

Can someone please help us? When she lays on my lap for 2+ hours sleeping, how I can I end her life? When she smells food being cooked in kitchen she comes running (or should I say walking in), so she does still have smelling abilites.

The vet told us at some point a major organ will fail, but heart/lungs both are great.....

thanks for any help or support or whatever.

Debbie, you'll get direct replies if you start your own thread. It gets too confusing if people jump onto others' threads. Just copy/paste your post in a new thread, and ask a mod to delete this one. And probably mine,too. LOL.

Hi Debbie,

I am very sorry to hear about Cocoa.
I am not sure what to say, since a situation like this is always difficult.

Here is an e-book that Ed wrote, and to me it is helpful.

Deciding when to PTS

Debbie, I'm really sorry to hear about Cocoa. It's not an easy thing being made to play God and decide the fate of someone that you have loved for so long and that has been a faithful friend to you.

I have put down three dogs in my lifetime. Not an easy thing to do, I know. However, one question that was given to me when I was trying to decide is, "Quality of Life". Do they have it? If you can honestly answer yes, my dog does still have a great quality of life, then I see no reason to push the subject. On the other hand, if she does not have any quality of life, then maybe the time has come to let her go.

You may ask what exactly is quality of life? Well, it is the normal, happy life of a dog. Is she still able to be a dog? To do all the things that made her happy in her life? If quality of life is gone, why wait until she is suffering to put off the inevitable? To allow her to live in pain would be harsh. ON the other hand if you believe that at her age she would pass on her own without incident or pain then maybe time will be your friend..???

Another thing that helps me to judge this issue is, I ask myself, what would nature do? Granted, nature can be a cruel mistress but for me, nature does what is best for all with no emotions involved, nothing is personal, it just is.

I really hope that because this is written in type that it doesn't come across without compassion or emotion, trust me, I know where you are and what you are feeling but you asked a question and I am sincerely answering the best way I can.

I wish you all the best in your decision and hope that no matter what you decide that the rest of the time you have with Cocoa will bring you great memories in the future.
God Bless

 Quote: Carol Boche

Hi Debbie,

I am very sorry to hear about Cocoa.
I am not sure what to say, since a situation like this is always difficult.

Here is an e-book that Ed wrote, and to me it is helpful.

Deciding when to PTS

It's very hard, but I try hard to remember that I want my dog to be able to eat, potty, and sleep in comfort.

What is the vet's idea about the weight loss?

 Quote: jenni williams

Debbie, you'll get direct replies if you start your own thread. It gets too confusing if people jump onto others' threads. Just copy/paste your post in a new thread, and ask a mod to delete this one. And probably mine,too. LOL.

And yes, Debbie, you have hijacked an unrelated thread.

If you would please just copy your original post into a new thread (go to http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/134 and click on "new topic" on the top left, in blue, paste your post in there) then I will delete this hijack.

Debbie, I logged back on because I wanted to say that when people who love their dogs as much as you obviously do are asking whether they are mistakenly waiting -- well, generally, IME, yes, it's about the time that they begin to prepare and to make their plan to do what's best for the dog without thought for their own pain.

I would read Ed's article and all these answers and search your own heart: Is the dog happily being a dog? If so, then maybe it's only time to recocgnize that the day will come; if not, then it's time to prepare to maintain as calm, and loving, and upbeat a feeling for the dog as you can while deciding on where, when, etc.

I have waited maybe a little longer than I should have once or twice, and I know that feeling. I know that I will never second-guess myself in the future after making the decision. We do our best --- and what a blessed gift that is to be able to give, when it's time.