Boxer puppy incident at the breeders.?
The breeder and my 6 week old pup were in a tornado last weekend. I am going to cut and paste from this email he sent me describing the incident. The puppies were all ok but my question is , is it possible for them to suffer some type of long term pyschological effects from this type of incident or will it even remember this problem in a couple weeks.
Hello all
Last Friday afternoon we were hit with a tornado. Knocked down – up rooted large shade trees in our yard where the Boxers were. The little ones were in their dog houses and the falling trees smashed the dog houses they were in. We don’t know how the puppies survived it but they didn’t get a scratch. Carolyn and I were in the house and didn’t have the tv on and didn’t know it was near us until it hit. I was ready to run out and gather up the little Boxers when it hit with nearly 100 mile an hour winds. The trees started falling and I just knew the babies were killed. As soon as it was calming I ran out in the rain and found the little guys still in the mashed dog houses except for two that were scattered in the debris. The white one and the black brindle females were blown in the debris. I searched for them for 2 hours and finally located them under a shrubry bush at the corner of the house. Little things werre scared to death. We brought them in and dried them off and gave them lots of loving. They all snuggled up together and went to sleep and they were fine. That was a close call for us and the little Boxers. The huge trees learned over the house but the twisting winds twisted them to the south missing the house. The Mobile HOme was untouched next door where we keep all the infants. I had just taken the 6 week old pups to their outside pen-dog house in the grass because they were needing space to play. They would have been safe in the Mobile Home.
Just thought I would let you know what happened to us and that everything is fine. We decided to not let the little Boxers leave until they are 7 or 8 weeks old due to the trauma they went through. We are afraid that after that and then going to a new home would be just entirely too stressful to them. Thank you……….George & Carolyn Hart
ps.
The local newspaper made these pictures of us after we retrieved the little puppies and they will make headlines in this weeks paper. The thought it was a miracle that the little Boxers wern’t hurt. And we thought we would pass them along to you.
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11 comments
DJL on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
Why does the word "mobile home" just SCREAM backyard breeder to me. "The Mobile home where we keep all the infants" For gods sakes they are PUPPIES, not babies. How many "infants" do they hvae at any one time? Reputable breeders do not need to have a whole HOUSE set up to house puppies.
Also, what do you mean they are going to now keep them until they are 7-8 weeks old.
REPUTABLE BREEDERS NEVER let puppies go before 8 weeks old. In fact in California it is against the law for puppies to be sold before 8 weeks.
RUN from this breeder.
I would not get a dog from them if they were the last people on the planet.
debeee on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
Dogs live in the moment. They should not even remember this event.
Jamie<33 on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
Since they are so young, there is a big chance that certain objects, people, or types of weather will trigger the memory of this event. God bless those poor little puppies.
alias boxer on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
Probably not the answer you were expecting, but I’d advise you to pass on this breeder altogether, not just the puppies that were involved.
First off, puppies and mother should be kept in the house with the family. It disturbs me that she had a litter of very young puppies outside in a doghouse, and even left them there during a storm.
Second, puppies should ALWAYS be left with the breeder until 8 weeks old. The fact that she was planning on letting them go at 6 weeks tells me that this person is not a responsible breeder, and therefore I can rightfully assume that she is not breeding to better the breed. That means her dogs are not health tested for genetic diseases (there are many serious ones associated with boxers) and she is probably not concerned about the temperament of the breeding dogs either. I’m very sorry, but I don’t think it would be a good idea to go through with this breeder.
To more specifically answer your question, yes, this even could very likely affect the puppies’ temperaments for life. Puppies go through "fear periods" during development and while they might be a little young to be entering the first "period" I also have a feeling that the fear period guideline was probably written with the thought that pups would be with their breeder in a SAFE place before the age of 8 weeks.
Here is some more info on finding a good breeder, and a little bit more on WHY you should pass up this one.
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/view_back-yard-breeder-byb.htm
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/view_boxer-dog-health-testing.htm
Please read this one.
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76541
Jen again on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
They will be fine and most likely will not remember. If they are frightened of storms in the future, it is probably because they just are, not because of that experience.
Puppies should not leave the mother till they are 8 weeks old anyway, possibly 10 if not fully socialized or not eating well.
Salt&Pepper Apricot on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
What scares me is these people have puppies in the back yard and not in the home. This is either a puppy mill operation, or a Back Yard Breeder. Neither of which is good.
vis on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
in most state it is illegal to sell puppies or kitten..even birds unless they are 8 weeks old..and they must have shots and a certificate of health from a vet
minaussiemom on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
The "trauma" that these puppies went through is nothing that they’d remember. The real trauma here is George & Carolyn Hart, who are clearly unknowledgeable "backyard breeders" who don’t know enough to realize that no puppies should EVER leave their mom/litters before they are 8 weeks old. The trauma is that they keep so many "infants" that they have a mobile home for the litters — in other words, they are breeding so many litters that they can’t even raise them in their home.
They are not quality, knowledgeable breeders. Run away from them and look for a local Boxer Rescue who can help match you up with a dog. Or, contact a RESPONSIBLE breeder, who breeds only a couple litters a year (from multiple parents, not the same ones over & over) and who never lets a pup leave the mom/litter before it’s at least 8 weeks old.
Just a girl... like no other! on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
I think you need to look for another place to get a puppy.. not because of the tornado but because THEY WERE GOING TO LET THE PUPPIES GO AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE?!! That is WAY too young and now they are holding them to 7 or 8 weeks? Ugh.. they are supposed to hold them for at least 8 weeks to get properly socialized, tornado or not!
I don’t mind breeders but what makes me mad are those who are so eager to get rid of the pups at way too young an age. They don’t care about the pups, and they don’t care about the future pups’ owners.
As for the tornado, yes these pups will be traumatized. Whatever happens up to 14 weeks of age is what molds the pups. That is why it is said that between especially 10 weeks and 14 weeks of age that you need to expose them to everything, people, sounds, animals.
Zinger on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
well given that they were not aware of impending storm after being JUST taken to the yard.. and given that they are NOW going to wait one additional week (coindentally 7 weeks is the fear age for dogs) or possibly 8 weeks I ‘d say run from this sale. .. As to the long term affects.. probably will forget all about it unless reinforced. btu I am not dog shrink.
eliz on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
don’t buy from them at all.