The Hardest Thing About Raising Puppies
You know, the hardest thing about raising puppies isn’t cleaning kennels and scooping puppy waste three times a day. It isn’t getting up three times during the night in the puppies’ first week to make sure everything is ok. It isn’t staying up all night with their mommy when she is in labor. It isn’t keeping track of who’s who and who needs what every single day. It isn’t being tied down to home every day for 8 weeks so the puppies all get the time and attention I believe they need.
The hardest thing about raising puppies is having to say goodbye.
I am there in the whelping box with their mother as she gives birth……. I am holding them when they aren’t feeling well…….I am there with them and loving them every day for the first eight weeks of their lives…..
……and then all of a sudden I have to say goodbye. It is hard. I miss them.
But now this litter of nine puppies is bringing much joy to nine different families. And that makes me happy. 🙂
Oh the puppy is so soft and cuddly after a bath!
Liesl gets to spend some special time with one of her boys just before he leaves.
Liesl and Robey saying goodbye to their boys.
Liesl spending a little time with one of her daughters the morning she leaves.
There is nothing like a puppy.
Avahaus German Shepherds 
Thinking you you, Sweetie! You have done a wonderful job taking care of these precious little ones. Their new families will always be grateful to you for giving them such a good start. Hug!
Ava, you said it! There is really nothing like a puppy!
My family and I are very pleased with our Bo. When we got him he was one of the best behaved puppies we ever had! You really did a good job with your puppies, Ava! 🙂
Thank you for our Bo! 🙂
Kristin
Seeing the pictures made me so sad! I love our Blue Boy (Max), but I can see how hard it is to say goodbye. We are so glad that he is in our family and he is truly a wonderful puppy. Thanks for all your hard work and for your continued help while we raise him to be as wonderful as his daddy!
Yes, nothing like an adorable puppy. It’s been 9 years since our black lab was a cute puppy. 😦 🙂
I’m sure it is just so hard to say goodbye to them.
I have enjoyed seeing all the pictures of them growing up. 🙂 Congratulations Ava!
this blog entry made me tear up!! I’m sure it is hard for you to say goodbye to all of these wonderful puppies Ava!! We are getting along so well with our boy Rusty…he has made a wonderful addition to our family and we would like to thank you for doing such a great job socializing him and teaching him things ahead of time…..it has made all the difference in the world. Great Job Ava!! The Monroe Family
You did a wonderful job. Ava! And, are now spreading joy in many different states. The pictures were sweet!
Love,
KJ
My Dad trains and sells hunting dogs. We just had a litter of nine pups too and I got to pick one out for keeps. I tried my hardest not to cry when I said goodbye to the first two males that went. But when the next three females went I was absoulutely heartbroken. When the time comes for the puppies to be weaned from their mom I immediatley become the adopted mom to all of them. I have been saying goodbye to the puppies and dogs I loved for a long time and it is still a heart break to see every one of them go. We love our Bo (orange boy) so much and we have had a blast with him so far. I almost cried on this blog because I know how hard it is.
Kayla
Awe this entry is so sweet! Again, we are so impressed with your site & follow up during this entire process. You have been wonderful to work with & we have already recommeneded a friend of ours who is looking to get a German Shepherd puppy in the near future to call you when he is ready. We adore Ruby (purple girl) and how well she has been cared for. She is so sweet & after a few days already knows how to sit & lay down on command. She is so smart! Thank you so much for our beautiful girl!
I’m sure it is extremely hard. There’s no doubt that they were loved and received excellent care, though. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see them before they went to their new homes. Thanks for sharing the pictures. I’ve really enjoyed looking at them over the last few weeks.
Mev
Nooooo! Wilson’s gone!!!!!! -snif-
aww, it may be sad to let them go, but i am happy they all
got a nice home!
We breed Jack Russells and I agree, the hardest part is the letting go. I want to make sure they are going to good, loving homes. Your puppies are adorable! Blessings ~ Dee
What a sweet post…the mom with her pups is a beautiful site to behold, and you with the puppies shows the love and compassion you have for animals…my 10 year old daughter has a heart like yours for animals!
Thank you for lovingly caring for the puppies and for finding good homes for them!
God bless you!
Kelly
Ava,
You are soooo right! We have a litter of Toy Rat Terriers right now. They are two weeks old and just have their eyes open. Now is when we really start to get attached and it is so hard to say good-bye. This is our third litter of puppies we’ve raised and it doesn’t get any easier. But it is so rewarding and it is teaching our kids lots of responsibilities. Our “Chloe” is such a good mom.
Laurie
Thank you for introducing me to this beautiful site. I was following a link from Trivium Pursuit [to leave a comment and enter a drawing 🙂 ]
My oldest son has an 18 month old shepherd/lab mix that is a joy to our family.
What is the best thing about raising puppies? Or is it too hard to just choose one? 🙂
—
Stephanie
We are looking in to becoming German Shepherd owners in the very near future. Thank you for a glimpse in to the breeder’s experience! What a wonderful priviledge to help bring in to the world and foster precious new life!
(Posting another comment for the Trivium Pursuit contest.)
Hi Ava! How are your beautiful dogs? Are you looking forward to more puppies? 🙂 🙂
Like losing a part of your soul each time – I couldn’t do it.
They’re adorable. We haven’t raised puppies yet, but someday we would like to…we just have one puppy now and two kitties. We just got two baby bunnies today, and my kids are going bananas! Well, okay, I am too. This is just one of the many joys of homeschooling for us…
That was a sweet story. I liked how you had photos. The puppies were cute. I once had two fish. One was a purple fish and the other was a goldfish. But they died pretty fast. I buried one of them in our backyard. The other is down the toilet. I think I’d rather have a puppy than a goldfish.
Haddon
Age 9
Thank you for sharing your bittersweet experience with us. Such beautiful photos and a very touching blog post.
You have beautiful pups. It makes me miss the puppies I use to raise over 10 years ago.
Love hurts. 😦 And then comes the day when our human children are grown….
Your dogs are absolutely beautiful! I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to say good-bye to the puppies. My husband has mentioned breeding our cat, but I have a feeling we’d end up keeping the kittens for this very reason!
Shannon
Your dogs are adorable! I love how you raise dogs so that others can enjoy them too, that is so special. We adopted a Jack russell terrier this Christmas for my son who has special needs. He was terrified of dogs, now he is holding him and playing with him.
Ava,
I just wanted to leave another comment on this article. 🙂
I want to thank you again for our Bo. He has brought much joy to our lives! He is one of the best puppies that we have ever had! He is a very smart puppy. It’s hard to believe that he is a puppy actually. He is huge! The only thing that gives him away is when he acts like a puppy. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Kristin
My father never allowed me to have a puppy. I never understand why, but now I know that he just wanted to avoid me any kind of suffering.
Finally, after I get marry and leave the house, my parents feel alone and they get a dog. Lanita was her name, a little albino boxer, they just to send me pictures of her each day, but suddenly being still a puppy die. It was hard for me, it is hard to have to say bye, bye.
Yes, goodbye is the hardest! They’re so cute you can’t help but become attached. It helps to know they are going to loving homes. Hang in there, the next litter will bring new joys.
Ava,
Your blog made us feel like we were a part of Shylo’s life since his birth, even though we were so far away! You did a wonderful job with your website…but you simply could not have done a better job with the loving way you raised these puppies. It truly shows in the comments above, and our boy Shylo is the best puppy in the world! He is smart, extremely gentle with our 3 young boys, and a pleasure for all to be around. Thank you for everything! 🙂
Julie, Al, & the boys
[posting a comment for the Trivium Pursuit contest]
When I was a teen, my family had a breeder for Canine Companions. Her name was Shonda and she was a beautiful red Golden Retriever. She had four litters of puppies. I still remember the sights and smells. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I loved being there for Shonda when she birthed the puppies and helping care for her and the sweet puppies. We even got to name them. Canine Companions gave us a letter of the alphabet, and we got to choose the puppies names. Let me tell you, finding 6-7 O, P and Q names is NOT easy! But after all that, we had to say goodbye to the dear little things. That was HARD. Even so, I wouldn’t wish to not have the pain of farewell – there are too many good things I would have missed.
–K. Hewett
Yes, it’s hard to say goodbye. At our house it’s not just limited to puppies. Every animal that leaves our little farm is sent off with a great deal of tears by my daughter. It’s hardest for her to let go of the baby goats that she bottle fed.
Your puppies are precious! I enjoyed looking at your website and admire the time you invested in training your dogs and growing the puppies…I know the families who received the puppies really appreciate your time and love!
Hi,
My mom used to raise puppies when I was little. They were fun to have in the house. I would like to be entered into the Trivium contest.
Thank you!
Cathy
After being their second mother for eight weeks, saying good-bye
must be soooo hard. The puppies are just adorable! I’m sorry your
heart is breaking.
(For the Trivium Pursuit Contest)
I am having a hard time tonight, My Molly girl gave birth to 5 very healthy puppies 7 weeks ago. And tomorrow the first two will go to their new families. I know they are going to good homes, BUT THEY ARE MY BABIES!!! I was there for each of their births and have been there for them since. I feel like Mama too!! I don’t want to say goodbye! I love them so much and like you cleaning up the poop and all the extra that went with it never bothered me. All that has ever bothered me is letting them go. I saw them born and watched them grow and I really want to continue watching my babies grow. I am keeping one, and the other 2 will leave friday afternoon. It is a sad time, but I do try to keep thinking that I have found good homes for them and that they will live long happy, healthy lives and be loved so much!!! I just want them to remember how much I love them and remeber me!!
i so know how you feel!! my sabre had 7 pups (her first litter) and me and my boyfriend are very knew to breeding german shepherds. our first one left for her new home today and im so sad! although we are keeping one of sabres bitches i am still so guilty letting them go! but the most happy thing is she is going to a fab home to a new mum and dad to have loads of fun and a happy life!!! im dreading the others going now!
I discovered your web site when I was searching for something not related at all, but this post came up as a top result, your site must be so popular! Keep up the good work!
Your post made me cry a lot… will say goodbye to my first litter in 2 weeks… I never thought it’s gonna be this sad…
I have 6 puppies and I have fallen in love with each one and it makes me really sad when I think about letting them go.
I just bred my first litter of Siberian huskies. It was quite an experience. I have been sleep deprived for the past 2 1/2 months, however when it came time to say goodbye it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. At one point I tried to figure out a way to keep them just so I wouldn’t have to. It got easier seeing how happy they made their new owners and the joy they’re brining. It was good to hear someone else with the same emotions. My husband thinks I’m crazy because I cried before each goodbye.