Optimum Age For A First Litter

[turb065]

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As there are many breeder that read this site, I had a discussion with a animal health care proffesional, in their opinion it is after the bitches first heat/season, is this the general opinion, if so when should a bitch stop having litters?

All opinions appreciated

 

[June Jonigk]

I wouldn't consider breeding from a bitch until she was at least 3 years of age. I think seasons are immaterial really, because some bitches don't have a season until 2 years of age. If for instance a bitch had a season at 2 years old, then didn't have another for a year, I would say it's OK to mate her on her 2nd season. Strangely enough the showbred bitches I had were later in starting seasons, and they were longer in between, than the race bred ones.

 

[peppermint lady]

i think you should never breed from any bitch that is under 2 years old, as June said its not a matter of how many seasons, more the age to be taken in to account.

3 to 5 is a good age, anything under 2yrs i think is wrong, i will be interested to read others views on this subject

 

[eve]

I believe that the Kennel Club will not register pupppies born to bitches after their 8th birthday. A bitches or dogs 'Prime' years are considered to be from 3 years - 7 years.

I do not breed whippets myself but would say that the best time to breed is between 3 years and 6 years. You also have to consider the age of the bitch having her first litter. The older she is, the greater the risk of complications when whelping both to the bitch and her puppies. If you are considering breeding from an older bitch that has never had a litter, there could be complications and bigger Vets bills to say nothing of the effect on the general health and wellbeing of your bitch. Another consideration is the nature of your bitch. nervous bitches do not as a rule make the best mothers.

Hope this helps

 

[peppermint sue]

I think their are no justified reasons to breed a bitch under 2yrs of age they are still babies themselfs

3yrs is early enough .

 

[T Hoare]

Deffinately not under 2, as this gives the bitch a chance to mature & to be honest if folk can't wait until then, they should not be breeding.

I did have a first litter form a bitch of 7 years with no trouble at all and others have had litters from bitches of 5 or 6 for first litters.

Whippets on the whole, do not have major problems whelping but I would say better to be 3 or 4.

 

[Seraphina]

Most vets will say that Whippet bitch is perfectly well mature at 18 months to have a litter, and that it would be preferable to have her first litter say between 18 months and 2 years than after 4. Basically the possibility of having complications whelping first litter is gradually increasing with the bitch's age. Young bitch has a very pliable pelvis but as she matures it calcifies and the labour can be more difficult. A friend of mine who usually breeds first litter from her bitches at about 4, has had quite a large proportion of caesarians.

I prefer to have a first litter from bitch at about 2, rather than later. I also usually only have 2 litters from my bitches, the first at about 2-3, and the second by the time they are 4. I know bitches who had a litter (the 3rd one) at 9 years without any problem, but i really cannot see a reason for doing that.

 

[rls22]

Most vets will say that Whippet bitch is perfectly well mature at 18 months to have a litter, and that it would be preferable to have her first litter say between 18 months and 2 years than after 4. Basically the possibility of having complications whelping first litter is gradually increasing with the bitch's age. Young bitch has a very pliable pelvis but as she matures it calcifies and the labour can be more difficult. A friend of mine who usually breeds first litter from her bitches at about 4, has had quite a large proportion of caesarians. I prefer to have a first litter from bitch at about 2, rather than later. I also usually only have 2 litters from my bitches, the first at about 2-3, and the second by the time they are 4. I know bitches who had a litter (the 3rd one) at 9 years without any problem, but i really cannot see a reason for doing that.

I am of the same opinion.

I would not have a first litter from a bitch any older than 5.

 

[05whippet]

Most vets will say that Whippet bitch is perfectly well mature at 18 months to have a litter, and that it would be preferable to have her first litter say between 18 months and 2 years than after 4. Basically the possibility of having complications whelping first litter is gradually increasing with the bitch's age. Young bitch has a very pliable pelvis but as she matures it calcifies and the labour can be more difficult. A friend of mine who usually breeds first litter from her bitches at about 4, has had quite a large proportion of caesarians. I prefer to have a first litter from bitch at about 2, rather than later. I also usually only have 2 litters from my bitches, the first at about 2-3, and the second by the time they are 4. I know bitches who had a litter (the 3rd one) at 9 years without any problem, but i really cannot see a reason for doing that.

I am of the same opinion.

I would not have a first litter from a bitch any older than 5.

I am of a similar opinion as both Rachel & Lida,though for me I would prefer not to breed from a maiden bitch after 3yrs as the pelvis does "fuse" (as Lida has said above) and there is a higher risk of complications and ceasars after this age....it's a bit like humans,the older a woman becomes her fertility levels start to drop and the more difficult it is to concieve and also to birth,in humans there is also a higher risk of birth defects too. (again as Lida has mentioned above) I know quite a few friends who have experienced complications which usually culminates in a section & in some cases the loss of part of the litter when they have bred from older maidens as have I in the past and for me I would no longer be prepared to take that risk. Personally I think 2yrs old or thereabouts is ample time to consider breeding from either a dog or a bitch.

 

[T Hoare]

Well my bitch had 5 pups on her first litter at the age of 7 with a slip mating & had absolutely no trouble at all.

Her gran also had her first litter at the age of nearly 6 with no trouble at all.

I wouldn't normally leave quite so long but there should be no reason why having a first litter at 3-5 in my opinion.

 

[Seraphina]

If you ask obstetrician what is the optimal age for woman to have her first baby, they will answer 16-18. That doesn't mean that no woman in her 30s can have a normal delivery of her first child, i am sure some in their early 40s also manage, but with age the odds get worse.

There was a time that my vet would come if needed any time; and I did have to call him once at midnight Saturday, he arrived from a dinner party in in his tuxedo, and we had to rush to his surgery to do a forceps delivery. But now my No.1 vet lives over 100km from here, so no way to come in emergency, vets I use if I cannot get my vet do not take after hours calls. The only way to get after hours vet is to go to one of the 24 hours emergency clinics, where you get whoever is there; the vet on the duty may be great, maybe terrible. In any case the idea of having to pack my bitch in labour into my car in the middle of the night, and drive some distance only to have to trust total stranger to do the right thing by her, terrifies me. Therefore keeping the possibility of complication to the minimum is my first priority.