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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / age for first litter
- By qwerty Date 19.01.09 13:13 UTC
hi, ive read on here some peoples views on how old a bitch should be to have a first litter. im just wondering why people  think a bitch should have had a first litter by a certain age? health reasons? or other?
thanks
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 19.01.09 13:35 UTC
Health reasons. As in humans the risks with a first baby/litter become greater the older the mother. IMO the best age for a first litter is 3 years old; not before 2 and not after 5.
- By qwerty Date 19.01.09 13:48 UTC
the reason i ask is that in the future i would like to breed from my gsd bitch. if i did go ahead my thinking was that i would breed in two ish years (she would have just turned 4) and someone made a comment that it was too old.
- By Blue Date 19.01.09 14:08 UTC
I would specifically ask fellow breeders, exhibitors , or working freinds what their opinion is. 

People will give opinions based on "their" breed but it varies greatly from breed to breed also.
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 19.01.09 14:13 UTC
Is she hipscored?
- By qwerty Date 19.01.09 16:36 UTC
not as yet-obviously i would never consider breeding if she had poor hip or elbow scores- its just a possibility for the future.
- By ChristineW Date 19.01.09 16:46 UTC
I don't consider 4 old.  My bitch had her first litter at 5 and a second aged 7.  If they are fit and healthy that helps, a bitch could be 2, flabby and untoned and have a dreadful time whelping whereas a 4-5 year old, muscular & toned could pop them out like peas.
- By qwerty Date 19.01.09 17:09 UTC
well shes extremely fit, as i said earlier i compete with her. i didnt think 4 was old its just someone on here said it is too old for a first litter. thanks for your advice.
p.s. i only plan on having the one litter from her.
- By Brainless [gb] Date 19.01.09 18:32 UTC
Also I find that the maternal instincts weaken with leaving the first litter until longer.
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / age for first litter

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