Hi -

What do experienced breeders consider to be an appropriate amount of time to allow between first and second litters? 

Especially if the first litter is somewhat late - ie - the bitch is 4 yo for the first litter?

This is a large breed.

Thanks...

Should be a minimum of a year, which allows a season inbetween, even if the bitch is 4.

minimum of 12 mth gap

Great, thanks guys.

It's 12 months from me - even in my toy breed.

So guess we are all pretty unanimous!

12 months like the others unless the first litter was a singleton in a medium/large breed.

Another vote from me!

My medium - large breed girl just had her first litter a month after her 4th birthday (we had prefectly planned it for 3 but then hip score x rays got lost by the vets and a split season meant it just wasn't to be).  We'll hopefully breed her again at 5 or 5 1/2 depending on her entirely she has coped with the whole thing very easily and is as fit as a 2yr old.  With my large breed I didn't feel she was fully developed until 2 and as they are a breed thats slow to mature I wanted to make sure she could cope.

Would never breed on a consequtive season at least a year for me, i'll leave the 6 month gaps to the puppy farmers

for me 12 at least!!

Like the others 12 months but as our bitch had a very large litter we will wait 18 months.