Yes, that's what I meant; I'm really sorry if it came across like I thought your comment or knowledge was irrelevant in general Dogz, because you're absoloutely right; learning about breeding is incredibly interesting, especially so when the bitch's welfare is in question.

I have to say I am not exactly clear what people mean by their bitch maturing mentally confused
I never noticed any great change in mine from first season to about eight or nine years old when their energy levels would begin to reduce somewhat, either before or after a litter or if not bred at all.  Is this what people mean?

Have you only owned smaller dogs? Larger breeds definitely don't grow up mentally and stop behaving like puppies until 2 years plus. The difference is very obvious. For instance my 12 month old Mali bitches still act as if they were about 4 months old, the same very puppy like behaviour, but my 3 year old bitch (who has not had pups of her own) is far more sensible, and it's in the past year she's grown up so to speak.

I had no idea about Cavs needing to be bred after a certain amount of time so that health tests could be carried out at a more mature age, are there any other breeds that have similar terms?

It's not so much the parents that matters here, as THEIR parents, i.e. the grandparents of any pups. That's to ensure no dogs develop a heart murmur before the age of 5, so you ensure the grandparents are at least 5 years old and heart clear. Waiting until 5 to breed would be too long, so 2 ½ was picked which means the grandparents will be at least 5. You can MRI scan earlier than 2 ½ but then it is recommended to re-do it at 2 ½+. I don't know of any other breeds the same BUT in the US you don't hip score until 2 so there it would follow that breeds needing that done could not be used for breeding earlier.

>They have round abouts the same amount of breeding life, but just at different times.

Ah! ah!  At last.  Somebody has hit the nail on the head!  :-)

> Have you only owned smaller dogs? Larger breeds definitely don't grow up mentally and stop behaving like puppies until 2 years plus.

No I haven't but I do know they take longer to mature physically as this is something I see in puppy classes so it does not surprise me that they continue to behave in some way like puppies even if no one has had a go at actually described these characteristics :). 
However I do not see this in my breed.  They are still lively and joyful, merry is their traditional description, throughout their life until infirmity restrains it and having puppies does not seem to inhibit this. 
I have not reason to suppose that others breeds where the breed clubs support breeding before the age of two should be any different.

> They are still lively and joyful, merry is their traditional description, throughout their life until infirmity restrains it and having puppies does not seem to inhibit this.

being grown up and mature does not mean they do not continue to be playful and lively, and I wouldn't say any of mine have shown infirmity until shortly before they died.

But then their breed description is 'Bold and Energetic' LOL

I suppose in addition to being lively and Joyful they develop wisdom and common sense that they lack when immature.

Maturity doesn't detract from them, but enriches their qualities. This is why I never understand those who wish their dogs were puppies forever, as this is the last thing I would wish, one reason I am not in favour of early neutering, but that's another topic.

I think dogs continue to grow in wisdom and common sense throughout their lives, one reason why I love the oldies so much, much in same way as humans do.
Being a mature woman myself I might say it is a good job we don't wait until a decent level of wisdom grows in us before having a family because the human race might have died out :-D

Seem to remember you are known as a older mother once you reach 30.

> But not to the Breed Council :-)  With respect, I don't think you can have a larger or more knowledgable concensus can you?

And with all respect I'm not sure why you're singling out Rodach.  Many breed clubs/councils set a minimum age however you'll find a consensus within the breed that believes it's better to wait that bit longer so have a generally accepted rule of thumb that is later than the recommendations.  So I don't understand the issue.

> And with all respect I'm not sure why you're singling out Rodach. 

I am not sure what you mean.  I would say the same to anyone it is just that I was responding to her post :)

> Many breed clubs/councils set a minimum age however you'll find a consensus within the breed that believes it's better to wait that bit longer so have a generally accepted rule of thumb that is later than the recommendations.  So I don't understand the issue.

If you mean people can follow their own code then of course they can but the issue is whether that smaller group has the right to tell someone else that they should be following their rules rather than the Breed Club which by its very nature is a larger group. 

> I am not sure what you mean.  I would say the same to anyone it is just that I was responding to her post :-)

Because others on this thread have spoken of what is generally accepted in their breeds, and not all of them are as young as their breed clubs' code of ethics, but you appear to have picked up specifically on Rodach's post as some sort of contradiction or offense.

> If you mean people can follow their own code then of course they can but the issue is whether that smaller group has the right to tell someone else that they should be following their rules rather than the Breed Club which by its very nature is a larger group. 

I didn't see anywhere that anyone was telling they should follow their rules rather than the breed club.  I saw people saying that the 'general rule' that people followed was a particular age.  I saw no one saying the breed club was wrong - just that generally people felt more comfortable going later.

I think it's like that with MANY breeds.  The breed club code of ethics provide a bottom end - it doesn't mean it's the ideal age - just the minimum age they feel ethically comfortable recommending.

> Because others on this thread have spoken of what is generally accepted in their breeds

If you read the posts again you will see all prior posters did not claim what was generally accepted but had given their personal view.
I asked Rhodach to clarify if she was just speaking for herself as her avatar suggested her breed and what she was saying was not in line with her breed council.
It certainly didn't cause me offense, I was debating the point that is all.  I hope that clarifies that :)

> The breed club code of ethics provide a bottom end - it doesn't mean it's the ideal age -

Goodness no.  It's the minimum not an obligation :) but I think people were indicating these minimums are too low. "Far too low" was mentioned in the first two posts alone.

I think we have covered this thoroughly now. I've certainly answered the OPs question as to what I think and people know where to look for the minimum age applied by the Breed Club or Kennel Club.

It  depends  on the  breed, toy  breeds  normally  have  litters  earlier  than a  large  breed, for me  as long  as  all health  tests  are in place  and the  bitch is  on  3rd  season  or  over  18 months before  being  mated.   You  normally  find  younger  bitches  whelp  more  easily  than older  bitches  on  a  first  litter.