Just worked out thay my youngster has now gone 8 1/2 months since her 1st season and no sign of starting the second. I don't think I have ever had a bitch go the 6 months the books say. They are always longer between 7 1/2 to11 months.
I was just wondering what other peoples experiences are? have your bitches read the books? Are longer gaps between seasons quite common?

All my girls are different, one I can basically set the clock to 6 months to the day, her grand daughter every 12 months and didn't have her first till she was 23 months, and every 9 months seems to be the pattern with my other girls.

Mine have always been every 8 - 9 months, and Daisy's showing signs of having the same pattern.

I have a Papillon whose season was due in December. Still no sign of it. As I am wanting to have her spayed (she's too small to breed from) it's making it somewhat difficult!

My oldest bitch (7yrs) is every 8 months and was 12 months old at her first season. My 2yr. 4mnths old of same breed had her first season at 6months and had been like clock work until her last one where she was about 10 days late, her sister follows my older bitch in every season and was almost 9 months at her first.
Paula

It's like women, in fact the average for bitches is more like 7 months I read somewhere, but anything from 4 months to a year is normal.

Many of mine have had more frequent seasons at first, (4 - 5 months) and then seem to settle to around 6 1/2 - 7 months, but my two half sisters most recently one has gone 8 months the last few times the other has done 7, then 6, then 7 1/2 after puppies and then 8!

So the only thing I can say trying to enter shows is a nightmare and I have missed shows by not entering expecting a season, and they haven't come in, and then entered them and had to waste my money when they did.

It certainly does seem to be breed/line dependent to a large extent, and 10 month gaps was usual for my friends Welsh Springers.

I have a bitch who came in to season december 2010. She bled for a week and stopped.. none of my boys were remotely interested so we waited 2 weeks later she came back in to season, we mated her in January, she had a wonderful litter in March. We are still waiting for her to come back in to season a 14 months after her litter and 16 months after the season!! ARGH!!

one of my girls was just 12 months when she had her 1st season, then went 8 months then 6 months, and now losing her coat and dropping weight which is normal for her so looks like another 6 monther

My first bitch was 8 months at her first season and then went 7 months and from then on she added an extra week each time and my second bitch who was 2 yrs old when I got her joined in the same regime, the daughter of the second bitch would bring the other 2 in at 8 month gaps, I am now waiting to see what happens with my new bitch who had her first season beg. Dec., the youngest of the afore mentioned bitches has had a season    in March so they may not cycle together, just have to wait and see, would prefer they came in together as it cuts down the upset for the lads.

They tend to alter/settle down after a litter. I have found mine going every 4 months, which is a right pain when you are showing. But after a litter they tend to settle to 5 1/2---6 months.

im struggling to be patient with my girl now. been planning this mating for 2 years and she is now 2 months and 6 days over her season due date.
im beggining to wonder if she wants any more pups

If your planning a mating you can guarantee they will be early or very late ;)