I have been wondering this for a while and thought I would put my thoughts out there and see what others think.

When I have more than one bitch[max 3 so far] they all come into season together within a day or two of each other, my early ovulator[ Chase in my avatar] wasn't always the first one in but was always the first one ready, as she was classed by herself and the others as top bitch could this force an early ovulation as in the wild only the alpha bitch would mate?

Chase had 2 seasons before I got my second bitch and showed no signs of being ready to mate till day 13/14, being new to breeding I kept very detailed notes on the calendar including when Rhuari started wee tasting 7/10 days pre seasons starting. Her first mating on season 3 was also the first one where there was a second bitch who came into season first but I wanted Chase pups before my new girl who had pups before I got her and they were only 10 months old. Chase was mated 4 times[not every season] to different males based on her reactions in those first 2 seasons and the current one and missed, realised about early ovulation after 3rd miss so tried again mating on day 9 and 11 and still nothing.

One final try after her bloods being tested and my males sperm count being confirmed, mated days 9/11/13 resulted in 3 pups seen at 39 days and day 61 on fresh stillbirth and 2 partly decomposed pups, just over a year ago now, she wasn't meant to be a Mum.

So those of you with multiple bitches who cycle together got any thoughts on my theory re early ovulators?

I think it's individual to a bitch. 

My lot have synchronised at times, but currently they were two within a week of each other (but one who has had a litter just been spayed), and another is only 18 months (had second season in July)and is totally out of step with her Mum and Aunt.

Anyway if anything mine have got later over the years rather than earleir.

Barbara Thanks for your input.

My present 2 bitches, Maizie had her first season at the beginning of Dec after being returned to her breeder at 8 months old and came to me end Jan., Lexis the 3yr old from my first litter had a season at the beg.March, Maizie had her second one the middle of June so waiting to see what happens next, hoping to mate Maizie on her next season, have 3 possible studs lined up including my Rhuari[cream brindle] , Elvis [Choc/tan] and Freddie [Bl/cream choc carrier] both outside studs in different parts of the country.

Lincoln is compatible too but I am worried that him being shaded red and her being a choc carrying bl/cream may throw up some poorly pigmented pups,he has no choc in his pedigree,need to discuss this with some breeders who do lots of choc matings, as I have other options at present there is no great hurry.

I'm glad that in my breed the only worry with colour is keeping to medium shades, unacceptable amount of white or sooty markings in the light areas, and having sufficiently desired dark points. 

It's hard enough trying to deal with producing type and construction wit hour being sidelined too much by colour.

I did pick a breed with more colour/pattern variations than any other breed,any white is undesirable[ US has even more,majority of which I don't like]though I didn't realise it at the time, thought there was only reds and black and tans, never seen or heard of brindles or dapples.

Many concentrate on colour/pattern too much before conformation and temperament, I know there are No No's in C/P so once everything else is OK I ensure I am not going to make any deliberate mistakes.