I saw a post (somewhere else) where a breeder said they had lifted endorsements for just one litter and notified the KC. I always thought once the endorsements had been lifted that was it the dog could have up to four litters registered with the KC.

I am not a breeder and nor will I ever be.

That is how I understand it.  I don't see how you can put the endorsement back on after one litter as the bitch will not be registered in original breeders name and you have to be as well as bitch being in your care when placing them.

The only way that can be done is if the bitch has been bred and still owned by the person with the litter. They could lift the endorsement so the litter could be registered then re-instate it afterwards.

Yes,  the bitch could be transferred back into ownership of the person removing endorsement,  litter bred by them,  and reinstated while still with them,  before being transferred back.

I could see this being done to ensure a bitch that was a carrier for a seruos health condition not being inappropriately mated.

I think there should be a way of one off endorsement lifting so such wangling is not neccesary.

Apart from the few occasions I've seen where the KC, in it's wisdom, have agreed to remove endorsements a BREEDER has put on an immature puppy when sold, when approached by the new owner, I thought endorsements were put on immature stock (to protect the breed and those bloodlines) and could ONLY be removed by the breeder/person putting the endorsements on in the first place.   All this putting on, taking off, and putting back on just complicates matters, as in so many things these days.   Now I know why the elderly get to think it's all too difficult to the point it's time to pop off!!   It's like scanning, letting a male and female go at it until they don't etc.etc.    I know things move on, but moving on isn't necessarily improving things - by a long way.

A person may take a litter from a bitch and then decide based on what she produced that she was not a good breeding prospect and decide to home her, they can then put the endorsement back on if neutering is not a good option(some breeds it negatively effects the coat for showing etc).

In the past a person would rely on someone's word, but as you have found sometimes basing ones dealings entirely n trust can be a mistake.