New breeder here. I want to breed my second litter with my golden retriever bitch. Her seasons tend to be 10.5 months apart.
I have been advised she may come into season slightly later after her first litter of 8 puppies.
The vet says she is in tip top condition. I have two questions.

1 do seasons often get a bit delayed after a litter?

2. If a bitch is in perfect health and super fit is it ethical to breed her with an expected 11 month whelping gap

> 1 do seasons often get a bit delayed after a litter?<br /><br />

2. If a bitch is in perfect health and super fit is it ethical to breed her with an expected 11 month whelping gap

1.  From my experience, the intervals between seasons can be affected after a litter.
2.  You need to check with the KC because it used to be that a litter from the same bitch wasn't accepted for registration in the second litter was born within the same 12 months.

You need to check with the KC because it used to be that a litter from the same bitch wasn't accepted for registration in the second litter was born within the same 12 months.


That only used to apply to licensed breeders or those who were members of the now defunct Assured Breeders scheme.

I had a very interesting telephone conversation with KC  a couple of weeks ago to check on this precise issue (because it is no longer printed in their rules and regulations of registration of litters).  I’m sure I’ve seen a required 12 months  interval written in their regulations.
They said that is NOT their policy and NEVER has been. I find this very strange as my husband, and also the owner of the stud dog I use, also remembers it, and now you mention it too. ????‍♂️ They said there is no reason why litters 12 months apart would not be registered, as long as there is no family inbreeding, and the bitch is over a minimum age. As Bella is 4 yrs old we easily pass this criteria ????‍♂️
But how strange that we all remember it, and they deny it as previous policy.

>But how strange that we all remember it, and they deny it as previous policy.

It is still the law (Breeding & Sale of Dogs Act) for licenced breeders ("bitches do not give birth to puppies before the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the day on which they last gave birth to puppies") and the KC has always required breeders to abide by national law. It was also a requirement for members of their own Assured Breeders scheme.

My question would be 'What's your hurry to breed from her again. Wouldn't it be worth waiting to see what her first litter turns out like to see if it's worth having another litter from her

Sulis - I too find it very strange because, and I'm 'old', I do remember there being a restriction BY THE KC re registering a litter from the same dam if born under a 12 month period. That would mean a litter from consecutive seasons.   Perhaps the KC staff spoken to is too young to remember

> I do remember there being a restriction BY THE KC re registering a litter from the same dam if born under a 12 month period.

That was only for Assured (previously 'Accredited') Breeders and council-licenced breeders.

> That was only for Assured (previously 'Accredited') Breeders and council-licenced breeders.

Not as I recall it - sorry.

I think you should let your bitch rest, let her have a natural season. In the breed it’s frowned upon. Reputable stud owners would not allow you to use their dog doing back to back breeding.

Reputable breeders don’t think about breeding so soon. Have you asked your breed club rather than kc?

I do remember, and this was out in the States, a couple had difficulty getting their bitch in whelp until finally she did produce a litter, albeit only a small number.   Having had such a struggle to get anything from her, they did a back to back mating which although not encouraged, was understandable.  She was then retired.  

Personally I prefer to let a bitch have a season between litters, if I took two litters from the same bitch at all!