Hi everyone I have a few questions that I hope you guys can help with.
My female yellow Lab is now1 and a half and has had one full normal heat and that was in the summer July I believe was her first and were now in Febuary and still no heat#2. Should I be concerned yet or are winter heats sometimes missed?
Iam only so concerned cause my dogs Aunt had one heat and one heat only when she was one years old and never had one again the vet says she may be having silent heats,has anyone ever heard of this before?If you have could you give me some info about it :))
Also does anyone have any thaughts on breeding large breeds that are prone to bloat.
Can you breed them?Is it safe?My female has never bloated but has had extreme gas when she eats food that contain Beet Pulp,Any thaughts would help :))
I will talk to the vet about this but I still want to know what you think cause Iv had more informed responces from here than the vet in moast instances.
Also when is the best time to start breeding 2nd heat or 3rd  looking for some opinions please :))
Thankyou in advance for your help.

I am assuming that your bitch comes from a knowledgeable breeder, who is the best person to tell you if she is good enopugh to be bred from, and that you have had her Hip Scored and eye tested with good results.

A large dog like a Labrador should be at least two years of age before being bred from, and in practice is likely to be nearer three depending on spaving of seasons.

Bitches can vary greatly with the length of time between seasons.  A normal season interval can be anything from 4 to 12 months apart, with an averge of around 7 months, so she should be about due in the next month. 

Some bitches show very little bleeding (I hae two like that) but there are little clues that they are coming in shortly.  Usually they will squat to pee more frequently on walks.  Just before the season the vulva will be starting to swell, and if you fel above it belwo the anus the are will usually fel a bit hardened.

At this point I dab the vulva twice daily with white tissue, and count day one from when I first get colour (blood).

To get an idea of what suitable dogs there are around I would attend shows, and see which dogs are producing the type of offspring you admire (especially if the mothers are related to your bitch).  As a Novice it is best to work with an experienced breeder to advise you, as they will know the dogs in your bitch's pedigree, and if knowledgeable witll know their failings and strong points, so that when choosing a mate for yoru girl you will not be as likely to fix her faults, and hopefully enhance her good points.

You should also consider that it will cost you in the region of £1500 to breed a litter, what with health tests, equipment and rearing costs, and that is withour problems during whelping.  If your reason for breeding is primartly to keep a pup for yourself, then it will be far cheaper to just buy one from your bitches breeders next litter.  Remeber once born you will ahve a lifelong responsibility for the pusp produced, and may have to take back more than one of them at any time in their lives for rehoming.  They usually come back because they are naughty, and having to rehabilitate an adolescent of Labrador proportions is not a task for the fain of heart.  Will you have the time and room to do this?

Even now that I am more expereinced with homing my pups I still on average have one pup in a litter come back at some point, anything from 5 months to 4 years so far.

Hi Daina.
In my experience it is varies greatly on the individual how long a bitch goes in between heats.  I've owned a bitch that went 5 months between heats, and now I own a bitch that goes 12 months in between.  She only comes into heat once a year.  Her dam however was like clockwork, came in to heat the beg. of Feb. and August each year without fail.  I wouldn't worry excessively about this... you might however talk this over with your vet if she still does not show any signs come fall..... 

Many large breeds are prone to bloat, I own an Irish Wolfhound, and they've been bred successfully inspite of this tendency, as has the Great Dane and many other large breeds... I must admit I don't quite understand your question.  But must add, if your bitch does not seem to tolerate certain foods (extreme gas) I wouldn't give it to her.. simple as that.

As to when to breed her, I would wait until she is at the very least two years old, preferably two and half or three.  Definately not before third heat.  And as to breeding in general Brainless anwered that one very well. 

The breed I've the most experience with is the Icelandic Sheepdog, which I've owned and bred for 16 years.

I woudln't worry either.  Just like women, every dog is different.  My Golden didn't have her first heat until she was over one year old.  Since then, the heats are 9-13 months apart.  We didn't breed her for the first time until she was almost 3 years old, and she missed.  So on her next heat (10 months later, now 3 1/2 years old) we bred her again and were blessed with 14 pups.  :)

Hi Daina - as you have seen, there are people who have given you good advice here, and I hope they have reassured you a little as well.

Here comes more important advice - it is essential that you have your dog hipscored - your vet will advise you, and you can have that done now (if you are in the UK).    I would also advise that you buy and read The Book of the Bitch (available from Amazon) which will alert you to other questions that you should be asking.

Brainless has posted a really excellent item on costs of breeding which I would recomment that you read!

Hope this all helps you - and welcome to the Forum

Margot

Thankyou everyone for the info and my dog is going to be hip scored and eye tested just as her mother was,I will do the utmoast to insure her safety and that of the puppies also to get the best possible results from her babies.She is of good breeding quality and her breeder is my mother and she has also been breeding for many years, I have bred her mother sucessfully and so far have never had any pups come back,I know its not to say that I wont and am prepared for that if it were to happen,Iam still in contact with moast of the owners of Obby's past litters she just had her 3rd and last litter she is being spayed before her next heat.The reason for my question regarding Ruby's heats is that she is showing no sighn's as of yet and wanted to know if I should be concerned I have never had a dog that didn't go in heat twice a year or even went this long without having one,I would go to mom for some advice on this but she is very buissy as my Grand father has been sick she was taking care of him,but he died last night in the hospital.And am sorry if my question about the gas problem was a bit confusing,I know that large breed dogs a prone the bloat but I guess what I was trying to ask was if you'r female has already had a problem with extreme gas is it safe to breed her in the future? She will be seen by the vet on all these issues before make any kindove conclution. So thanyou all for your help and concern :))

before i had nellie spayed shed go 9-12months between seasons!

Just to add to what has been said. Just about any dog can bloat but Labradors are not one of the more "At Risk" breeds.

Your bitch is already old enough for eye testing and should be tested every year. The big risk with Labradors is Hereditary Cataracts which can be early forming but more often than not are late forming which means anything up to 8 or 9 years old! Because of this do not be satisfied with just a, "Oh, he's been tested only a few years ago and is clear." Insist on a currant pass.

As to seasons, if you count the months to the first season then the second COULD be about the same time on from there but I would not be bothered if she was a month or two late. I've had Labs who have cycled at every 5 months up to every 11 months and often the frequency does not settle down until the second or third season.

If you really want to breed a litter I would be thinking about the third season. This will give you the summer to look at possible stud dogs at shows or working in working tests. Study pedigrees, talk to other breeders about what goes with what. Possibly there is a progeny class at the breed show which would give you an idea what the dog throws.

Just a few thoughts.

Best wishes, John