I've grown up with dogs all my life and my mother always had our bitches spayed.  I'm now thinking about getting an irish setter bitch but have been advised that I should let her have one litter before having her spayed as most bitches are supposedly calmer after their first litter.  Is this true?

The short answer is no! There is absolutely no need for her to have a litter before she's spayed - it's an old wives' tale that it's beneficial. Having a litter is very expensive (health checks for hereditary illness etc) and time-consuming, and you will have life-long responsibility for all her pups. Dogs mature in their own time whether or not they are bred from (my 12 year-old bitch, who had two litters, is just about settling down now!).

Thanks, you've just reiterated what I already suspected and you've put my mind at rest.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the time with my first bitch

Hiya

I have two Irish bitches and I agree with the above post. A bitch doesn't need a litter to calm her down and mature her. My first bitch was a bit flighty until she had her first season, then she was like a different dog. She wasn't a big chewer or destroyer in the first place but as I said before she calmed down naturally herself after her first season. My younger girl is 12 months old and I am waiting very patiently for her first season, as I must admit as she is a bit of a holy terror. I'm unsure about all breeds but I'm pretty certain that with every season that goes by they will become that bit more quiet and well behaved. In my opinion perseverance, consistency, kind, gentle but firm training without any violence is what is needed to help a puppy mature into a well behaved dog. Most of all enjoy your girl and have lots of fun with her.

Alli

Enjoy your bitch - that's a lovely breed!
:)

Got to say with my old girl it did quieten her down when she was pregnant but then she went back to normal afterwards well almost!  She did remain slightly more sedate as she had her daughter to look after so had to be a grown up.  I will also say when I used to breed Westies it never made any difference to my bitch then.  Unless you want to breed for a good reason then I really wouldnt recomend it.  Its hard work and you are tied to the house and constantly have to have cover to look after them not to mention the expense and vetting potential owners.

I agree with the other posters, we have a rather scatty cocker spaniel bitch who had her first litter last year at 2 1/2 years (we did this on behalf of her original breeder as for various reasons this girl ended up as the last in her particular breeding line). I can't begin to describe the amount of work, and cost!, but previous threads have described the commitment and problems very well. Although I really enjoyed the experience and was very well supported by the breeder, who would have had her back if we prefered for the duration, I don't know if I would ever repeat it. As far as calming her down, she was rather subdued for the first week or so after the puppies left but is now back to usual scattiness with a vengance, so no long term change for us. I did find anyway that I started to miss her 'normal' behaviour during this period and the other impact I had not fully realised was the effect on the other dog a walking and keeping to usual routines for him was quite difficult when looking after pups etc.