do the "do" with a 6 month bitch .Douglas and the dog next door keep getting into the garden together.They seem to be making new holes on a daily basis even though we puppy proofed it.Im worried as though she hasnt had her first season yet its not going to be far off (she`s going to be "done" after her first ).Are we ok at the moment? or do we need to stop leeting them into the garden?
chrissy

No a 16 week old Cocker puppy will not be able to mate a bitch - most would not even be interested at that age (though I'm sure there are exceptions :-) ) I certainly know of no known cases where a Cocker pup that age has succeeded in getting his leg over so don't think you have to worry :D Still I would get your garden secured properly - bitches don't necessarily all have their first season at 6 months -some can be very much later, by which time, Douglas could well be old enough to "do the deed"!

Jane

Don't know about cockers but a friend of mine had 18 week old JR pup that she left in the car with her in season bitch, result 3 pups.

That just blows the mind!

I don't know a great deal about cockers, but as they are much quicker maturing than my breeds, I would have though it was possible, having known a 20 week old pup who sired a litter!

Yeah but Douglas is a particolour Cocker - they don't tend to be that quick on the uptake :-)

Jane

LoL Jane - I don't know how you can suggest such a thing;) :D - my Jasper is a smart as they come (well in my dreams anyway). But I must admit one thing - he was never behind the door when it came to doing the man thing. Buddy on the other hand hasn't a clue.Bless.

Pam n the hot boys

I think they're easier when they don't have a clue :D Our older boy was like Buddy - he took ages to get interested in girls & didn't cock his leg until he was 2 - makes up for it now though! The younger one has always been one for the ladies, but even he didn't make any real moves until he was 7 months old or so. I guess they are all different :-)

Jane

Do you think that a dog cocking his leg coincides with mating a
bitch? A well known breeder told me once that a dog can not
mate a bitch until its cocked his leg. I have never been sure
if thats right or not.
I have a youngster who is 9 months and only just starting to cock
his leg. His brothers were all cocking their legs at 6 months.
I have heard of dogs mating bitches at 6 months but not heard of
it before that.
Nutkin

Don't think that's always true - our older boy had mated several bitches before he even thought about cocking his leg so the two obviously didn't coincide for him, although it probably does for others

Jane

I don't think that cocking the leg is a reliable guide at all.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Thanks everyone ,
i must admit to been a tad nervous as even though we put that plastic covered wirirng stuff all round the garden,they still get through.The lab find a weak spot and puts her head threw so that douglas can climb threw it.she`s even broken part of the fence just anough for him to climb in:(.I think we may have to take Douglas to the vets sooner than we anticipated:(
Chrissy xxx

Most Lab people have had one that can unknit chainlink fencing. I remember one dau putting a new fence up, connected one end and was unrolling the roll and it all went loose. My old Katy had unknitted it! These days I always run a roll of chicken wire along the bottom! I know they can still jump over but to them unknitting it is more fun.

Regards, John

Whose fence is it amyway? I don't see why you should have to have douglas seen to, as after all it should be up to the bitches owners to make sure she is kept safe from his attnetion, and that includes making a dog proof fence.