My Labrador has just had 7 pups and I was thinking of keeping a bitch but when I took mum and pups to the vet this morning for a check up I mentioned keeping a bitch to the vet and she said I would definately keep a dog and not a bitch as they will all get on better I already have the father of the pups any advice.

What are your reasons for wanting to keep a bitch.  Are you going to show or work her and will she be bred from.  I have mum dad daughter and unrelated bitches and dogs who get on well together but are always supervised when mixing together.  When left they are separated into groups which I know will settle well.

In keeping a bitch, intact, with her father the main risk is of mating - just as it is with mum - and when hormones are running high (they will cycle together eventually) you could have bickering between the females.  If you keep a dog, intact, you could have the same problem with dad and son squabbling over in season mum.

It is all a question of management.

If I kept a bitch she would be spayed and likewise with a male neutered.

My friend has 4 bitches and one male, I have two (soon to be 3) bitches. They all get on fine :) With the bitches, seasons almost come together so the male is just seperated from them all to be on the safe side. If you are spaying/neutering I don't see why you can't keep a girl if thats what you want/prefer :)

i had wispa who lived with her 3 daugther.s no problem and gollie with her daughter as well.that the moment i got 5 bitches and one dog chase he put the girls in their place.i had dog and bitch togther for 17 year no problem when a bitch is in season.yes you do keep them apart for the season.

all my male dogs have got on well together.
male to female as well,
but i did have a problem with two sister that had a figthing god do bitches go for it when they want to,but we new the reason why this kick off and it was a in house problem.outside the house they ar fine.

there no reason why you cannot have a mum and daughter or a son.just the season will be the problem.

thank you for all your help

Most breeders will ahve multiple bitches.

I have had up to five generatuions with age gaps of 2 to 4 years and ahve never had a problem wuith any of them getting on, bar the odd cross word.