Does anyone here think it is ok to breed from a bitch every season ?? Is it just me being overly protective or is it actually bad for the bitch to have litters so close together ??

I have just spoken to a friend who had a litter of 8 puppies from her bitch 6 months ago and she is pregnant again with just 2 weeks to go :-(  Unfortunately for this little girl she has seasons every 4 months and apparently although they tried to keep them apart the children let them in together!! I have tried and tried to guide them do things the right way but, it just seems to be falling on deaf ears (particularly when their own vet advised it was ok to mate her again !!!!) and I just worry that the bitch puppy they have is also going to be pregnant at 6 months old along with the bitch yet again when she comes into season again :-(  I obviously don't want to fall out with them if at all possible, I do quite like them and it won't help the situation. I just wish I could do something more helpful for the poor dogs.
What would you do ?? 

no i dont think that its ok to breed a bitch every season if you work it out at a season every 6 months the bitch would be mated at no more than day 20 of her season the she will be in welp for 9 weeks some bitches more some less, then 8 weeks after the birth when the pups leave so how long would that total up to? 4 even 5 months and then a season a month later and pregnant again, this is with seasons every 6 months your friends dog has them every 4 months so as soon as the pups have gone at 8 weeks she will be in whelp again with no break, thats not fair on the bitch, and also after being mated every season the quality and condtion of the pups when they are born gets worse and worse

i like you would feel very sorry for the bitch, it certainly isnt acceptable under any circumstances to breed her again 4 months later after having 8 puppies!!!

as she has only 2 weeks to go there isnt anything that can be done now, just some STRONG words of advice to your friends, obviously accidents do happen but next time maybe they should arrange for a friend or family member to look after the male when the bitch comes into season if the kids let the dogs get together otherwise this poor bitch could be pregnant every 4 months!

unless both these dogs are great examples of their breed (if they are pedigree) and health checked she should be advised to spay the girl anyway.

sadly you can only advise and hope they listen to you, good luck :)

i hope everything goes ok for this poor girl

No! I never think there is any excuse for mating a bitch so early after giving birth. The Kennel Club don't agree with me though. Grrrr!

Believe me I have tried to tell them about health checks, registrations, breeding ethics, etc. till I can say no more but, it just seems to go in one ear and out the other :-(
Unfortunately I just feel all the time there is money to be made and people willing to buy these unregistered puppies from parents with no health checks I don't think there is much that will stop them. I just pray that it doesn't happen next time and will offer myself to take her or him when she is in season next time.

i wouldn't do it - what pressure to put on a bitch, especially one who seasons every 4 months... :(

Gosh, people have said that I should mate my girl again as she only had 2 pups in the litter but I'm not going to, but for a poor dog to have 8 and another litter within 6 months poor thing.

Thats awful! And her excuses are ridiculous. Maybe she shouldnt keep an entire male if her housing arrangements arnt suitable for keeping them safely apart. Using kids as an excuse is just plain feeble!

I had a 'breeder' near me who bred a Tibetian Terrier bitch every season for at least three years (and not usually to a TT stud). Needless to say the poor girl died very young from a 'sudden illness'. More like completely knackered and run into the ground!

It totally disgusts me.

No - definitely not - in answer to your question.

I would probably bang my head on a wall as has been known in the past. There are no easy answers.

Maybe point out all the possible complications - just because things went OK last time doesn't mean they will again - caesarians, mastitis, eclampsia, losing puppies, losing bitch, and new owners coming back to them legally if they have sold puppies from non health tested parents that develop problems.

Maybe suggest they get her spayed after this litter?

How awful.

Perhaps she will stop if no-one buys her puppies and she has them till they are far older than 8 weeks.  Thing is as long as she manages to find homes for them she may think that there is no problem.  Poor girl.

I have tried the Caesarian and vet bills price shock but, they will just take her to the PDSA so, they're not worried about that :-(
Unfortunately she does look as if she is having a big litter again, she is quite a size already. I did hope when she had her first litter that the puppies wouldn't find homes very easily as they are from unregistered, unhealth tested parents but, they were sold quite quickly and for very good money too considering they are mongrels. Thats why she has ended up pregnant again so quickly :-(  I did say she should be spayed after this litter has left but, there is little chance of that happening.

Oh what a nightmare !!!