just read post in visitors questions and wondered if you could help...

I have just started recently into the breeding world. i have great back up team and vets.

but have received conflicting views on the decrease in life expectancy for breeding. Is it true in your experience that breeding drastically reduces the life expectancy for your girls.

No i dont believe in over breeding and only wish to breed each of my girls approx 2 - 3 times in there life span. with good resting periods in between.

Any views would begreatly appreciated

very very concerned owner.

If that were true I think we all who have children would be reconsidering having any more!

I have no proof, but as the female line in my bitches is at least 5 generations long, with the oldest now 13, and her mother was alive for certain a year ago at over 15, somehow I doubt there is any shortened life expectancy due to reproduction!

Think this may be a case of statistics proving anything you want. Take a number of females, out of those some will be pregnant (in welp) some will die in childbirth (welping) therefore those who have been pregnant (in welp) have a shorter life expectancy than those who don't. The same would apply to those who drive, swim, smoke etc. Don't worry, life may be too short. Ja:)kie

I usually have two litters from my bitches, and I have never found it makes any difference. Sally for instance was one of the oldest living of her breed, she lived to the ripe old age of 16 years and 4.5 months, Peggy was 15 years 10 months just to mention two of my bitches for example.
Polly
Foxpath Flatcoated Retrievers

Hi IHS
Agree with all the previous comments.
Have only ever heard this about shortening life expectancy in regard to Stud Dogs, not certain that's true either, although it certainly takes it out of them.
Nicky

I know it only pertained to breast cancer, but did you hear the recent research relating reduced risk to prolonged breast feeding - so someone(facetiously?) suggested we (ladies....) should all aim to have five or six kids and breast feed them for two years each.....
Too late for me, but ....???
Cathy.