I've heard it before and read it on a post in the past few days.

"Having a litter will bring a bitch on"

People have said that their girls have done better in the ring since having a litter, more bone and substance have come since a litter, sorted out her coat and other various comments along those lines.

Those of you who've had litters, do you find this is often the case, is it breed dependant, bitch dependant?

I'd like to add I don't think this is a valid reason to have a litter but just asking as to how much weight there really is to this saying I've heard a number of times.

I would agree, if you have a slow maturing bitch (which my bred should be) then it puts that finishing touch to them.

Also they 'grow up', become that self assured adult, without the need to be cocky about it.

Unfortunately with a coated breed you could be waiting at least 6 months, or if the coat comes back soft or wavy, a 12 months to see the best of them.

My two older champion girls have al done some of their best winning as veterans, and both have had three litters, one a total of 18 pups and the other 19.

If you have an overblown young bitch having a litter may make her go over, and become too deep/heavy bodied, but chances are time would have done that anyway.

I agree it's true as it does mature them -and above all it seems to improve the temperament in my main breed. (Not that I would breed from anything dodgy, but each time it has turned an okay bitch into a rock solid one -bear in mind I have a breed whose standard says "Wary of strangers" -it has turned them into bitches that instead throw themselves at strangers.)

But equally, if anyone wants more body and more coat, spaying when fully mature works just as well!! (Of course, how the coat turns out is breed dependent.) So definitely not a reason alone to breed.