My breed's average litter size is 5/6 puppies, my girl had a litter of two from mating her on her last season.

She normally goes 8/9 months between seasons...would it be unethical to breed her on her next season?

Would the KC register them with it probably not being a year between litters?

I don't want to take advantage of her and don't want to miss out if it's possible, there wasn't a puppy I was able to keep last time......both males and not practical for me to have mixed sexes.

I'd only do it if waiting an extra season would be heading to her being to old for a litter.

Unless your required to have a breeders license ( when legally there must be at least 12 months between  litters),  then you can register a litter with the KC with less than 12 month gap.

You'd have to check with the KC, they do register back to back litters if there's a good reason. However unless she will be too old to wait another season, I would still give her the time to recover even with only 2 puppies and a slow cycle.

A pregnancy is still a pregnancy, regardless of how many puppies are the result.   Personally I'd not take two litters from consecutive seasons.   I always left a season between pregnancies.

I'd have to leave it to others re what the KC ruling is these days (or phone the KC yourself) - I know they'd not accept a registration from the same bitch within a 12 month period but it may not be the same now?

The top reproduction experts dispute that the 'leave a season' method is wise....as the canine is designed to breed more frequently and younger.
I don't personally do this because of the late onset conditions which beleaguer my breed ..factor in feeling guilty for 'over using'  bitches and  feeling like puppy farmer, scientifically it appears that mating them early and back to back...then stop early, is actually the safest and most successful method.
It probably is for humans too but moral codes are factored in this.

Just stating the science ...

Yes what is reprductively most efficient is correct for both animals and humans.

We should ideally finish having our families before we are thirty,  ideally late teens to mid 20's.

Bitches are considered aging after 5. The uterine lining is less receptive to implantation and for good placental attachment,  and thyroid hormone levels also decline.

I'd argue that the wild canine is designed to only give birth once a year,  and that a bitch would not breed for the first time until nearly two,  as juveniles stay with the parents helping rear the following years siblings,  and would not leave the family pack until after that to breed themselves,  and then have a litter each spring.

I knew of some people in my breed who were having a difficult time getting a really nice bitch they had in whelp.   When they did, they took another litter on the next season.    So there are instances where, rules and reg. apart, it might be expedient to do this.   However, I can't equate our domestic dog with a dog or other animal in the wild because for starters, they tend to mate and produce their young when the means of feeding them is out there.   Which usually means having their young into the Spring.

But they would only breed once a year,  as the Basenji still does.

She wouldn't be too old if I wait, she'll be 4 early next year.....there's no rush other than my own impatience!

As it isn't the pregnancy (according to my vet) but the rearing of pups that takes a toll on the bitch - I say go for it.  But then, I don't like breeding from older bitches.

The KC have registered a litter for me that was a couple of days short of one year.  Ok,, so there was a season in between, but this bitch didn't go a full 6 months between seasons.  I have never, ever regretted it.  My bitch was not put at risk, and she had fully recovered from rearing 2 puppies.  Go for it.

> She wouldn't be too old if I wait, she'll be 4 early next ye

If this is not a toy breed or one with whelping difficulties where youth would be an advantage I would wait.

It will give you a longer gap between dogs too, enabling you to not get over dogged.

I now have 6 (18 months to 13 years) as there is only 15 months between 2 and 19 months between another two. 

A daughter of my youngest champion bitch (now 8) is due to be mated, (she's better than the daughter I have) and her owner can't keep a pup this time, but she would be too old left longer for a first litter.  I'd love a pup from this, but can't go over this number with 6 active medium size dogs to walk and accommodate.  The oldest ones mother lived to 15 1/2.

Haha I know the impatience well! But in that case, I honestly would wait - it will be better for the bitch to have a break even with a small litter, and you won't get people pointing and whispering. One of my friends did a back to back a couple of years ago because she was told the stud dog was probably going to stop being used soon, and some people have been saying rude things about her even since. :-(

Go for it. If she is young and healthy, there is no reason not to. KC will register a back to back mating and she only had 2 pups. I have done a back to back mating with my young girl, all pups fine and so is she and all registered with KC, no problem. I will, of course be waiting a year for her next litter.

I think this decision (regardless of what the KC policy currently is on this) has to be based on how the bitch herself is.   I'm afraid, regardless of the number of puppies produced in the previous litter, I'd still stick to 'a pregnancy is a pregnancy' and NOT mate on consecutive seasons.   The welfare of mum should always come first.   Surely?