My Bitch is 20 months old - is she to young to breed from ?

Yep :-)

I totally agree with Sarah. 2 & half to 3 is ample age for an English Springer's first litter. Don't go down the 'old school' train of thought...3rd season's and all that....:(

What age would you suggest would be good for a first litter ?

2 and a half to 3 is adequate...she is more mature mentally but her body still young to recoup better after a litter.

Plus there are several "health checks" that Springers need to go through before breeding from. Your bitch would have to be tested for those and I think the breed is starting to get hip scored too.

Thanks for your advice

My English springer is only just a year old, and mated with our male dog, I was told by the vet that everything would be fine and to go ahead and let her have the litter!!!

Are they both eye-tested, Brinny? As you know, there are a variety of hereditary eye problems that affect spaniels, and puppy buyers are advised to only buy pups from eye-tested parents. Hip-scoring is a good idea, too, although the breed average score for HD is not high.

Was your bitch mated on her first season?
:)

Yes she was mated by accident!!!!! She managed to get out and had already tied by the time i found her, So no i am afraid she has had no tests as i was not intending to mate her so soon. I think i have been talking to you on my other message re her not eating?

Did the vet not offer you the option of the canine equivalent of the 'morning-after' pill? Although that is not without its problems, either.
Try not to worry. 9 out 10 whelpings (probably more) happen without problems. Make sure, if you intend to breed from her in future, that you get them properly health checked, and wait until she is at least 2, preferable nearer 3, beforeyou mate her again. And you must be very very vigilant during her next seasons.
:)

I did actually take her to the vets for the morning after pill, and they asked whether i intended to mate her in the future i said yes but was under the impression that she had to be at least 2 years old and that i thought she was to young. But they advised that she looked like she was fully grown, was fit and healthy and that there would be no problem and that i was best to get it out of the way and then have her spayed as i only ever intended to let her have one litter. I have to admit i am begining to question my decision now as i cant bear the thought of anything happening to her and you read so many awful stories of things going wrong.

Keep her fit, and don't overfeed her, and I'm sure she'll be fine. You obviously care very much for her.
:)

I cant see me overfeeding her as at the moment i cant seem to get her to eat anything

How much exercise is she getting? That can stimulate an appetite.
:)

She is getting plenty of excercise. She chases her ball constanly all day long still and doesnt seem overly tired

Then you needn't worry about her lack of fitness! It could be she's just feeling a bit off-colour with weather, etc. maybe the pups are getting uncomfortable, too. Offer her food, a little and often. And make sure it's good quality, so that whatever she does eat is good for her. Tuna? Sardines? An old girl of mine used to take chicken Complan when she wouldn't touch anything else. She lived off that for weeks (literally).
:)

Thanks for the advice, Maybe i will try her on Tuna,

Morning all

Feeling a little happier today as she actually ate something last night, All be it a bowl of Doner kebab meat, as that is what we had!!!!! Although she was really unsettled last night i think she is starting to feel the weight and heat now