I thought the upper cut off age for breeding bitches was 6? for the KC requirements?

Am I getting confused or are you allowed to register litter of pups born after dam is 6?

Your can register litters from bitches up to and including 7 years (although there may now be some breed specific changes to that through the Accredited Breeder Scheme).

You can also register pups from 8 year old bitches providing you have permission from the KC prior to mating and the bitch has previously had a litter.

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

A friend of mine got a vet letter so she could have a litter at 8 as the bitch in question didnt take 3 times and when she did take the pup was still born.

OK thanks, must have got confused somewhere


I think not taking several times would have been a sign for me not to keep trying. Natures own way, I guess

Aye, the bitch in question was her only sable and had won many times, luckly the litter she had at 8 made 2 sable/white pups and 1 of which she still has now and is a great breed standard.

I have to agree with pearltheplank - I would take that as a sign that she isn't a suitable breeding bitch. Doesn't matter how good a dog is or how good the puppies she ended up producing are - she may be passing on the problems regarding breeding to her progeny. Why do you think we have so many problems in breeds now, including difficulty in mating/whelping as well as others? Breeding isn't just about health and breed standards.

The bitch's pup is now a older dog and has had a litter with no difficulty at all. But I do see what you are saying and agree.

My friend registered a litter from a bitch that was 8 at the time of whelping. She did have KC permission before mating and she only had the litter because there is only a handful of the breed in the country, they only have small litters, she is an asset to the genepool and she was in tip top condition and sought the advice from 4 different vets as regards to the demands of pregnancy on her body before carrying the mating out. It was her third litter. She was spayed after the following season.

ETA, everything went to plan.... pure textbook but a very very experienced breeder

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

I was surprised the other day when I met an ex neighbour who used to breed tiny Yorkies that she planned to have a litter off of her little girl and said she'd have to do it this year or early next as she'll be 7 next year. It will be her first litter - isn't that a bit risky?

I wouldn't do it anyway!

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Around 4 max for a first litter (and probably younger for a small bitch I would have thought!!)

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy