When we were looking for a pup earlier this year we saw a breeder we thought appeared to meet most of our criteria. Health checks, dual register (Border collie, so ISDS and KC), micro-chipped, first vac, support for life etc. etc. They only had male pups and we wanted a female, so passed them by, but I've been keeping an eye, as we might like another collie later.

I saw today that they have another litter from the same bitch, but these say 'unregistered hence price' and are a lot cheaper.

So, does this mean a breeder can breed as many litters as they like, they just can't register more than one a year from the same bitch?

sadly a bad breeder can breed a bitch on every season, but kc will only register one litter a year hence 2nd been not registered x

Sounds like you had a close shave there Poor bitch, two litters a year - hardly time to recover from the last lot!

__________________

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"

The Kennel club have put on limits now, and yes breeding a bitch two consequetive seasons is one of the reasons they cant be registered.
As are breeding the bitch below a certain age, breeding a bitch above a certain age, they can now only have a certain amount of litters in total now too. Too close matings is another one like father to daughter mother to son.
As you quite rightly say though, it doesnt actually stop the breeder from doing it, they just cant register the pups. Same as the number of litters she could still have way over what the KC say, they just cant register the litters over the amount thats all.

__________________

Is this in force yet? Wonder how they would check, given the vast number of litters registered. if anyone knows it would be interesting

Sadly I am looking for a new job precisely because of practices like this where I work. Not that there is any work out there, I just can't bear watching the consequences of such sloppy management, the stud dogs get to the bitches on a willy-nilly basis, there have been 4 unplanned matings in the last 6 months. One where a stud dog under 2 & un health tested got to a bitch, one where a bitch has been caught on 2 consecutive seasons, one resulting in a terribly deformed singleton pup & another that actually went fairly well but was still unplanned.

I thought it was only their assured breeders they'd not register 2x per year. From January they're restricting total litters to 4, but I hadn't seen anything about further restrictions.. had a quick look on KC and it says for assured breeders they should follow the KC guidance on frequency of litters, but can't quickly find anything giving the guidance

__________________
Penny
Funfastquick Agility Dogs

This is complete rubbish and a very common myth - no idea where it came from but it is WRONG.

Licensed breeders are only permitted to breed one litter a year - any other breeder can register litters on every season if they wish providing the bitch hasn't had more than 6 litters (soon to become 4 litters and no more than 2 C-sections).

Some ABS members of certain breeds do now have the "no more than 1 litter in a 12 month period" rule for their members - but it remains the exception to the rule.

===========================================

Champdogs places an 11 month ruling on advertising litters from the same bitch as in exceptional cases - for example a singleton pup, slightly out seasons, a bitches age, a stud dog in the country for a limited time etc - some breeders might go just within the 12 months - I had such an opportunity in the form of an overseas stud dog but decided not to take it.

In the US as I understand it (this is hearsay from others) - it's not uncommon to have litters back to back and then maybe no litters for 2 to 3 years - the theory being I believe the mindset the bitch is in 'that mode'.

===============================

Can we clear this myth up once and for all though

Licensed breeders can only have one litter in a 12 month period from a bitch
Some ABS members of a small number of breeds are not permitted under the scheme to have mor than one litter in a 12 month period
Some breed clubs may have a code of ethics for their members stipulating this ruling

All these aside, there is NO ruling on the KC permitting the registration of more than one litter from a bitch in a 12 month period providing she is within the permitted age range, has not had more than the permitted number of C-sections, and has not had more than the allowed number of litters.


ETA - the relaxing of rules on what bitches can have litters through AI should really negate the need to 'rush' to use a dog whilst he is in the country.

OP - it does raise questions about the ethics of the breeder that they haven't registered the litter - it could be that they are a licensed breeder - or like so many others seem to think that the KC will only register a single litter in a 12 month period.

__________________
What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

The current legal limit under the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 is 6 litters in a lifetime. BUT having taken guidance from breeders and others the Kennel Club decided its guidelines for membership of the Assured/Accredited Breeders scheme will be 4 litters, the litters being born on or after 1st Jan 2012.

Kennel Club Takes The Lead On Litter Limits For Bitches - The Kennel Club

When you say licensed, I assume you mean by local councils? If so, what happens if a said licensed ABS member does breed back to back?