Hi this is the first thread I have posted on PF, as it is so huge I have trouble keeping track but today I do have a question.

There are few good reasons for someone to breed their bitch and a hundred reasons not to. I know this subject has many varying opinions and I would be grateful if I could get some of your reactions and opinions. So I am sure many have heard the " I've been told its good for my bitches health to have a litter before I get her spayed" thoery. IMO I can not see when it would ever justify putting a bitch through this and producing a litter of pups, just to benefit (supposedly) somebody's pet dog????? I am not talking breeding to improve stock or anything like that, I am talking a pet dog.

Tell me your thoughts please, thanks.......

Is this from a website? If so, I think I know which one.

No, it is not a good reason, it's not very good for their health if they die during whelping, there's a recent thread here with a bitch that sadly, had to have a c-section and died on the table. Complications from whelping are very real and very underestimated. It can also change the temperament of your bitch for the worse, one breeder on here has had that experience, and it's something you obviously won't be able to tell until after the fact.

Whilst there's conflicting evidence to say it's healthier to spay at certain points in a bitches lifetime, new evidence also suggests other health risks associated with spaying, may mean it's healthier to keep a bitch entire. It's not a black and white area, and I would advise anyone buying a bitch to really look into it and make a decision they are happy with.

For my thinking, it's an excuse for thinly veiled puppy farmers to try and fob off those who don't know any better, and deflect the real issue, which is that they are making money from their dogs, and risking the dogs life, not their own, to do so. Unfortunately, it's poor advice like this that encourages people to have the one litter from their bitch, to add to the conveyor belt of death, which we have at the moment with overflowing rescues.

I'm pretty sure you'll get many similar responses tbh

I'm not a breeder, so I can't give you a great answer. However, I can answer as someone who owns a dog that has inherited genetic issues that have caused him problems pretty much since day 1 of my owning him. I am not sure whether or not his issues would have/could have been determined prior to the pregnancy if tests had been done. In fact, I don't know what tests, if any, were done on his parents. What I do know is that my dog, who I absolutely adore, has suffered terribly at times because of these issues.

My answer to your question about breeding a "pet" dog is under the presumption that no tests would be done prior to the bitch getting pregnant. In this case, I would have to say that I don't think it is a valid reason. There are some great threads on here. Including this one about the trials and tribulations of a great thorough breeder.

Have a look at this thread. These dogs are the lucky ones. You will notice that a few of them were very close to losing their lives because the people who originally owned them either didn't want them any more, or couldn't care for them any more. The question any breeder should ask themselves, I think, is would you be happy with your potential puppies being one of these dogs (and perhaps not so lucky).

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It is a falacy that the bitches health is improved from having a litter.

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The myth that bitches should have one litter before spaying is an old wives' tale, brought about by who knows what. A lot of pet owners will breed their bitch for other reasons, if only just a hankering after puppies, but unless they do all the health tests necessary anything could be passed on to the puppies and then someone else has the same idea and this thing gets passed on to each generation.

My grandaughter's little spaniel came from such a pet owner who bred her bitch occasionally. Both mother and father were lovely dogs and healthy, though they had had no proper health tests. We were lucky, he is a little darling, but could be so wrong.

What is really, really wrong in my opinion is people buying a bitch with the intention of breeding her and making some easy money. They never have enough for vet bills if things go wrong, never mind all the extras that a pregnant bitch and puppies need; they are counting on selling the puppies to earn money.

That is severely wrong in my opinion.

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The reasons for breeding have been discussed on here before and on petforums you will find that the majority of posters are very vociferous in their posts and what we think of someones "reasons" to breed

Breeders on here are often questioned- sometimes things do get out of hand but generally it is because we are all wanting the best for the dogs.

As to your question " I've been told its good for my bitches health to have a litter before I get her spayed"

IMO There is no reason to breed your bitch prior to getting spayed- the reason that you would breed in this instance is to produce offspring and could be putting your bitch's health at risk.


If anyone has evidence to prove otherwise I would love to hear as I am currently in process of writing a similar article for our clubs website.

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Yes we are talking about the same thing! I know it used to be said years ago but thought things had moved on.....apparently not. Thanks for all your comments, its reassuring to know I am not going mad

Hi and thanks everyone for your replies. I know that particular theory is an old wives tale and was very surprised to see it used today, so just thought I would get other opinions. Thanks, I am relieved I am not going mad!

I don't think you were the one going mad

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I'd like to dispute that, your post implies you aren't yet there