Opinions and comments please from breeders only - Page 1

I just had  a conversation with a breeder of 20 plus years. He stated something to me that PUZZLED me and I would like your responses.

The question is: Are you breeding every other heat cycle or breeding two consecutive heats and then skipping two heats and staring over again?

He stated to me that he has heard that the later of the two improves the quality of dog?

Simple question right?

I think that as long as the female is healthy and recovers well after the puppies are born/weaned, then either method is fine. I've never heard that back to back breeding affects the quality of the puppies.

I would think that too many back to back breedings could lead to malnutrition if proper attention were not paid to the care of mother and puppies.

I totally agree with BlackthornGSD,

The bottom line is to breed a very healthy bitch, if you skip heats inbetween & breed an unhealthy bitch then you will have unhealthy pups, the bitch needs to be well feed on a quality raw diet and wormed before you even mate her, also a really nice bloodline of healthy dogs in her background wouldn't hurt either.......

Some people believe that if you don't breed you bitch back to back every time then she could get pyometra, which is an infection in the uterus, which in that case, most of the time puts the bitch out of commission.
  
      Breeding can be based on alot of personal experiences over the years.....

 

I am going to refer this question to Dr Hutchison form Ohio, Northview Animal Clinic.. he has several dvd's out and does a number of seminars. The dvd's are excellent and sit in my library...
He will be doing a seminar at the GSDCA National Specialty in Ohio in October.. he is worth every penny you spend to see him..he is is one  of  the nation's leading repro specialists.
You might be surprised what most repro specialists say.. if it's a dog and it has a uterus, use it or lose it.. the uterus is so pounded for an entire heat cycle by hormomes every single time a dog comes into heat that normal healthy bitches are fine to be bred back to back or even further ...
Every heat cycle increases a females risk of developing pyometra....

Dr H is a big fan of cheque drops, although they have become very difficult to get and very expensive as well.. but if for some reaon I can't breed my female for more than 1 heat cycle, I will certainly try to get them.

Hope you all do some research into what this man has to say.. he is brilliant!