Breeding too much? - Page 1

A breeder in Michigan is breeding her girl Cara in November. Cara's litter is just 6 weeks old now.  Breeding too much?

It depends... has Cara's breeder bred her back to back for years, or is it a one time deal? Many many reproductive specialists recommend breeding back to back for the health of the dog. I wouldn't see a problem with one back to back, provided Cara is a superb specimen and health tests have been conducted.

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Melissa

Yes, this is her 3rd litter that is 6 weeks old today. This 'breeder' breeds her girls on every heat from the first heat until the dog can't put out enough puppies to make her money.  She has taken her elder male out of 'retirement' to breed again because her younger male (her words)  "Can't cover the females good enough"  If Cara has another litter it will be 4 in a row.  I wish we could expose poor "in it just for the money"  breeders.

What harm is done to a male who breeds in his elder years? 

Yes, many, many repro vets will attest to the fact that it is far healthier to breed a female back to back while young than give them time off, then breed, time off, then breed until middle to senior years. It's the commercials and PETA mentality that tries to convince people otherwise. I don't know who this breeder is or what they have or haven't done, so I won't comment, but in general, there is nothing "wrong" with a back to back breeding. 

I doubt she'll be in heat by November. Possible, I suppose, but unusual.  If a litter takes a toll on a bitch, they often will have a longer period between cycles than normal.

Perhaps she does cycle really fast so the breeder feels it's healthier to breed her and spay her young. Possible (but not probable).

Christine
 

That's feasible, Christine, I think...if pups are 6 weeks then assuming an 8 week gestation, there's 14 weeks, or greater than 3 months, then another 2 months until Nov, and it could be late November...heck, that's 5-6 mos. More than possible.

Many of Capri's girls, like her, cycle every 4-5 months, so 3x per year instead of twice. As the uterus ages with every cycle, bred or not, I chose to breed Capri early and more frequently and retire her quite early, and in very good shape, at 5.

Just an example of why someone would do that. I've also been accused several times of breeding her back to back cycles, which wasn't accurate since she cycles every 4 mos. I needed the break!!! LOL

I had a female who cycled every 4 months--got pregnant every time she was bred. Was bred no sooner than every other heat except the last time. She's 15 now and still trotting around. :)

Christine

Nike always did do everything   ---fast ....why not heat cycles, too?     Good to hear she's still ruling the Blackthorn bunch!

Yep, no conception issues here, either. While I'm certainly not opposed to a back to back litter, and my dog seems perfectly happy with pups, *I* need more time off between litters than that! With an every-4-monther, you barely get the rascals out the door before you're preparing for another breeding. No thanks....lol.