Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad of a thing if it was done twice. Not saying I agree with three or four times (which I don't), but is back to back breeding THAT bad??

Please do not be condescending to me, I am trying to learn .

It depends. Is the bitch sound? Is there a purpose? How many puppies were in the first litter?

A back to back breeding on a bitch who was capable of handling it might not be a bad thing, but a back to back more than once, well, yikes...I wouldn't put someone through that. I also don't believe in over-breeding bitches. IMO, unless it's a really exquisite specimen there isn't much of a reason to breed a bitch more than maybe 3 times. But, that's just my opinion.

What I meant was the first breeding, then the next heat; so I guess that's considered once?? My mind made it into twice, but that is what I meant.

The breeder I am getting my Spoo from will be doing this, granted said bitch passes all of her tests with flying colors. The first breeding next summer will be her first, and they plan another her next heat.

So if there is a lot of puppies in the first litter, it would be better for the mom to wait? Sounds common sense I know, but I am wanting to learn .

I personally don't like it myself but I agree unless the bitch is just outstanding, I don't want to see 400 pups lol.

There are SOME cases that back to back (single time) breeding is actually beneficial for the bitch...but I strongly disagree with the back to back to back to back breeding I am seeing out of some kennels. It does not matter how outstanding the bitch is or what she's producing, if it's affecting her health it's not the right thing to do.

It will definitely not be a back to back to back to back breeding. She is a very outstanding bitch and is already doing very well in showing. With the double breeding talk going on in the GC thread, I wanted to learn a little bit more.

I definitely know WHY it isn't good to do it bunches of times, but I was just wondering about once.

How would it be beneficial Lani??

An outstanding show prospect may not be an outstanding producer just FYI, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking two CH dogs will be an outstanding producing pair and are shocked to get a really awful litter from the match- she may not need double up back to back breeding. The things to consider will be how well dose she recover from the litter- it takes a lot out of them. If she has a hard time bouncing back I'd suggest a resting heat-

Some studies suggest that the risk of pyometra goes down on a back to back breeding, the biggest finding is it's easier on the body to get in shape and stay in shape for pregnancy than it is to have the hormonal roller coaster ups and downs. The biggest thing is to just make sure she's healthy before, during, and after each litter.

I completely understand that a good shower might not be a good producer; I don't really know why I put it in there LOL.

That does make sense though, thank you for that. But it does have it's place, right?? Some people make it seem like anyone who does that is an awful breeder and I just wanted opinions. I don't really know about a lot about breeding practices, but I know what to look for in a breeder..make sense??

Heck, there are dogs in the show ring even finish CH/GCH dogs that I would never consider breeding to- I'm sure you can understand that But, getting back to topic, there are some really ethical breeders that do in fact will back to back breed a bitch, singularly- it's when you start talking like the examples I gave in another thread of repeating back to back times 5 or 6, that is exhausting on the bitch not to mention not at all healthy. Giving her no recovery time and breeding her every time she's in heat uses them up really quickly.

The GC thread is what actually prompted me to start this thread. I was getting all emotionally jumbled LOL.

That is very swell to hear, thank you!!

Health wise, there are repro vets who actually recommend back to back breedings. We had one speak at our local kennel club. The theory is you breed the bitch young and quickly and then spay her so you make the chance of getting pyometra slim to none. She said if the bitch is in good health, then it is fine. But that lecture, of course, opened a can or worms at the meeting about ethics!

Most of the breeders I've spoken with have maybe a litter a year, so nothing back to back. I have looked both into Aussies and Huskies. As a personal choice I wouldn't like it, and certainly wouldn't plan it before the dog had even produced a litter to begin with.

It does turn into an ethical debate, especially amongst those who have had bitches take a long time to bounce back from having a litter- To be honest they can look quite shocking after a litter- even the best show bitch out there can be barely recognizable. Given which it's advised to let her fully recover before considering breeding her again. However, experienced breeders know what they have in a litter at 8 weeks they may consider repeating the breeding on the next heat if the bitch's body is up to it.

We were a bit shocked when after that meeting, a lady in our club who has Saint Bernards did a back to back breeding. It was shocking, because that bitch had just had a "disaster" litter. Poor thing had 18 puppies over the period of 4 days! It was insane and the vets she went to were insanely stupid. Poor thing should have gotten a C-section day 1. Many of the puppies were born dead, mother lost a TON of weight and almost died, and after a few weeks, all of the puppies were dead mainly because the stupid vets didn't notice that the nipples on the bottles they were feeding the puppies with had too big of holes in them and the poor puppies were inhaling the formula! They died of lung infections later on.
So after this terrible, terrible experience (which was the lady's FIRST breeding, we all thought that would be the end of it) she secretly (didn't tell any club members including the friend and owner of the stud dog of the first litter) bred the bitch again. She didn't tell anyone until the puppies were 6 weeks old. Guess the second breeding went fine and the puppies did fine, but I'm pretty sure she lost a lot of respect from some of the club members after that. Glad the second litter did fine, but that poor bitch. She was skin and bones after that first litter.

I personally don't know of many people who do back to backs - I mean I would be okay with it if a breeding didn't take, but I suppose that isn't the same.

Jeeze, Sara - that is just horrible.

Sara, that makes me sick to my stomach ...that poor baby girl . I couldn't imagine a Saint Bernard that was just skin and bones. And those poor puppies. What an awful lady.

So my bitch had 3 puppies in her this time and I was wondering when it would be ok to cross them again?

Cross what?

I agree, cross with what? Honestly unless your bitch had all the appropriate health/genetic screens performed and is an exemplary example of the breed standard she should be spayed.