----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > The latest issue of the UK Kennel Club Breed Records Supplement has published > details of a Bernese litter sired by a male who was just 21 weeks old at the > time of mating - 7 months old at the date his 20 month old "partner" whelped > 9 puppies (she was the youngest Bernese dam listed in that issue too.) > > This has caused a great deal of comment amongst Bernese breeders and owners > here - as you can imagine! > > Have any of you ever heard of such a young Bernese siring a litter?
Yikes! Sounds like perhaps the breeder was caught out thinking Mr. Guy was not yet old enough or ready to breed. I would guess this was not a planned breeding, but perhaps it was. Dogs can be very determined about things like the mating imperative. I don't know about young dogs, but I know of a few cases where a colt bred his mother (or another broodmare out in the pasture with them) before being weaned; the youngest of those was about 6-7 months. Normally, horses don't get interested in that sort of thing until a few years old. Eileen Morgan The Mare's Nest http://www.enter.net/~edlehman --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.449 / Virus Database: 251 - Release Date: 1/27/2003
