Sharon My girls are show girls before I ever have a litter from them so on average even before the suggested heart protocol they were usually two and half occasionally older before I mated them. I have only once had more than three litters from a bitch (and that wasn't of my choosing!! VBG) My personal belief is that if you haven't got something to keep to show out of those litters what is the point in carrying on mating the bitch. Some it doesn't matter how much thought you put into the mating never reproduce as good or better than themselves. Therefore most of my bitches are having their last litter at between five and five and a half years old. They are then retired and lead a life of idleness except when plagued by puppiesfrom one of the other bitches. Occasionally I have let one go to a pet home if it someone I know but after six they are here for life. The boys I think it does them no harm to continue for as long as they are fertile. My old boy who is ten is just as keen now as he was at two, fortunately he knows when I say "no" that the girl is not for him - I wish his son was a quick on the uptake and then there would be peace in this house when a bitch is in season! VBG
Annette ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Carroll" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 5:18 PM Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] Average Age - different topic > When I was reading this it caused me to wonder if there is an average age at which most stop breeding a particular bitch or dog....and is it usually for OBGYN health reasons (aside from the menopausal kind of stuff)or other health reasons? Or, just to give the poor studs and bitches a break and retire? Doesn't MVD protocol suggest for them to be heart clear for the first 2 1/2 years so many don't start before that age? But, are there common practices or standards that you breeders personally follow in ending a particular breeding program on your particular dogs and bitches and for what reasons? I know this may be way too open a question to answer.....:) > > Sharon Carroll > San Antonio, TX > > ========================================================= > "Magic Commands": > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL > to start it up gain click here: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. > Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author. ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
