i have two sisters that I breed. they will be five in March. difference is night and day. One did not have that "bounce back" that I like to see in my females after whelping. of course, I skipped her last heat and depending on what I think about her health, I will breed her one more time at age five, then she is for sure retired. She is in excellent health, just seemed to have a slower recovery period. Now that being said, her sister Kandy is like a spring chicken. she is pregnant now. if this whelp goes well as the others always have, I MIGHT not retire her until six. it just depends on your bitches. |