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YorkieRose · 08-02-2006, 02:20 PM

I think it is a debatable question for sure...would a bitch who has her first heat at 6 months and second at 12 months be more mature then a bitch who has her first heat a 14 or 16 months? Kate's, mother, and two aunts had no sign of heat until 14 to 17 months. One was bred on the first heat, one at the second heat..and one at the 4th heat..I never noticed any difference in the three bitches pregnancy's, health or as mothers...Kate has had no heat and is 14 months...it is a thing in their line, but once they have a first heat, they are 6 to 7 month girls.

I don't think there is an age you can attach to maturity...I can not recall seeing any of my girls grow in size passed 8 to 10 months..but emotionally they are not all mature by any means..Kate was very settled and mature at 8 months...Emee is 7 and is very much a puppy.

It never hurts to wait..but I can not say it is a big mistake to breed on the first heat if the bitch is well into 14/16 months...that means she would whelp at 16/18 months...
I would be interested in how many breeders find thyroid problems in bitches under 5 years...I have not encoutered this problem..groomed a few older Yorkies who were on thyroid meds..
Bama..I am really not disagreeing with you, waiting is best IMO..I doubt there is a breeder who regrets waiting, but many who regret not waiting...

08-02-2006, 02:20 PM	#7
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	age I think it is a debatable question for sure...would a bitch who has her first heat at 6 months and second at 12 months be more mature then a bitch who has her first heat a 14 or 16 months? Kate's, mother, and two aunts had no sign of heat until 14 to 17 months. One was bred on the first heat, one at the second heat..and one at the 4th heat..I never noticed any difference in the three bitches pregnancy's, health or as mothers...Kate has had no heat and is 14 months...it is a thing in their line, but once they have a first heat, they are 6 to 7 month girls. I don't think there is an age you can attach to maturity...I can not recall seeing any of my girls grow in size passed 8 to 10 months..but emotionally they are not all mature by any means..Kate was very settled and mature at 8 months...Emee is 7 and is very much a puppy. It never hurts to wait..but I can not say it is a big mistake to breed on the first heat if the bitch is well into 14/16 months...that means she would whelp at 16/18 months... I would be interested in how many breeders find thyroid problems in bitches under 5 years...I have not encoutered this problem..groomed a few older Yorkies who were on thyroid meds.. Bama..I am really not disagreeing with you, waiting is best IMO..I doubt there is a breeder who regrets waiting, but many who regret not waiting...