just wondering

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

whats the maximum age for a fit healthy cocker whos had litters before to have her last litter? I had though it was 7 as thats when the kennel club stopped letting you register litters but have been told by someone the KC will let you register litters off older dams if the vet has said shes fit and healthy to breed from. Is this true?

[Jane S]

In theory, the KC will sometimes give special permission for a bitch over the age of 7 to have another registered litter but in practice this permission is very rarely given (even if a vet does say the bitch is fit and healthy).

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

Thanks, what effect does it have on the bitch and puppies if the mum is older?

[Jane S]

I personally would never breed from a bitch over the age of 7 for any reason but the risks would be the same as for older human mothers ie increased difficulty in whelping naturally etc. If a bitch has had litters before, then surely she's done her bit & there's no justification for putting her through it again at this age, no matter how fit she is?

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I agree thats why i was surprised when someone told me they were going to get special permission to breed their 8yr old bitch. I couldnt understand what reason would be so special for the kennel club to agree. Their reason was a pup they kept off her last litter had died and they wanted another to carry on mums line but i thought they would of contacted the people who had pups off them previously to see if any of them were having litters and do it that way. 

[Jane S]

I doubt the KC would give permission in that kind of case unless this bitch was the last of a particularly valuable working line or something like that.