The first occurrence of that peculiar state of the system known as the "rutting season" or "oestruation," during which only will the bitch allow the approaches of the dog and impregnation is possible, as a rule occurs about the ninth month, but it varies in different breeds and individuals, also from the influence of constitution, diet and conditions and habits of life. For instance, some breeds usually come in season when about eight months old, whereas others but rarely do so until the second year Again, in bitches that are healthy, well nourished, have ample exercise and are otherwise properly treated, this peculiar manifestation is very generally noted much earlier than in bitches of poor constitution kept much in kennels or fed mainly on starchy foods and allowed but little meat.

The return of this period is also subject to frequent variations, and from much the same influences that delay its first occurrence; and while bitches that are happily placed, well cared for and healthy usually come in twice yearly, with those that are neglected, unhealthfully situated or of feeble or delicate constitutions, the intervals between the periods are longer, and may extend over a year or more.

All of which is conclusive evidence of the fact that the various systems of living bodies form a complete system, all parts of which are in such close sympathy that if one becomes disturbed the others are more or less disturbed also. Consequently neither the reproductive, the digestive nor other systems can be in high health and vigor unless its associates are in the same happy condition. Now viewing this law from another direction, it is seen that unless the general health is good the various systems and functions of the body cannot be duly active, healthy and vigorous.

Writers upon canine management have with singular unanimity maintained that mating should never occur before the second period, yet not a few breeders, whose opinions on this and kindred subjects are invested with the weight of intelligence and experience, are at variance with them, and these believe that in some instances at least it is justifiable at the first period.

The usual argument against early mating and maternity is, that it arrests the growth and puts much too severe a strain upon the constitution yet immature and lacking in strength, resistant and reactive powers, thereby prejudicing the future of the victims, also the vitality of their offspring.

Those who take opposite grounds, while acknowledging that early maternity arrests the growth, deny that it has any ill effects, constitutional or otherwise, and maintain that to induce it as early as possible is justifiable as a means of correcting certain irregularities of form. They reason, and rightly so in this instance, that the growth-modifying influence of maternity is more pronounced upon some parts of the structure than upon others, i.e. that "animals grow up and then grow down," or in other words, that the legs grow the most rapidly at first, then the growth here lessens and the body and head in turn grow the fastest. Consequently they claim that if a bitch threatens to be "leggy" and "spindling," she should be bred at her first period.

Before attempting to solve this problem there is a theory which finds ready acceptance among physiologists, and is sustained by the experience of many stock breeders, which should be duly considered. This is, that the breeding of immature animals is liable to arrest the development and prejudice the general health of the mothers, also increase the mortality of their offspring and predispose that offspring to barrenness and sterility.

In other words, in accordance with this theory, in early breeding there is danger of permanent injury to the mother, deficiency on the part of the offspring - as impairment of constitutional vigor and special predisposition to attacks of disease - and that offspring is liable to be less fertile, this latter defect being inherited from the mother, who these theorists maintain is less fecund while yet immature than she will be after reaching maturity.

That statistics show that women under the age of twenty are less productive than those between the ages of twenty and thirty is a fact. That offspring of mothers while yet immature and less fecund are liable to inherit a tendency to lessened fertility is not at all unreasonable. Many authorities in stock-breeding are very ready to accept that early breeding has the effects stated on the lower order of animals, and they evidently find ample support in the experience of intelligent breeders.

Considering all this, also that there is no reason for believing that bitches are notable exceptions to other domesticated animals and beyond the plainly evident laws relating to early maternity which are so prevalent, moreover, that his experience in breeding has convinced him that bitches and their offspring are liable to the same ill effects of this practice as other animals, - although they may not be as marked as with some species, - the writer holds that considering this question fairly and from the standpoint of health alone, the inevitable conclusion must be that no bitch ought to be mated before she has reached full growth.

Those who advocate breeding at the first period do not, however, consider the question from this standpoint, but as one of expediency; and taking the same liberal view of it, considering, also, the extent to which their theory is practised, one naturally hesitates to assert that they are absolutely wrong. And, certainly, they have some support in the fact that while maternity will arrest the upward growth of bitches it will not have the same decided effect upon the growth of their bodies; and if one threatens to shoot up too high on her legs she will likely under its influence settle down and assume rather better shape than she would had nature not been interfered with.