i bred my bitch for the first time at 8 ,she had 8 pups but 1 was still born,she had difficulty in the last one but was born naturally.
if i had my time again i would have bred younger,but selfishly kept putting it off,as her seasons usually in the hunting season,
either that or bought in as its much easier lol,
incidentally foxdigger off here bred just before me to the same sire but older bitch ,had 14 but most died,so can go either way