German Shepherds first time in heat

Question
What approximate age will a German Shepherd go into heat for the first time.  I have a white female, she was a year old april 17, 2007.  She stays in a pen with our 2-1/2 year old male.  If she does go into heat what age is too early for her to have a litter?  

Answer
Hi Mary -- Each female is different but a female will go into heat the first time between 6 - 9 months old. However, a female that is housed with a male tends to take longer to go into heat.  I would move her out of there for a few weeks.

A breeding is done after the second heat.  Again, with each female being an individual it depends on health, maturity and breed.

Good luck.