Veterinary reviewed by Whether you’re a responsible breeder facing the question of when to retire your dogs or you’re looking for a puppy – age matters.
Checking the ages of the potential sire and especially the dam can be vital for the health of the puppies as well as parents.
So the question emerges “How old can dogs have puppies” and what is the age limit?
There are many factors that need to be taken into account when determining whether a dog is up for breeding, among them are:
- Age
- General health
- Previous injuries
- Breed
So let’s dive in and see what the best breeding and retirement age is.
A healthy female can legally be bred until 8 years according to most breeding clubs. However, it’s best to retire her after 5-6 years to avoid complications for both the mother and the pups.
When Is a Dog Considered to Be Senior?
Generally speaking, toy breeds and other smaller dogs (Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese) are considered to be seniors if they’re 10 to 12 years or older.
With large/giant breeds (Great Dane, Newfoundland), the span of when your dog is considered “senior” is shortened to 5 to 6 years.
This difference is linked to the lifespan in dogs which is far greater in small breeds compared to their larger counterparts.
Studies have shown that dogs have differing susceptibilities to diseases depending on their body size and weight.
Large dogs die young because they age faster, so to speak.
Genetic and hormonal factors also play a big role in determining the longevity of an organism.
When Is a Male Dog Too Old to Breed?
In theory, a healthy male can produce litters until old age. Most clubs recommend retiring a male after 10 to 12 years.
However, it is very important to note that sperm quality and quantity may be lower in older dogs.
If you plan on breeding with a male that is older than 6 years, you might want to check the sperm quality at regular intervals.
Signs to Look Out For That Your Male Dog Is Too Old
There are three major signs to look out for that scream that a male dog is too old for breeding.
- Low conception rates
- Decreasing litter sizes
- Deteriorating health
Assuming a male tries to get a female pregnant under the best possible circumstances (one mating per day, repeated for a couple of days, healthy female, etc.), it might be a sign to retire the male if he fails to get the female pregnant.
A male might (repeatedly) produce smaller litters than he previously did, that’s potentially another bad sign.
If a lot of time has passed between this and the last breeding or if the male has his first litter quite late in life, you might not be able to check the litter size.
The male’s health is a bit on the brink. No breeding for this stud.
Deteriorating health includes mobility issues, hormonal changes, dull coat as well as breed-related health problems.
So always ask questions about the breeding process, previous litters, and current health testing.
For more on this check out my post on Questions to Ask Your Breeder.
What Is the Oldest Age a Female Dog Can Have Puppies?
For a female, there are crucial factors that determine if she should produce another litter or not.
The best age to retire a female can be around 5 to 6 years.
Some breeding clubs have restrictions where the age limit is set much higher than 6 years but that doesn’t mean that the age can’t pose any health risks.
According to AKC rules, a dam must be (…) not more than 12 years old, on the date of mating.
AKC
However, a lot of breed clubs such as the UK Kennel Club and the VDH in Germany set 8 years as a limit (exceptions possible).
By the way: The VDH also has a higher minimum age for males as well as females in contrast to the AKC.
To determine whether to retire the female, you should monitor the previously mentioned factors such as:
- Conception rates
- Litter sizes
- General health
- Criteria such as complications during whelping
- Recovery process
Complications during birth can always arise (be sure to check the article on dogs going into labor if you’re interested).
However, you should consult with your vet to see if the complications could indicate that the female is not up for having another litter.
If a female’s recovery process significantly lengthens after pregnancy, that’s a sure sign that something can be wrong.
Can a 12-Year-Old Dog Become Pregnant?
In theory, a 12-year-old dog can become pregnant if she is in heat and has mated with a male dog during her fertile days.
The concept of menopause is actually unique to us humans and does not exist in the animal kingdom, including dogs.
However, a dog can become less fertile with age which applies to females as well as males.
As 12-year-old dogs shouldn’t be bred, you will need to keep your dog away from intact males when she is in season for her whole life.
How Many Litters Should a Dog Have?
A female dog should ideally not have more than 3-4 litters during her lifetime.
However, many factors are at play when it comes to the optimal litter size such as complications, the recovery process, and the heat cycle.
If a female had any complications during a previous whelping (including C-sections), this might not only be due to age but also due to a high number of litters and is a clear signal to think about retiring the dog.
A slow recovery process might be another sign to retire her, especially if the dog is older.
The female’s heat cycle may also dictate how many litters she will have.
Normally, the heat cycle is 6 months but – depending on the breed – the heat can occur every 4 months or every 12 months.
Naturally, a female with a 12-month cycle will produce fewer litters.
However, this absolutely doesn’t mean a female with a 4-month cycle should produce three litters per year (even if you ignore recovery).
Pressing too many litters into a small timeframe is exhausting for the female, mentally as well as physically.
How Many Litters Is a Female Dog Legally Allowed to Have?
The UK Kennel Club prohibits registering with them if the dam has already whelped 4 litters.
The same 4 litter rule applies to several German and French breeding clubs.
In Holland, the maximum amount of litters is 5.
Even though there may not be a lot of specific regulations in place for all breeding clubs, it’s important to breed ethically and keep an eye on the dogs within a breeding program.
How Long Should You Wait to Breed a Dog Again?
Most breed clubs recommend breeding once every 12 months.
Another rule of thumb is that you want to breed every other heat which means avoiding back-to-back breeding.
The whole discussion about back-to-back breeding is somewhat controversial since some vets say it’s not that big of an issue if the recovery is quick and the female is healthy.
However, the fact that several breeding clubs restrict this kind of breeding plan should be a red flag for any breeder.
Allowing the female a proper recovery will let her care for her pups under optimal circumstances.
A female should always be healthy when she’s breeding and the minimum age restrictions below apply.
What Is the Best Age to Breed a Female Dog?
To make sure the female is in perfect health condition you should wait with breeding until she’s fully grown mentally and physically which occurs at around 1-2 years for smaller breeds and 2-3 years for large breeds.
Another rule of thumb is to wait until at least the second heat cycle.
This rule of thumb has limits though because small breeds can get their first heat as early as 4 months and large breeds around 6 months.
If you follow the rule above, your dog is most probably in her second heat so you should be fine.
Why not breed before the dog is mentally grown?
Dogs can undergo behavioral changes during these mental growth phases and you want a well-rounded female to raise those puppies.
Puppies profit from a mature and confident mother.
Example of a large breed female:
The female has her first heat around 12 months of age.
Depending on whether or not her heat cycle is roughly 6 months, you can theoretically start breeding at 18 months but could more ideally wait until 24 months.
If the heat cycle is 12 months (which happens with giant and ancient breeds), you’re restrained to go with 24 months anyway.
Now, keeping the breeding guidelines in mind (every other heat and thus once in 12 months) the female will produce 4 litters if she’s retired at 5 years of age.
That’s within the consensus of the breeding clubs which recommend 3 – 4 litters for a female in a breeding lifetime.
By the way: While the 5-6 year rule and 3-4 litter rule restrain the breeding time frame pretty well, it’s not advised to have your dog have the first litter at 5 years or older.
Recommended Reading: How Long are Dogs Pregnant?
In Conclusion
The stud can be bred up to 10-12 years, although it’s a good idea to regularly check the sperm quality once he hits 6 years, assuming he’s healthy.
A healthy female can legally be bred until 8 years according to most breeding clubs. However, it’s best to retire her after 5-6 years.
During her breeding lifetime, it’s advised not to go beyond 3-4 litters.
Any potential breeder should wait until the dogs are grown mentally and physically (up to 2 years) and should only breed every 12 months (which means avoiding back-to-back breeding).
The female’s heat cycle needs to be taken into account.
If you have any questions about your dog’s breeding age or concerns about a potential breeder, drop them in the comments.
Thank you for an informative post. Keep writing interesting articles like this. I highly appreciate it!
Hey Norman, thanks for the kind words. Hope you’re doing great!
Cheers,
Danielle
I would like to know if a 12 Year old dog can get pregnant yet? Also, is it wise to have a 12 year old dog spayed? Or is it necessary?
Hey Edie,
a 12-year-old dog definitely shouldn’t get puppies anymore, even if it would be possible.
You don’t need to have her spayed either, why should you if everything went fine so far? Just make sure your dog won’t get pregnant and everything should be okay. My female Rottweiler is 2y now and will never be spayed/neutered, even though we’re not breeding with her.
Cheers,
Danielle
I’m curious why you will not spay your female. I’ve studied dogs and dog behavior for many years. I’m also a professional dog trainer and I’ve worked with many male and female dogs that have been left Intact that are showing Aggression. A dogs body that runs a normal life cycle is set up that when coming into heat the female has such a strong need/drive to find a male they get out of yards to find them and the same goes for the males. They can smell a female in heat at least 5 miles away. So dogs left intact will get out of yards and roam looking forward the female in heat and the female looking for a male. But when this natural cycle isn’t met they will become very frustrated. (Just like people) I hear people say their females get bitchier each year. There are many dogs euthanized every year because of our stray problems so I’m not saying to breed your dog. But I am saying for dogs that aren’t being bred it will help them to have a more satisfying life.. So please check into the Pro’s and con’s of spay and neutering then pass on information from facts not just personal Opinion/feelings.
Hey Tracy, in this case, it was not about neutering/spaying or not, but rather about why not to neuter/spay puppies or senior dogs (last but not least due to the anesthesia risk). Early neutering is associated with many health risks and here’s the study (find the link to the actual study at the bottom).
And I actually do have an article on neutering dogs where I dive into the pros and cons.
I get what you’re saying about frustrated dogs and every individual reacts differently (male and female). In my female, this drive is not nearly as developed as in other dogs. Also, a dog should never be unsupervised in the yard (or walking around off-leash if your female’s in heat, for that matter). Absolutely happy with my female Rottweiler and observed zero negative behavior changes. On the other hand, I might encounter behavioral issues if I would decide to spay her so why is that a risk one should take if there’s no real purpose behind it. Of course, it reduces health risks (most often mentioned is testicular cancer for males) but also increases other risks and no matter what one believes, neutering too early is associated with health risks in any study.
Cheers,
Danielle
I’m making a decision as to whether I should have my bitch neutered or continue her blood line. I thought I was under a time pressure to do so due to the health risks attached to not neutering her. May I ask why you are not neutering your dog?
Hey Joey, when considering whether or not to breed with your dog, the fact that you’ll have to socialise and raise the puppies is just as important as the age and health of your current dog. Breeding only makes sense if you have a proper program in place, pair two dogs that fit in terms of temperament, health testing and so on. But you’re absolutely right, breeding or neutering too late both poses health risks.
I’ve actually written an article about the pros and cons of neutering. I’ve also linked a couple of vital research articles in there, check them out if you’re interested. It’s mostly too early/late neutering that’s dangerous but even at the appropriate age, there are still risks. Also, I love my dog’s behavior as it is and fiddling around with the hormones can always cause behavioral changes.
The article should be a good starting point, let me know if you have any questions!
Danielle
Hi I have a 7 year old female Weimeraner is it ok to breed her at this age. Thanks
Hey Peter, as mentioned in the article, if this is your Weimaraner’s first litter, you should definitely not breed with her.
Even if it’s not the first, diligent health tests are necessary for breeding of any kind, but especially if the female is older than 5 or 6 years. Most clubs restrict breeding after a maximum of 8 years, but it’s the fact that this would probably be the first litter that would concern me. Also, raising puppies isn’t easy :).
Are you looking to keep a pup from a potential litter? There are many great breeders out there and just as many dogs in need of rescue from shelters if you’re interested.
I am afraid this is much to much info on the benefits of breeding back to back for the health for the female. The science does not agree with skipping heats in dogs.
Thanks for your input. I’m assuming you mean it’s too little info on the benefits of back to back breeding, right?
You’re right, it definitely can have benefits, but in many cases, it’s not the best way to go. Any complications in the last pregnancy, C-sections or bigger-than-average litters and skipping a heat would be recommended. Similarly, dogs that have their heat twice a year (depending on breed and individual) can be pretty drained from their previous pregnancy.
I have a female yorkie that 7.5 years old. She has never had puppies but I would like to mate her once just to have another like her and for family members to get puppies. She is 4.5 pounds and never had any health problems other than gingivitis. Is it safe for her to still have puppies and what size male is safe to breed her with?
Hey Meagan, short answer to your question: Definitely do not breed with your Yorkie.
The fact that this would be her first litter at 7.5y makes the risk of difficulties highly likely. Apart from that, her size isn’t the issue because your Yorkie has a normal size for a female and if she’s healthy (more to that in a second), any (“any” in terms of height and weight) male Yorkshire Terrier could potentially be a mating partner.
That being said, there’s much more to breeding than just a seemingly healthy dog that never had to go to the vet. Only breed for the betterment of a breed which means only top dogs in terms of temperament, health tests (blood, heart, eyes, breed specific issues, etc.) and the same goes for the sire. Great breeders spend years on improving their breeding programs. You won’t just have one or two dogs for your family, you will have a handful more that need to go into new homes which means you have to read up about socialisation, food, how to select great homes and so on.
You wanting to have a puppy from your current pooch is understandable but please do not breed her. Not only will you put her health at risk which could drastically shorten her lifespan but you’ll also produce a new litter of dogs without any proper breeding program in place.
Check this article to find a great breeder or this one if you’re thinking about adopting.
Make your Yorkie’s remaining time as enjoyable as possible for both you and her 🙂
Danielle
Hi, we have a 4 pound female imperial shitzu who is 10 years old. We just got a male royal shitzu who is now 5 months old. We don’t want to breed her, never have, we were more worried about the procedure for her since she only weighs 4 pounds. Well he is showing more signs of affection then we want. The vet won’t spade him for a little while longer. Can she get pregnant
Hey Dave, at 10y of age, your Shitzu definitely should not be bred and an accident could prove fatal for a first pregnancy so late in life, if at all possible (unlikely but not impossible).
You’re right, your male pup needs the hormones for proper physical and developmental growth. So many behavior issues are caused by early neutering (as can be diseases like bone cancer especially for large breeds). The only thing you can do is wait until your male dog’s fully grown (happens at around 2y of age for small dogs) and separating the dogs when the female is in heat. Separating as in when they’re alone. The rest of the time, it’s fine if you have an eye on them. But even if your female wears diapers or whatnot, you shouldn’t count on her not wanting to breed which is why this method is possible – depending on the male – but practiced with extra caution :).
Alternative is getting your female under anesthesia which poses a health risk too for senior dogs.
What advice did your vet give? Personally, I would not mess up my male dog’s hormones and wouldn’t risk the anesthesia for the female, but being cautious can be stressful at times.
Cheers,
Danielle
Hi, What are your top considerations when it comes to a 9 year old female pure bred healthy Labrador retriever breeding? It would be her first litter. I saw the comment there are exceptions to the 8 year retiring age. What do those exceptions take into consideration?
Hey Nancy, these “exceptions” refer to the fact that some breeding clubs allow breeding with 9 years, for example, if it’s the 2-4th litter, the female is healthy, and so on. That doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing to breed beyond 8y, it just means that for certain breeders there can be an exception. Even the 8y mark is debatable and as mentioned, retiring the female with 6 is best.
However, since it’d be your dog’s first litter, I’d absolutely advise against breeding your dog at this age. In no responsible breed club would the exception rule apply to a dog that has the first litter beyond not only 4 or 6 but 8 years.
Your wish of having offspring from your Lab is perfectly understandable but I’d suggest contacting the previous breeder or checking out new breeders when the time comes. Adoption is also possible, of course. As always, breeding entails lots of work anyway and you always have to keep in mind that even if your Lab was up to be bred, socialization, finding perfect homes for the pups etc. is still lots of work.
Cheers,
Danielle
We have a poodle female and wanted to have only one litter as we can. What is the oldest recommend age?
Hi Sam, as mentioned in the article, breeding a female dog for the very first time after around 4 years is generally not recommended due to possible complications that occur with a late first whelping.
That being said, keep in mind that a lot goes into breeding dogs and while I encourage well-planned breeding programs, breeding two seemingly fitting dogs without extremely thorough health testing, temperament selection etc. is only contributing to the overpopulation. You have to keep in mind that your dog might produce a litter of 3, 4, 6, even 8 puppies. All these pups need new homes if you just take one.
If your dog came from a breeder, then I’d suggest you check with him/her if they have an upcoming litter of can recommend anybody else. If your dog is a rescue, I wouldn’t suggest breeding anyway due to the unknown factor of hereditary health issues.
Cheers,
Danielle
Hi
Just wondering if you can help with my decision or not I would like my dog (tea cup yorkie) to have just 1 litter as I have a neighbour who’s male bichon cross shitzu they absolutely adore eachother considering them having a litter with eachother just want to know If it would be too much for my tea cup or not shes 7 next month?
Many thanks
Hi Sam, 7 is definitely far too old to be bred for the first time, even if she’s overall healthy. While it’s okay to breed females ethically until 5-6 years or even 8y according to some kennel clubs, that’s not meant for a first litter but usually the 3rd or 4th.
Also, it’s highly unlikely that a neighbor’s dog would be a perfect fit for yours. He might be friendly and all that but there’s a lot of effort that goes into a proper breeding program. Also, I’d suggest you read up about the danger of mixing breeds with different predispositions to genetic diseases. Some people swear mixes are healthier, others say it should be banned. There’s quite a lot of information to make up one’s own mind, but it’s important to start researching.
Short answer: Get a pup from your breeder again if s/he is still breeding or give a home to a little rescue Yorkie if you’d like to have another puppy, maybe bring her home soon enough for your current dog to witness her growing up. I actually have an article on what a second dog can do for your senior (assuming you have the space, time, etc. for a pup, of course).
Cheers,
Danielle
Very interesting facts in a nutshell. Brill post. I am wondering, though, apart from saying ‘don’t do it’, why noone writes about why exactly first pregnancy at, let’s say, 7yrs of age (small breed) is a no-no? I have been curios about this for a very long time and it is still a topic I haven’t cleared up in my head.
Anyway, fantastic post. Keep it up!
Hi Rosi, that’s a great question. Older females are often not as well equipped emotionally to care for the puppies and, not to mention that age leaves its mark on everybody and that can (but doesn’t have to) include physical ability to care for puppies. That and the increased risk of something going wrong (c-section, other issues during birth, etc.) or plainly a decreased litter size. Smaller litter sizes than usual for the breed can be a sign that the dog is either too old or the male sperm is not up to par anymore (that’s why people should test older males).
Cheers,
Danielle
My female pit bull is 6 years old now, she has had 1 litter around 2 years old and had 7 healthy puppies.she absolutely loves being a mommy, but the 7 was quite stressfull at times of course. I’m just curious if its the best idea to allow her to breed 1 more time.she just came into heat about the first of May. Any opinions and advice is welcome! Thank you.
Hi Sarah,
I’d say it depends on whether or not you think the first litter was stressful as it always is or if it was particularly stressful for her. It also depends on her current health condition, but if there were complications during the first pregnancy and/or she’s not in excellent shape and health right now, I personally wouldn’t breed.
Aside from that, it’s always important to ask yourself why you want to breed. Do you think she has a great temperament and do you know the perfect male for her? Does raising puppies fit your current lifestyle and can you socialize them, etc.?
If you just want to breed her for her own sake cause she likes being a mommy, I personally wouldn’t take it on either. Dogs get on very well without screaming pups and letting her enjoy the senior years is a great thing too :).
Cheers,
Danielle
can my aussie corgi mix have her first litter at 3-4 and be healthy?
Hi Addyson,
if she’s in perfect health (x-rays for hips, heart tests, eye examination, etc.) it might be possible. However, while I love crossbreeds, it’s always a genetic gamble to breed with them.
You’re essentially mixing the health risks both parent breeds are prone to instead of trying to minimize these risks. Also, a lot of socialization and other work goes into a good breeding program. If you just want a pup for yourself, check the shelters or dive into the breeder world if you’re so inclined. At least that’s what I’d personally do :).
Cheers,
Danielle
My staff is in healthy condition steel got loads of stamina she’s very playful she’s 10 and hasn’t had a litter but we want to breed her next time she comes into season we know we have left it a long time and she will have to have a c section
Hi Michelle, I really wouldn’t advise doing that, especially if you’re sure that – as you state yourself – she’ll need a c-section. It can put a lot of stress onto a dog’s body and you have to think about the fact that she’ll have to raise the puppies afterwards too which might not turn out as you wish.
Cheers,
Danielle
Hello
I have a English golden retriever female who is almost 8 years old (7/3/21) and she is in great health. She loves to play and is active, However, she is about 95 pounds and needs to lose weight. She is not spayed and had 4 healthy liters. (7,9,10,9 pups) Her last litter was 2019 at age 6. We don’t plan to breed her again, (cycle is 12-14 months) but we were contemplating if she should be spayed. Our previous golden retriever didn’t get spayed, had 3 liters and got pyrometra at age 8.5. She was taken to the vet the day we noticed symptoms and she got spayed (expensive). We did notice she gained weight afterwards and unfortunately passed away 18 months later from cancer at age 9.8. My concern- I don’t want my 7 year old to get pyrometra, but also don’t want her to have weight issues and hyperthyroidism. How rare is pyrometra? Is there a way to prevent it (besides spaying)? Personally, I’d like to not get her spayed and let her keep her “hormones” but I’m concerned about what happened to my other dog with Pyrometra. Any advice?
Hi Edward,
I have a pretty extensive article about neutering/spaying here.
The biggest problem is early neutering/spaying but of course, every procedure carries risk. While you could try looking into the exact statistics of pyometra and hyperthyroidism, the chance can’t be eliminated and your dog’s individual likelihood to get any one of these two may depend on various factors.
However, with spaying possible behavioral changes come into play. Also, I’ve just seen other medical issues arise after spaying too often so I PERSONALLY wouldn’t take that risk. That being said, I’m not a vet and can’t advise what you should do.
It seems like the spaying procedure didn’t help your other dog (maybe since it was already advanced)? There must’ve been a chance, otherwise your vet shouldn’t and hopefully wouldn’t have done the procedure.
All of that being said, 95 pounds does sound a lot for a Golden. Unless your dog is extremely large (in terms of withers height), your female should probably lose around 25 pounds. Overweight is a real issue and one of the most common causes for health issues in dogs. I have articles on muscle-building which can help with various issues like arthritis, you may want to check it out.
Cheers,
Danielle
I have an 11yp GSP Male and a 2yp Boxer Female and would like puppies. I’m worried about deformed/defective puppies and I can’t find anything in that. Please help!
Hey Robb, your best address is a vet in this case. First of all, both dogs should have a clean bill of health (hip x-ray, eyes, breed-specific conditions, etc.). Second, breeding might not work due to your GSPs age but what usually happens is that conception just isn’t happening if your male is too old. As you mentioned, more serious issues are possible too.
Really think about crossing two dog breeds as this can always introduce additional health risks and evaluate whether or not they’re the perfect fit in terms of temperament.
Cheers,
Danielle
Hello all! I have a female rescue yellow lab the vet said she is around 8 years old…we just got a new puppy. He is 6 months old. She just went to heat and i cant get him an appointment till next week to get him neutered. Could my 8 year old die or have health issues if she became pregnant? Also looking for tips on how to keep them apart but not secluded from the family! We don’t use kennels. Please no negative comments! I am worried about my furbaby.
Hey Dawn,
in my personal opinion, you should keep the dogs separated during her heat and avoid breeding at all costs!
The pup might be technically ready but 6 months is far too young, not to mention the health screenings etc. etc. that would need to be done beforehand.
And yes, it’s a real health risk for your female, even more so if it’s her first litter. Also, if her age is just guessed, she could be even older.
That being said, you might want to wait with neutering your male altogether. Early neutering can cause growth issues, bone cancer, etc. You can read about it and the related studies here.
I have a shithu female 6 1/2 yrs old and she had 4 litters. Last year she did not have any pups, it just did not happen. Is there a possibility that she can still get pregnant and should I get her fixed? Can she still go into heat.?
Hi Linda, as stated in the article, I wouldn’t suggest breeding a dog at that age who already had 4 litters. It’s hard to say if it’s still possible. If your dog had a vet checkup and is healthy, it could theoretically still happen. However, it may be harder due to her age and also depends on the stud dog.
If you get your dog spayed, she can’t go into heat anymore. Whether or not spaying is right for you also depends on whether or not she has free access to a male in the same household. If so, it’s probably wise to spay her. You don’t have to if you can rule out any mounting during her heat though. Best to discuss with your vet.
Cheers,
Danielle
What are the chances of a 1.5 year American bulldog being pregnant after mating with a 4 year old bullmastiff for her first time. It’s her 2nd heat cycle
Hi, I actually have an article on pregnancy chances after a mating. Chances depend on whether they successfully tied, timing of the dog’s heat, and more.
Please keep in mind not to breed without complete health testing (hips, heart, eyes, etc.) and matching temperament. It’s a lifetime commitment, should any pup ever be returned or whatnot.
Hi, I have ruby cavalier who has just turned 6 and I was going to breed from her next month. She has been given clean bill of health from vet. She is a fantastic example of the breed with the most amazing temperament. The delay in breeding was due to not finding the right stud and I have finally found the right fit for her so very keen to do her first litter. What would you advise in this circumstance ? Thanks so much
Hi Emily, I’m not a vet but 6 years is really old for the first breeding and potentially associated with a couple of health risks. Ask your vet – one whose professional judgment you trust and who doesn’t just say what owners want to hear – and ask them about your case. Has your vet just stated that she’s generally healthy or did they perform diagnostics knowing it’s for breeding?
Personally, I would not risk it as no temperament on earth is worth sacrificing my own dog’s health. If your vet gives their okay and has run all the diagnostics, there’s not much to do except monitor the pregnancy closely. But as I said, research a bit more and evaluate whether or not the risk is worth it to you.
Is there any impact on lifespan between a dog that’s bred and one that’s not? Specifically Female dogs, due to the wear and tear on the animal.
Hi Andrew, it depends heavily on the circumstances of each pup. A rescue with proper care, a healthy diet, and exercise may outperform a poorly kept/bred dog. In fact, a dog from the breeder may perform worse all circumstances being equal if the dog is poorly bred (i.e. no health testing, perhaps even bred for specific colors instead of health and temperament, etc.).
Of course, females from puppy mills generally have to deal with more health issues, but that shouldn’t apply to a female with 2-3 healthy litters in her lifetime. Rescues often had litters too that you may just not know about.
If you’re choosing a dog, I wouldn’t rely on lifespan as a deciding factor. Just give your best when caring for the animal.