People new to breeding dogs should understand up front how to keep their dogs healthy and behaviorally sound. While a dog can technically have has many as 30 litters over their lifetime, it's best to keep this number to no more than three or four litters, as over breeding and breeding too often can stress a female out and affect the health of the litter.
Number of Litters for Female Dogs
It's possible for a female dog to have a maximum of three litters a year. Female dogs can go into heat between the ages of six to 12 months and do not go into menopause. Assuming a dog lives to the average age of 11, this means a dog could have up to 30 litters. This number is highly unlikely though, as senior dogs and dogs that are over bred are more likely to lose litters due to stress and medical problems.
Best Age to Start Breeding a Dog
A female dog can go into her first heat before she reaches age one, although this varies based on the size of the breed. Small dogs may go into heat as early as six months, while large breeds, like Great Danes, may not have their first heat until they are 18 months to 2 years old. It's recommended to wait until after a dog's second or third heat before arranging for a breeding. There are a few reasons to wait for the third heat to begin breeding.
- A younger dog is still growing into their full adult size and breeding too early could have negative effects on your dog's final health at maturity.
- Responsible breeders will also want to test their dogs for various medical conditions, and the dog needs to reach adulthood to ensure accurate tests.
- A female dog that's too young may have difficulty caring for her litter, which means the breeder will need to do more to raise the newborns and the lack of attention from the mother can lead to behavior problems with the puppies.
Recommendations for Breeding Age
While an older dog can have litters, it's generally accepted practice among responsible breeders to stop breeding a female dog around 5 to 7 years old. After this age, it's more likely she'll have problems giving birth, which can result in an unhealthy litter or no litter at all due to a miscarriage. It also can cause health problems for her because of the strain on her body as she ages.
Breed Registries and Breeding Age
You will also have problems registering a litter if your dog is too young or too old. The American Kennel Club will not accept registrations from litters produced by dogs over the age of 12 or under eight months old.
Best Interval of Time for Breeding
While you can breed a dog with every heat, this can cause undue stress on the female. This can ultimately lead to less healthy litters and medical problems for the mother. Responsible breeders tend to breed no more than every other heat. It is recommended to keep the number of litters for a female dog to three to four total, and a good breeder will spread out the litters over the course of a female's optimal breeding years to keep the mother and her puppies healthy.
Male Dogs and Breeding
Male dogs used for stud have very different age and frequency requirements than females.
At What Age Can a Male Be Bred?
A male is usually able to breed by six months old, however, good breeders will wait until the dog reaches full maturity, which can be 15 to 24 months based on the breed's size. This is so they can do recommended health tests to make sure the dog will not pass on any genetic conditions. It also will give you a better idea of the dog's temperament and behavioral soundness. The AKC will not allow breeders to register a litter if the sire is seven months or younger.
How Often Can a Male Be Bred?
Technically, there's no limit to how many times a male dog can sire a litter. Responsible breeders wait at least a day between breedings, as breeding every day can affect the quality and quantity of the sperm. Some breeders will wait up to six to eight weeks to ensure a healthy and successful breeding.
Average Age to Retire a Male From Stud
While a male can continue to breed throughout old age, the quality of their sperm will decrease and breeding may be more difficult due to health issues. It is recommended that male dogs be retired around seven to eight years of age, though this depends on the size of the breed. The AKC will not accept registrations if the sire is older than 12 years.
Ensuring Healthy Litters, Sires, and Dams
Breeding a dog involves a serious understanding of genetics, temperament, and the care of both dogs involved. Responsible breeders ensure their dogs are of proper age before breeding. They also keep the number of litters over the lifetime of a female dog to a level that will keep her and her puppies healthy. If you are planning to breed a dog yourself, consider her health and well-being first and foremost. Love your dog, and she will return your love tenfold over her lifetime.
