At what age should female be bred - Page 1

I think the age at which one stops breeding a dog should be evaluated case by case.  I think there are very strong healthy females that if kept in great shape between litters can be bred after they are eight years old and other females that shouldn't be bred past 4, if at all.   Just like there are some that can occasionally be bred back to back and others that shouldn't  even be bred once a year.  I think we get in trouble when we put numbers on things like this because it allows the less responsible to rely on what they read here.   Just my  opinion.

Which kennel club would that be, Hamza166?
As  per SV, males may be used as of 24 months and females may be "Bred" at 20 mos, not whelp at 20 mos.
Hope that helps
Michele

I think you have to look at the individual dog, and the breed.  I have Malinois.  My foundation female (not the first one I bred, but the one who's offspring I continued on with) just turned 16.  At 8 she was barely middle aged, considering the longevity in the lines, I wouldn't have had a problem breeding her at 8, or possibly even later (her last litter was at 5, but for reasons other then age).   If I had a breed that routinely died at 10-12 (I believe Dobe's are one breed that don't normally make it to their teens), then 8 might seem kind of old to be breeding a female.

Ah i see. Thanks for the help. So sometimes it isnt all about age. Thank you guys. But then is there some way of defining when a female can be bred or cannot be bred? EG: different for each female depending on it's health.

Dear Poster:

In the USA you can do whatever your heart contents.  Why are you breeding? Is it to improve the breed? If it is for the German shepherd, is it a registered dog? What are the lines? Are you line breeding to emphasis something?

I would recommend joining the United Schutzhund Clubs of America (http://www.germanshepherddog.com) and call the club secretary and get shown the best direction.  I would recommend enjoying the experience of titling your dog, and then once your dog has shown its potential to improve the breed then I would breed the dog.
 
In my opinion, its is a negligent act to breed when inexperienced (or without mentor). Hence why we have many weak, sick and incapable dogs fraudulently running around in German shepherd coat.

Please continue your questioning, once upon a time I asked much of the same line of questions.  Look to working-dog.eu, take a look at the BREED tab, pay attention to how carefully tracked and detailed record each dog exhibits.  The older, and more proven a dog, the more accomplished, the more ready to breed.

"Planned breeding activities began after the inception of the SV in 1899. The German Shepherd Dog was developed from herding dogs in service during that time in Middle and Southern Germany. The goal was to produce a high-performance working dog. To accomplish this goal, the Breed Standard of the German Shepherd Dog was created. This document addresses both physical qualities as well as character attributes."  Please read: http://www.germanshepherddog.com/regulations/breed_standard.htm

I encourage you to not make your sole decisions of what you read within this thread alone.

Here is the contact for the breed wardens: http://germanshepherddog.com/breed/breed_wardens.htm

V/r.,

Michael

provided the female proves herself worthy of breeding and bred to the best males possible, i would think 4 or 5 litters would be plenty.  jmho.
pjp

Micheal: what a fabolous answer & also i think u r correct.

Ziegenfarm: you have a point.

Most bitches should never be bred, those who are worthy of it I personally think 2 yrs is right.  I have done back to back breedings IF it was a small litter and the bitch was healthy enough for it.  As far as how old that depends on the bitch and her health.