What is the right age for a dog to have puppies?

Question

I have a 1yr old Akita 2yr in dec-was wondering when the right time would be for her to have a litter My dp says its 4yrs but surely when she is on the blob(which she is) it means her body is ready....

Answer 1

When she is 2 or over & has been certified free of hip dysplasia & other genetic defects known to Akitas. Please read & consider this before proceeding: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeding.html

Answer 2

For larger dogs 2 yrs is best. I would have her examined by a vet first though to make sure she's in good health, raising a litter takes a lot out of the female (even one in excellent condition). It's also a lot of work taking care of the pups after the momma weans them and before they head off to their new homes. Also, if done properly with all the vet visits, shots and extra food she and the pups will be eating; you'll be lucky if you break out even in costs (it's not a quick easy way to make some money).

Check this out before getting started: http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/index.cfm

Answer 3

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

1.Not all dogs are built to be bred.

Most pets, although lovable, are not of breeding quality because they have genetic defects and other problems that should not be perpetuated. People who breed dogs for a living are very careful about choosing which dogs they will breed together based on physical characteristics and behavior. Some people decide that it would be fun to breed and just start looking for a dog that has the proper equipment and is willing. This can be a huge mistake.

2. There are already too many dogs in the world.

Breeding your pet is a serious endeavor and should not be taken lightly. There are far too many pets that end up in shelters without good homes. If your breed of dog has large litters, what will you do if you are unable to sell the puppies? Do you really want to contribute to the massive problem of pet overpopulation?

3. Dogs that aren’t neutered face serious health risks.

Consider your dog’s own health. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to be hit by cars, because unaltered males have a very strong urge to roam and find a fertile female. Male dogs will go over or under fences, through doors and windows, and will pull leashes out of unsuspecting hands in quest of a mate.

Additionally, neutering greatly reduces the incidence of prostatic disease and eliminates testicular cancer in males, and cuts down on breast cancer in females. The possibility of uterine infections is also eliminated by spaying.

4. Female dogs used for breeding may have unwelcome visitors.

If you spay your dog, you will not have to chase persistent male dogs out of your yard. Also, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up messy heat cycles.

5. Be prepared to work like a dog when your pet goes into labor.

Many people do not realize just how much work and expense is involved with letting dogs have puppies. Getting the mother through pregnancy is the easy part, but labor is truly laborious for dog and owner alike. Dogs usually decide to have their puppies at the most inconvenient times, like 2:00 in the morning when veterinary hospitals are closed.

If your pet develops a problem during delivery, it means at least the expense of an emergency call. If the complications are life threatening, you must be prepared, especially if you have a breed of dog that has a broad head like a pug, to pay for an emergency C-section. It is very distressing to have to leave home in the middle of the night, worry about your pet, get a large veterinary bill and then try to explain to your boss why you cannot possibly come to work the next day.

6. It can be devastating when the puppies die.

There is always the prospect of the loss of some or all of the puppies. A neonatal mortality rate of 10 to 30 percent is considered normal. And, it’s easy to lose a puppy if you don’t have the experience or knowledge to care for newborns. Because puppies are not able to regulate their own body temperature initially, you may need to supplement their environment with heat.

7. Not all dogs make the best mothers.

If your female doesn’t have enough milk to feed all its puppies, or decides that feeding her offspring is not her cup of tea, it will be your responsibility to provide them with nutrition every three to four hours, round the clock. And how many mouths are there to feed?

Another aspect of puppy care that you can look forward to if your dog wants nothing to do with her brood is the manual stimulation of urination and defecation. Until puppies are three weeks old they will only void if directly stimulated. If mom isn’t doing this, you will need to take a moistened cotton ball and gently rub the urogenital area until the babes begin to urinate and pass stool. Failure to do this can result in some pretty unhappy puppies.

8. Good luck seeing a profit!

Your last responsibility before they go to a new home is to have them dewormed, vaccinated, and examined by a veterinarian. You will want to make sure that you have budgeted a sufficient amount for this purpose. Needless to say, if you decide to breed mixed breed puppies, you have no opportunity to recoup this expense.

Puppies are a lot of fun and it can be very exciting when they are born, but more often than not, owners find themselves in over their heads when they decide to endeavor into breeding.

Article republished here with permission from VetCentric.com
Copyright(c) 2000 by VetCentric.com

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Wait till your dog is at least 2 years old as the first year is rather young and they normaly may not take to the breeding till after they reach their second year. this also gives the maternal instincts a better chance to kit in, stop breeding at age 7. it works the same for cats. you want the dog to be able to take care of it's puppies and not you. if you don't wait you will have problems and large death rates as the mother won't know what to do with them.

Answer 5

My dog trainer/breeder said after the 3rd "in heat" or season. But the important thing is her maturity level. Is she mature enough to handle a litter of puppies? Also, is she mature enough to accept the male? Dogs are like children they all mature at different ages. You know better that anyone. If in doubt ask your vet.

Answer 6

You might want to ask your vet. I was told that we shouldn't start breeding our dog until she was 9 months old. She is 6 now and has had 2 litters and they came out fine.

Hope this helps,

Answer 7

The Queen is correct. Make sure that your dog is ready to have a litter. I dont mean age wise, I mean physically. Take her to a vet, have her checked.

Answer 8

you can start to breed your female when htey reach the age of 1 1/2 yrs old. but usually you can start the breeding after her second heat cycle. don't wait to long because when they reach 5 yrs old it makes it harder to have a litter. you can breed her now if you want to, just don't wait til she turns 4 yrs old because after that you start to put her in a difficult situation when it comes to breeding her for the litters. i breed golden retreivers and i started breeding my female when she turned 1 yr old and she is going on her 3 litter. so you can do it now. good luck on your litter.

Answer 9

My dog had puppies at 1.5 years old and she was definelty not mature enough! I'd say a dog should have puppies around 4 yrs of age.

Answer 10

If you are THIS***TOTALLY*** IGNORANT of the BASICS,you have NO BUSINESS BREEDING **ANYTHING!!!

SPAY! SPAY TOMORROW!!
NOBODY wants more-junk-pups.