What age do YOU think is when a “stud dog” should stop breeding?
I’m asking this because of a previous question that I asked about the Sussex Spaniel that won Westminster was 10 years old, and an answerer told me that the age limit for breeding a male dog according to the AKC is 12 years old.
I would’ve thought that was too old, because I’m pretty sure that I’ve heard others on here say that 5 years old was way past breeding prime.
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July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Angelica brings up an interesting point. Great Danes & Mastiffs rarely live past 7-8 years old….but toy breeds often live into the 20’s. 5 years for a male would be absolutely ridiculous. You won’t know if he’s a good producer until he’s at least 4, when his progeny begin accomplishing (or not) things. Someone that is breeding to "better the breed" (as is supposed to be the goal of a breeder), don’t know what kind of stud they have until he’s 4 or 5 years old….thus, that’s the beginning of his career. All too many breeders will breed a "non-producing" champion until he can’t mount anymore…when he should’ve been retired at 4-5. Once it is obvious that a dog is not a producer of excellent offspring, 200 more breedings will not justify him if 2 or 3 flukes come out. I don’t really agree with artificial breeding if the stud does not have the drive to breed. There are breeders that will AI a "champion" dog because he won’t breed on his own….THAT is definitely wrong, and the dog should be neutered. On the other hand, if we had frozen semen from 30-35 years ago from some of the dogs that WERE good producers, some breeds could be brought back from the brink of total disaster ( I’m speaking mainly about rotties here).
So, to shorten it a bit…I’d say if the stud is producing "REAL QUALITY" (and of course ALL breeders think they have "quality"), breed him as long as he’s able. If he’s producing EXCELLENT, PROVEN, SUPERIOR QUALITY…continue with frozen semen until something better comes along.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
5 years for females after the age of five even in the healthiest females pregnancy is a real toll on the body. Males like human men can go for much longer since there is little stress on them when it comes to breeding. There is also the fact that many OLDER studs have semen that is in frozen storage that was collected at an earlier date.
And when using an older male reputable breeder will still do a full battery test on the quality and motility of their sperm prior to breeding.
ADD: As for age if the male is healthy and has a good sperm count with active and motile sperm I see nothing wrong with the actual breeding of an older male past the age of 5.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
It depends on the breed larger breeds have shorter lives and thus shorter viability period.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Its 5 years for a bitchh. I do believe 10-12 years old is fine for a stud. Its the bitchh that is to worry about. But i do not believe a bitchh should be bred past 5 years.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
A rather prolific stud dog in working line GSDs, Asko von der Lutter, died not too long ago. His last litter was sired naturally at age 13 or 14