Hello everyone, I'm planning on mating my 6 year old bitch, this will be her 2nd litter, the dog I really want to use is 10 years old, he's a champion and has sired quite a few litters, but I'm worried about both their ages and if they will only produce a small litter, or do you think their age isn't a problem. this is a much waited for litter, already have new owners waiting.

thank you

B.

It's very easy to ask the stud dog owner to do a semen quality check shortly before mating.     Personally, I would also check out your girl before she comes in season for a normal thyroid profile, and also do bacteriology when she comes in season, in case there is a lurking infection left over from her first litter.    And of course do a progesterone test with Idexx.
  
Does it matter if she has a fairly small litter if you get what you want out of it?

Jo

a friend used her own dog as a stud for the first time when he was 11, litter was of good size and pups very healthy, bitch was younger, but shouldn't be an issue...

Generally it is better to use a young bitch with an older male and vice versa.

I think it more likely to get a smaller litter of both parents are reproductively older.

How recently has the dog sired a litter.

My first litter was from my 2 and a half year old bitch to a 10 year old stud dog, the litter was a good size, all healthy and the stud certainly was young at heart for a 10 year old.

A 6 ½ year old bitch of my breeding (not owned by me) had a litter of 8 to a 12 year old dog not long ago.

So it's all pot luck, if it's the dog you want then go for it, but be prepared for her to Miss/have a small litter (though as long as you get the puppy you want a litter of 1 is good enough, though we prefer a choice) and perhaps have a younger dog for the next season.

I think using an older male is always a good thing, you know they have made it to that age without anything popping up health wise, have an idea of his offspring and how healthy they have been... Much more data available on relations as well, such as longevity/health of his parents etc opposed to a 2 year old boy whose parents might only be 4 themselves or even younger...

I would be asking if the owner is willing to sperm test to see if everything is still ok as of course you would like to avoid the possible complications of very small litter and due to the age of your girl, might not want to risk her missing if the sperm count is not as good as it used to be when he was younger.

One of my dogs was sired by a sire age 10, and it was a litter of 9 pups.  (large breed)

I quite agree about using older animals for breeding. 

Ideally if one of the pair s young you want to sue an older mate so that you have that desirable extra info for at least half the equation.

With a youngish maiden bitch I think it always a good idea to use an older male, as it's no big deal should she miss.

With an older bitch though a young (I don't mean very young, but a male in his reproductive prime of 3 - 5 years) is a better bet though.

A lot will depend on late onset health issues within a breed, or in some breeds poor longevity.

Thank you everyone for your replies and sorry for the delay in responding.

reading the messages make me much more positive and on speaking to the owner he has just sired a litter.

I always get my girls tested when they come into season for any bugs that may be lurking and I also get them vaccinated for Canine Herpes and I always progesterone test so fingers crossed I will get my long awaited for puppy.

Barabara