can i have some advice;
My 2 yr old rottie is due to have pups next week, she was mated with my 8mth old rottie (her half bro) i did this to imrprove the breed as all breeders do, they r very good specimens of the breed, and i was thinking would it b ok to sell the pups at 8 weeks i thought thiswas ok but someone said 6 weeks isnt that too soon?
Charlotte

8months is a little young to be using your male at stud but as the deed is done it;s a bit late now as for letting your babies go at 6 weeks i personally think that it is too young 8 weeks is a much better age.

Two things spring to mind.

1/ The mating of half brother to half sister is not a good idea unless by a very experienced breeder who knows their line backwards. Recessive gene problems would be almost certain to come out in the puppies!

2/ At 8 months old the sire has not finished developing. So many good puppies go right off as they get older so I'm afraid that at 8 months you really have no idea if the sire is a good dog or not!

Sorry to have to say it but that is the facts I'm afraid!

John

Also with such a close mating i would certainly want Hip Scores for both parents, and at 8 months the mael is too young to have his hips examined and scored.

I do hope that when you do have his hips scored you don't have any unpleasant surprises. What is the hip staus of the parent they have in common, and his parents? Are their other offspring low scorers? Is the temperament of the offspring of the dog who is a double grandparent beyond reproach?

As for your question, 8 weeks is the youngest you should consider homing the puppies. I would also make sure you have a sale agreement poiunting out that the Sir has not been hip scored, as shou7ld one of the pups end up with a problem the buyer may well turn around and say they were not aware of the full details, and any court will then definately find against you.

you say you did this close mating to improve the breed. However it is something normally only undertaken by people with a lot of experience of breeding and their lines etc. If you have this much experience then why are you asking what age to sell the pups!!!???
For what its worth...8 weeks is the absolute minimum. For a large breed like a rottweiler I would say 10 weeks -12 weeks more suitable.

My thoughts exactley Sam, then I thought I heard the trip trapping of little hooves..........

half brother/half sister mating as all breeders do ???????? I don't think so !!!!

Oh how I agree with everybody so far. Why do people with little experience play God with animals? This is exactly how this beautiful breed got into such a mess. Please, if you can find these puppies good homes at 10 weeks, and then wait until the sire and dam have matured sufficiently before you breed anything else.
I know that sounds abrupt and I really don't wish to be offensive, but I love Rotties and feel they have suffered enough one way and another. The good, established breeders are quietly maintaining the standard please leave it that way for now.
Jan