I have only kept bitches and I wondered how old a puppy dog can be before he can successfully mate with a bitch without any problems. Should I assume he will be mature (12 months to 18 months ish)???? Can I also assume he would be very interested in a bitch in heat well before this time???

> I have only kept bitches and I wondered how old a puppy dog can be before he can successfully mate with a bitch without any problems.

Well my first BC was just 7 months younger than her father ! work that one out, he mated her mother before he was 5 months old)

Are you thinking of breeding from a puppy ?

My M-I-L's dog mated a bitch at 4 1/2 months old, so you can never be sure! (Pups were born, but I can't remember how many) If you have a male then he should be kept away from bitches when they are in heat. If you do intend to breed from him then you really need to make sure that he has had any health tests done before considering it. If you think that he may have mated a bitch then yes, it is possible and the bitch could be pregnant.

If you're worried about keeping a young entire male with a bitch in season, my advise would be "don't".  It is not unheard of for a 4 or 5 month old puppy to sire a litter.  My Grand was very interested in my Pharaoh bitch when she was in season.  He was just 4 months old at the time and I would never have left them in the same room together.  Grands aren't physically mature until about 3 years old but this doesn't stop them mating a bitch much, much earlier.

Debs

Hello....no I have 3 bitches and the eldest is pregnant. I was considering keeping a male puppy. My mum who has them when on holiday MAY have to cope with a young dog puppy and a bitch on heat. She treats them like pets (not a bad thing - but does not belive in crates etc ) and would not be careful enough not to go upsatairs and leave them all unattended for an hour while she 'did the bathroom' or what ever !

I really love to show but have a coated breed and I regularly cannot take them out because I have one in season and /or not in coat. A dog would not have these issues in my breed and at least I would always have one to take out for the day.

It's difficult isn't it.  Maybe you could put your puppy in kennels or with someone else while your bitches go to your Mother's?

Debs

Well if you really want to keep a dog puppy, then maybe putting him in kennels when you go on holiday would be a better idea than leaving him with your mum to cope, especially if one of the girls does come into season?
:)

Great minds Missie ;)

Debs

surprised to know that the kennel club website says that you Reg a litter from any bitch over the age of one as long as both parents are KC reg but not from a bitch over the age of 8years.. I personally would even think of using my bitch till she is over the age of 2 21/2. She's older than that now. I haven't mated her yet.

I would make sure what ever breed the dog is that health tests are done first that are neededto , for that breed

:)

A male is capable of siring a litter on his mtoehr when she comes in season after her litter, at 4 or 5 months old.

Most serious breeders woudln't expect to be able to use any dog younger than about 14 months as it will be 12 months old before it can be hip scored, and of course it will in most breeds be far from mature.

Thank you everyone...basically if I keep a puppy dog I have to assume that he will be capable of 'making babies' with his mother or sisters while still in his puppyhood!

Hi Mad4dogs,
Yes your right, a male dog is capable of mating his mother, sister any bitch inheat from about four months.

Also be aware, if you do keep a dog puppy back, dogs have been known to mate through crates, baby gates and even fences.

I have a 5 year old male and 3 bitches (1 is neutered ;-) ) I do not go on holiday :-) I wouldn't trust anyone with my dogs if one was either in season or due in season. I did once and ended up with a litter of pups and swore I would never do that again. I have either put my dog or the bitch into kennels at the right time (or is it the wrong time? :-D ) However, the last couple of seasons I have kept my male at home and kept them separated by using crates. I think I'll need ear plugs next time ;-)

It can be done, but you have to be prepared to put in the extra work in order to keep them separated. And make sure that everyone is vigilant. There is no point in you keeping all the doors closed but a visitor opens the wrong door at the wrong time.

I didn't use my dog for stud until he was well over a year old.  But I have to admit that I'm sure he would have jumped at the opportunity earlier if i had been daft enough to let him loose when the girls were in season :-)
 

I've actually kept a male pup back from my last litter, that I'm hoping to show in the autumn.  No seasons from him to coincide with show dates, but will have the same job of keeping him away from the girls soon enough!