What Age Do You Breed a Female Dog?

Female dogs are one of the most important parts of the breeding process, so every aspect that has to do with their health should be taken into account. One of the most important parts is what age you should breed a female dog. This varies between breed, along with a few other factors.

  1. 2 Years of Age

    • Most breeds of dogs should not be bred until they are at least 2 years of age, as breeding them before this age can lead to deformities in the offspring and can endanger the health of the female dog herself. The main deformities are hip dysplasia and eye disease. There are some smaller breeds which can be bred before they are two years old but it is probably safer to wait for the dog to reach that age before breeding her.

    Breeding Worthy

    • Those first two years of a dog's life that you are considering breeding should be spent making sure that dog is worthy of breeding or the types of genetics the female dog has. This can be done through a series of tests in their first two years of life, to see what the dog's offspring might be like. If these tests reveal that there is a strong chance the puppies might have deformities or physical problems, then you can know beforehand so you can decide whether to breed or spayed your female dog.

    Responsible Breeding

    • Breeding responsibly is important for the bloodlines of dogs and for people who buy these dogs as their pets for a decade, if not longer, of their lives. By breeding female dogs at a certain age you are not only protecting her life and health but also protecting the life and health of the puppies she will give birth to. Another part of responsible breeding is to spay your female dog after she has bred a litter or two of puppies. This will help her live longer and be better around children.