At what age range do reputable breeders normally retire their brood bitches?

EscVelocity · 04-08-2011

I'm only asking because I was digging into Seamus's background a little bit. I was able to find info about my dogs Dam, but not the Father. However, it appears my dogs mother was 11 yrs old when she whelped Seamus. This doesn't seem like good practice to me, but maybe it isn't so unusual? Just thought I would ask.

reeskujo · 04-09-2011

Well you're right...The general age for retirement is 5 yr.s old!...There isn't a reputable,ethical breeder in their right mind that would breed a female that's 11 yr.s old!!...If you want to know the truth that's actually pretty cruel. Not to mention the risk that was taken with her life and her health. Not to mention the puppies. If you got your pup from a so-called breeder no offense but he/she is nothing more then a backyard breeder.

I don't mean this towards you in any way but that totally infuriates me. Hopefully your puppy is healthy and will stay that way.

Lunareclipse · 04-09-2011

Normally a reputable breeder only gets 3 litters before they retire the dam.

Yogi · 04-09-2011

The oldest bitch that delivered that I have ever had was just shy of 6. Usually 5 years is considered average but 11 years is simply asking for serious problems and makes no sense.

EscVelocity · 04-09-2011

I'm thinking the information I looked up isn't accurate. I have Seamus's papers to register him, but never bothered until last night. The Dam is "Weeheart's Love Bandit", and the Sire is "Apple Hill Chauncy". It is possible the information I found isn't about the same dog. I guess I will soon find out when I see exactly what his pedigree says.
Just to set the record straight, if the Dam was that age when bred, I know Weehearts Pomeranians would not be responsible for it, because they are not the breeder listed on his registration papers. It is possible the Dam was sold to the breeder who would do such a thing though.

Quote:

Well you're right...The general age for retirement is 5 yr.s old!...There isn't a reputable,ethical breeder in their right mind that would breed a female that's 11 yr.s old!!...If you want to know the truth that's actually pretty cruel. Not to mention the risk that was taken with her life and her health. Not to mention the puppies. If you got your pup from a so-called breeder no offense but he/she is nothing more then a backyard breeder.

I don't mean this towards you in any way but that totally infuriates me. Hopefully your puppy is healthy and will stay that way.

No offense taken. Seamus was a craigslist puppy, who's owner was the daughter of a breeder. She received Seamus as a gift, and was hoping for a "Show Quality" dog. Well, Seamus ended up over sized, so she didn't want him any more. I have no Idea what type of breeder the girls mother was. So far he seems healthy, but he is only 2 yrs old.

AliasAussies · 11-07-2011

I do not believe in "set" age, but 11 years old is excessive to me.

One the best dogs in my breed was whelped from a seven year old bitch.
Our breed is seeing epilepsy from six months on up. The percentages do seem to decrease with age. My thoughts now have turned to breeding from and to older stock. There are more pros for me in terms of older stock then cons.

VomBullenfeld · 02-10-2012

As my family and I are a reputable breeders of German Rottweilers of over 30 years (in Europe and here in the States), and my father being a Veterinarian, I can absolutely tell you that 11 years is far too old for a female to usually deliver healthy and sound puppies.

Now, as far as a retirement age, every breed of dog is different and have different life spans and thus ages of reaching their healthy reproductive thresholds. But it is usually accepted that breeding a female older than 7 is unfavorable and unethical for the mother as well as the offspring.

reeskujo · 02-12-2012

For all new members we do not support breeding we support adoption...hoever we are very aware that people like to get a certain purbred that they can't find in a shelter and we unsderstand..A few of on here got our dogs from a breeder..

Ok well here's the issue and why I wrote this...We believe that the few members who do it or did it we have bred done it ..We have no problem at all helping responsibe breeds who know what they're doing..However we will not give out information that we spent many years to learn to help the the ones who post on here beacause they don't want to spend 2 yr.s with a mentor..When we give that info out we're really just supporting the backyard breeders wind up to often in sheters..

So what does mean? It means unless an OP posess a quetion on here if it's not from an educated breeder..Be well prepared to hear many things you will not like..We also do not have a problem if some wants to ask what the best way you...... go to learn about breeding...So keep in mind if your breeding a dog and have no clue what to look for you can't be taught on a forum! Well here you, we're not saying you can't post in that section but depending on what your asking about you mske get a backlass..We are very devoted to our animals and and so many are being put to sleep each day we are 100% pro-adoption