Breeding

To start out, I'm not going to breed just to breed, and I am going to wait till my male shows himself in the showring and also as normal life. He is a great dog and I will only be responsible about when and how I breed him. I intend to find a good bitch with a similar predigree, but in your opinion, what is the best age to breed a male? This is just for future reference and just so that I know when a great time is. Thank you in advance and have a wonderful week.

 

I know your trying to be responsible, but I noticed a key word in your post...not IF he proves himself, but WHEN...not IF you breed him, but WHEN. Remember the whole point of conformation, working, health testing is to see IF your dog is breed worthy...it defeats the purpose if you already know your going to breed...any dog can champion out (even in some working events) if you take him to enough shows. Make sure your not falling into that mindset...and don't be kennel blind...if he doesn't turn out, he doesn't turn out...try again with a different dog.

As to your actual question? (lol) The youngest that you can get health test results is 2 years, but a lot of dogs change A LOT after that (how many CH show dogs have you seen at a year that turn out to be WAY overdone full grown? Way to many for my taste). So I'd say 3 at the earliest...that is assuming that at 3 you've already proven him in every applicable arena.

 

Health wise 18 months to 5 years. I don't breed at 18 months because the dogs usually haven't proven themselves worthy yet but you know your dog so it's your call. Also don't forget to get him cleared by a vet before you breed him. Just a reminder and good luck in your search.

 

Yeah...I'm sorry for the wording...butsome people say 2 years but I've also heard 5, then I've heard people breeding as young as 9 months (I'd never do that of courseP))

 

I would also say it depends on your lines...I don't know what you've got but some lines take a lot longer to fully mature...4 to 5 years in some cases, in which case that would be the minimum to breed responsibly IMO. Good Luck...

 

I apologize for not posting JCLEVE...http://www.apbt.online-pedigrees.com/public/printPedigree.php?dog_id=207761

 

I would give it a minimum of 2 years, simply for the reason that you can't get any worthwhile health testing done before then. (I think you can get prelims on hips, but for example, the OFA wont issue a hip rating to a dog that's under the age of 2.) I personally would wait until 3 years just so you can see what he's going to look/act/move like when he's totally mature. There is no rush with males because breeding doesn't take the same toll on their bodies as it would with females.

 

I wouldn't breed period but thats just me. If I were too I would wait til the dogs had proven themselves and were health tested. I would also have a waiting list a mile long.

 

I was gonna say that, too. (About the waiting list.) But sometimes I just feel like I'm repeating myself. Thankies.

 

Why even consider breeding your dog? He is a very loosely line bred dog. In a 4 gen ped the bulk of dogs in his ped have done nothing and you could go back farther to. You will never prove your dog by trotting around a ring. What do you think you would produce that is worth breeding it that the breed could not do without? You have a pet nothing more nothing less enjoy him and dont bother breeding or thinking about it.