Breeding an "OLD" teenage bitch! Is it right or mean?

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Hi guys,

I want your opinion on breeding an old bitch and when old is too old? I am on an all ACD forum and we were discussing a breeding topic and it came up in one of the breeders posts that she had bred an old bitch because she is the last of a dying breed of ACD from years and years ago and is from a certain bloodline. She is in her teens and had 8 pups but one died.....originally she said she was 15 and then she said most likely she is 13 or 14 :( that they weren't exactly sure. How old is to old to breed a bitch? I have heard up to the age of 10 if they are in amazing shape and clear all health checks but 13,14,15 to me is just cruel :cool: What's your opinion?

[RD]

Over 10 in Border Collies is considered "senior", not sure about ACDs. I wouldn't breed a senior dog. Too much risk to the bitch and to the pups too.

[Gempress]

I agree, it's cruel at that age. It's like saddling a 75-year-old human woman with eight demanding babies to care for.

The maltese breeder I know says she stops breeding her dogs at about 7 years old, depending on the individual dog. She says any older and it's just too hard on the bitch. And maltese are long-lived dogs.

[RedyreRottweilers]

what I would like to know is why anyone in their right mind would have any bitch still intact at that age.

Yikes.

No breeding for me past age 6 for Rotties.

[RD]

I agree, it's cruel at that age. It's like saddling a 75-year-old human woman with eight demanding babies to care for.

The maltese breeder I know says she stops breeding her dogs at about 7 years old, depending on the individual dog. She says any older and it's just too hard on the bitch. And maltese are long-lived dogs.
I agree. 7 would be my limit, too, with Border Collies. I know some people who have bred an 8 or 9 year old bitch (and sometimes breeding does occur later in this breed since responsible breeders will put their dog through training and work before breeding) but I thought even that was a bit risky. I'd never risk the life of my bitch just for a litter.

[wookie130]

I guess we need to weigh what is more important here...extending the legacy of a breed, or the fact that this was an old bitch. To me, the health and livelihood of the bitch (whether or not it's the last of it's line or not) is far more valuable. At this age, they could have lost her during the whelping, along with her entire litter (although I realize this can happen at any age...with her, it seems to be more of a risk, however), and then still compromised their original intent.

[juliefurry]

Well I got in this same arguement with my boss, well ex-boss now, two weeks ago. She has a 9 year old standard poodle that she bred just because she loves this standard poodle and wants another just like her. I told her that just because she has puppies she isn't going to get one "exactly" like the female she was trying to replace. I told her to breed a large breed female at that age, or any dog at that age, is, in my opinion, cruel and mean for the dog. At this age the dog should be enjoying it's retirement not having to be moms. I don't think it's right, no matter what the circumstances. I mean if that breed would become extinct if that female DID NOT breed than MAYBE I would consider but that's a BIG maybe. Obviously though the ACD will not go extinct if this dog does not have puppies so I don't think it is fair for the dog to be put through this. They should have taken into account many years ago while this bitch was still breedable that she was the last of that line of ACD's.

[~Jessie~]

I think that 6 or 7 should be the oldest that a bitch is bred.

That is really cruel that a teenage dog was bred =/

[schurpug]

The oldest we've ever bred, I believe, was 7 years old... (and this is Pugs)... much past that is getting excessive and overly demanding.

[bubbatd]

None of mine were over 7 yrs old ..

[showpug]

what I would like to know is why anyone in their right mind would have any bitch still intact at that age.

Yikes.

No breeding for me past age 6 for Rotties.

No kidding! Have these people ever heard of pyometra? Um, hello :yikes:

I don't think I would breed a dog past 5 or 6 tops!

[whatszmatter]

I"ve seen some 8-9 year olds, that are very healthy and very active have some really great litters, but they aren't common place, most don't breed past 7. Anything over that would really have to be one great producing bitch in great health that hasn't been overly used. Getting into the 12-13 year old or higher range is just wrong IMO. I don't care how badly she wanted pups, its quite burden on them especially when they're that old. They can live healthy and lively at that age, but throw in a litter of puppies to carry and deliever and ween, and you'll be looking at a old wornout dog in no time at best, and at worst a dead bitch and litter of puppies dead along with her. If she cares about the dog half as much as she thinks she does, she wouldn't do it, but look for a younger bitch and start there.

[RedyreRottweilers]

It would never be possible for me because I would never have an intact bitch past 7 years of age.

Not ever.

[Sunnierhawk0]

Wow.... Yes I would consider anything past 6 to be a nono in Rottweilers myself. If you dont have what you want by the time the bitch is 5ish, your prolly best to not even try.

With ACDs, I would consider the same thing. But it might be my "rottie mentaility" but if I ever breed Kodak I would never breed her past 5 or 6. I know in some breeds it depends but really after 5 or 6, why put your old girl thru it ? Just asking for problems, IMO.

[Lizmo]

Wow, that is cruel :( Wayyy to old, I can't believe the dog was able to have 8 pups and still be in good health!

I agree with others, 7 would be the age limit for me too.

[Momof2Pups]

Wow. . .that is way too old IMO.

[FoxyWench]

6-7 s my cut off/retirement age...and thats in chis who tend to live into their late teens, the shorter the average lifespan the younger the cut off should be but id never breed anythign over 7

my aunt bred danes and she wouldnt breed any female after 5 yrs

[Novel_Weims]

The age of 3, 5 and 7 are the acceptable years for breeding a Weim. Anything over that is really pushing it in my opinion.