Breed young while stronger, or older with titles?

[Kilter]

For girls that is....

Had that chat today again while helping with a litter. The tossup is do you title your girls then breed when older (5-6) or breed closer to 2 years of age when they're not as likely to have as many performance titles, but likely better at reproduction? Thoughts?

[CharlieDog]

Theres got to be some sort of happy medium is my thoughts. Why not breed at three or four with more titles than a two year old but younger than a six year old?

Personally, Ive met a few females that I would have bought a puppy out of, if the sire was titled or doing actual work. A few female drug dogs come to mind specifically. Health testing and doing real work matter more to me than titles though.

[Kilter]

So far what I'm planning (for now anyway) is to breed young, mainly to get something else on the ground since I just have the one girlie. Doing an outcross and then perhaps more of a linebreeding, with access (ok likely keeping a pup each time) and see how they mature, then deciding if I want to breed again or spay if I'm happy with what I have. If not, I'd have a better idea of what she'll produce and she'll have had time for some titles and working too. Seeing too many awesome girls that are older and not having any litters at all for my liking.

[Julee]

If I were to breed, I'd shoot for a first litter somewhere between 3-4 years. I feel 2 is too early for most breeds, but that's me.

[Keechak]

I wont be breeding Lark until after her third birthday.

[Shai]

While you are probably not going to be achieving the pinnacle in any particular activity (barring a truly standout dog and the dedication of an excepionally large amount of resources) there is no reason a 3, even 2-year-old dog can't have some worthwhile titles, tests, and/or work experience under their belt already.

And what do you mean by young? If you're talking sub-2 there wouldn't even be official hip rad done yet.

I frankly don't see the hurry other than not going past what is safe for the bitch having a first or subsequent litter. Mira will be 4 for her litter, and that time has given us the opportunity to see how she really is maturing physically and explore her personality and working instincts in order to identify her best match...as well as earn titles get health tests done and all that.

[adojrts]

I don't like to breed too young for the simple reason that even with health clearances that genetic issues (unless ruled out by DNA testing if available) often don't appear before 4-5 + yrs. Also depends on the breed and what is the recommended age.

[Saeleofu]

If I breed someday, I plan on having the first litter out of a bitch at around 3-5 years old. Old enough to give me a better idea of who she is and how she works, medical issues, temperament testing, titles, etc - but young enough she could still have a couple litters if she's worthy of it.

[AdrianneIsabel]

Its not unreasonable to expect titles before breeding.

Three to four is a healthy start, Backups mom was five before her first and only breeding. Starting around 5-6 is pretty typical for malinois in work, it seems.

[Flyinsbt]

I would probably shoot for around 3 as a good age for a litter. That said, both my bitches were bred at 4. Tully, because I hadn't originally been planning to breed her, I decided to do so sometime after she was 3, and I had to do the various tests, etc, to get ready. Tess I always knew I would breed, but I had trouble finding the right stud. And the male I ultimately used was younger than ideal when I used him, but I just didn't want to wait any longer, since she was already 4, and I was able to clear the time in her competition schedule and arrange time off work for myself.