Male Dogs

[CateHudson36]

How old is too old for a male dog to breed? We have a 12 year old Rat Terrier, and a 18 month old female. The female is in heat, and our male dog is in great health and is really interested in her. Is it a bad idea to let them breed or should we look for a younger male?

[rutylr]

I'm guessing they are not AKC.
If the male has the desired traites and pedreee your female needs to improve the breed then age should not matter.
Donna

[micki]

Akc doesn't register rat terriers Ukc does. That said,if you dogs are registered there, check that Ukc will register the pups from this breeding. Akc has age limits on this not before 8 months and not after 12 years. If that doesn't matter to you. Your male will be interested ,he might even tie with her but yoou might not get any pups. The sperm count goes down in older males. If you want to breed her why not find a younger stud?

[rutylr]

They are AKC Foundation stock.
There is something about olders dogs and AKC.Something about a stud over 10.
Never bred to a dog that old,but I was thinking about it once,and remember the owner saying something about it.
Donna

[Moo]

Your concerns should be for the female. I would consider her too young.

[dobermom]

Good call Moo, she is TOO young!

[rottiegirl]

Have they had success in the show ring or at terrier trials? I they haven't you shouldn't even THINK about breeding! Have all health tests (genetic ones) been cleared?

[barnjess]

Well, i have to ask have they had theitr helth checks?

[CateHudson36]

I have had people tell me it was okay to breed a female of 18 months as long as she's done growing and had all her shots and tests. Our female hasn't grown any in 4 months. She's 10 lbs and her Parents were 10lbs and 8lbs. The vet thinks she's done growing. Both of our Rats are up to date on tests and shots and in very good health. We would really just like a litter out of the two because they have excellent backgrounds, markings, and dispositions.

[Blaze]

Do you know what the tests are? I was under the impression that certain ones couldn't be correctly done until 2 years. I would do a lot more research first before even considering it. But that's just me.