FAQs About How Old A Dog Can Be And Still Have Puppies
Technically, both female and male dogs can have puppies their whole lives. However, a dog’s fertility drops after the age of seven, and most female dogs can’t become pregnant quite as often as they used to.
The same happens to male dogs, and while they are still able to have puppies their fertility rate isn’t as high as it used to be.
The actual labor is also more difficult and risky for older dogs and is commonly accompanied by complications. Older dogs also may have problems producing the milk and nursing their puppies.
At What Age Do Male Dogs Become Sexually Mature?
Male dogs generally become fertile earlier than their female counterparts, usually when they are around five or six months old.
Toy and small breeds such as Chihuahuas become sexually mature earlier than large breeds. which become fertile when they are between seven and nine months old.
However, while they are technically able to impregnate a female dog, you shouldn’t allow males to mate until they are physically mature. In most cases, you should wait until your dog is at least one year old to mate him with a female.
Keep in mind that large and giant breeds need more time to fully grow, so you should wait until your pooch is 18 to 24 months old to breed him for the first time.
OUR EXPERIENCE: We’ve purchased from Labrador and Golden Retriever breeders. The breeders we’ve worked with wait until their dogs are around 2 years old and passed all their health clearances before breeding them.
If you decide to use your male dog for siring litters, you will first have to ensure that he is completely healthy and fertile. Your vet can help with that and provide health clearances that your dog is a qualified stud dog ready for breeding.
Once a male dog reaches sexual maturity, he remains fertile his entire life. However, their sperm count tends to be low during the beginning and the end of their reproductive cycle.
That’s why it’s important to wait until your puppy becomes fully grown before first breeding and avoid breeding dogs that are too old.
How Often Do Dogs Go into Heat?
Again, this varies from dog to dog.
Most dogs go into heat about every 6 months—so about twice per year.
However, their cycles are not always regular, especially in the beginning, which is why you have to keep a very close eye on your unaltered female dog. You never know when she might be going into heat.
Very large breeds, like Great Danes or Mastiffs, go into heat less frequently. Generally, just once per year.
As dogs get older, they also go into heat less frequently.
Therefore, by the time your dog is a senior, she may only be going into heat once per year or even less frequently.