What is the maximum average age people feel you can still get quality production out of a stud dog? Obviously health is a consideration.

Conservatively, eight years. Although there are plenty of dogs that can get it up longer. I would not want to plan a program around an older dog. Not because of ability to breed, but the higher chances of other problems that will eliminate his chances of breeding successfully as he ages. Injuries and other health concerns.

Todd, more reasons for me to move by butt, right?

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Conservatively, eight years. Hmm, so if you take the old figure of one human year is the equivalent of seven dog years, throw in some new math to even it out, then breeding age for human males stops at when?

Anna

Anna Carson wrote: then breeding age for human males stops at when? From my understanding NEVER, LOL. There is a reason they call them stiffs you know.

With Viagra and this new drug thats coming out thats supposed to last longer than Viagra, who knows! You'll have to figure that into your calculations. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Forgive me I'm a novice, but is there an age when the plumbing simply stops working on male dogs, where the flesh simply is no longer willing? Do males simply lose interest in sex? I can't imagine a male with a sense of smell not goin nuts over a bitch in heat unless he was so old he couldn'y move. Just for my own information what are the other factors that would stop him from wanting to mount a bitch in heat?

As dogs age there is decreased fertility. So there does come a point where the dog is no longer fertile. It varies with each dog.

The seperate issue is registration for the litter.
Here are the AKC guide lines for the age of both the Stud and Dam:

No dog or litter out of a dam under eight (8) months or over twelve (12) years of age at time of mating, or by a sire under seven (7) months or over twelve (12) years of age at time of mating, will be registered unless the application for registration shall be accompanied by an affidavit or evidence which shall prove the fact to the satisfaction of The American Kennel Club.

The other thing that becomes an issue is the use of A.I. Here are the AKC regestration requirements for the use of A.I.:

The collection of semen for the artificial breeding must be reported to the AKC with DNA certification.
The collector/storer must be on record with the AKC as familiar with and complying with the AKC regulations for record keeping and identification of dogs.
The Frozen Semen Application must be submitted containing the certifications completed by the owner of the semen, the owner of the dam and the veterinarian who performed the artificial breeding, with the proper fee.
All sire owners must sign the form transferring ownership of the frozen semen.

Here is the link to the AKC page for regestration rules:

http://www.akc.org/registration/index.cfm

If there is no preference for the litter to be regestered it doesn't matter. You just make the breeding and take your chances. The chances can be enhanced by checking the motility of the sperm, but every breeding has a chance of failure.

You could argue that an older dog would be ideal for breeding to. He's worked, you know that his health has held up (very important with some late-onset diseases), you've seen his offspring and their offspring, so you know what he throws.

Fertility can be a concern, but few dogs go completely sterile with age, and certainly not at eight years -- many bitches can still whelp without problems then.

Dei.

If I would ever have a Top Quality Stud Dog, I would have semen collected,registered and stored.

Naa-Die, you made a very good point about the older dogs pups being evaluated.

Butch:If a dog is truley that good a producer his sperm should be collected and stored. This would also keep the genetic make-up if the stud was injured or became ill. If it's stored you have what you need, whenever.

Wish I had a stud of this caliber to be conceren with his age!!