Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject: When is too old to mate?
Hi All,
I'm hoping to have Mildred mated around March/April of 2012, the June of 2012 she will be four years old. Problem is that my work committments keep getting in the way, so far I have had to cancel matings twice and I'm now getting very concerned that she will be too old to breed from. I'm looking ahead also incase for whatever reason a mating doesn't go to plan and I will need to try again with her in the future. I only want one successful mating/litter from my girl and I understand that the older she gets the less likely this maybe.
So long as she is fit and healthy, than IMO, she will be fine.
Hally was 4 in the March and mated in the May and had her first litter in the July - had she have not caught, I would have thought very carefully about revisiting.
She had her second litter 18 months later
She came through both litters superbly with no major issues and was a fantastic mother (she spoilt me really for my first two litters) - and also saved the life of her eldest daughter's first two pups just a few weeks after having major surgery on her neck.
Four (for me) would be the utmost maximum however - and if you don't feel you can giver her your full attention close to whelping time and during the litter, then I would possibly give it a miss.
Not an easy decision.
ETA - I have known one or two people who have taken a first litter at 5 - I am not convinced this would sit comfortably with me - but I am sure they had their reasons, and also had no issues.
I will be able to get the time off for the birth so that won't be a problem but due to never knowing when she is coming into season I can't give my employers enough notice for the time off. They are very unflexable, if it comes down to it I will pull a sicky. I will be travelling down to Hampshire for the mating so I will need at least four days off to make sure that the mating/s is/are okay. Every year so far I have lost holiday because they (my employers) didn't allow me the time off before the end of the year so they owe me a break. They don't see mating my dog as a good enough reason for short notice holiday entitlement. Good old private sector employers!
I will be able to get the time off for the birth so that won't be a problem but due to never knowing when she is coming into season I can't give my employers enough notice for the time off. They are very unflexable, if it comes down to it I will pull a sicky. I will be travelling down to Hampshire for the mating so I will need at least four days off to make sure that the mating/s is/are okay. Every year so far I have lost holiday because they (my employers) didn't allow me the time off before the end of the year so they owe me a break. They don't see mating my dog as a good enough reason for short notice holiday entitlement. Good old private sector employers!
Are they going to allow you time off for around a week before whelping and staying with her for at LEAST the first couple of weeks?
A lot of people sleep with their litters and don't leave them for at least 4 weeks, personally I stay with mine until they leave - out of three litters I've left them once for around 6 hours when I had to go and collect Moz, and my dog walker came in every 2 hours to check on them / clean them and feed them.
Hi Sue,
Yes I will be taking three weeks off work and the wife will then take the next three weeks off, we have a friend sitting with them for the final few weeks. I'll hopefully be working nights by then so I have covered all my bases.
Hi Sue,
Yes I will be taking three weeks off work and the wife will then take the next three weeks off, we have a friend sitting with them for the final few weeks. I'll hopefully be working nights by then so I have covered all my bases.
I wish you the best of luck then - I know you've put a lot of thought and time into where you want to go with your breeding.
Yes It has been a bit of a headache getting a stud dog with the same health and DNA tests, hunting ability and a desired pedigree. The breeder is a wonderful person and very modest about their achivements, I couldn't be happier.
Poppy's first litter was born a month before her 4th birthday and her second litter is due shortly, 3 months after her 6th birthday.
If you want to be sure of getting the timing of the mating just right then I suggest you use the quantitative progesterone test that Idexx do. That way, provided you can wangle the time of work to get the mating done you've far more chance of success.
The very best of luck.
____________ Lynda x
Emily, Poppy, Maisie, Phoebe, Martha, Will, Ned and Isis
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