The appropriate age to breed a sire(male) or a dam(female) depends on several factors such as the breed of the dog, size, the female’s heat cycle, health of the dogs, sexual maturity, etc.
It is irresponsible to breed a female dog too early or on her first heat as that may cause potential health risks for puppies and the dam. Attempting to breed dogs before they reach their full size and maturity will result in grave danger to the dam as her body is not yet equipped to handle the pregnancy stress.
Breeding the dogs too old will result in low sperm quality for the male dog and possible health complications in the female dog, along with fewer puppies in the litter being born.
Best Mating Age For Top 50 Popular Dog Breeds
Breed | Best Age To Breed | |
---|---|---|
Male | Female | |
Akita | 2 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
American Shepherd | 2 years upto 8-10 years | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Australian Shepherd | 12-15 months upto 8-10 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Basset Hound | 2 years upto 8 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Beagle | 9 months upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 5-7 years |
Belgian Malinois | 2 years upto 8 years | 2.5-3 years upto 7 years |
Bernese Mountain Dog | 12-15 months upto 8 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Bichon Frise | 1.5 years upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 8 years |
Bloodhound | 2 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 6 years |
Border Collie | 1 year upto 9-10 years | 18 months upto 9 years |
Boston Terrier | 12-15 months upto 10 years | 2 years upto 5 years |
Boxer | 12-15 months upto 9-10 years | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Brittany | 2 years upto 8-9 years | 2-2.5 years upto 6-7 years |
Bull Terrier | 1 year upto 8-9 years | 1.5 years upto 8 years |
Bulldog | 2 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 4-6 years |
Cane Corso | 24-30 months upto 6-7 years | 18 months upto 6 years |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 2 years upto 7-8 years | 2.5 years upto 5 years |
Chihuahua | 1.2-1.5 years upto 9 years | 2-2.5 years upto 6 years |
Chow Chow | 2 years upto 8-9 years | 18 months upto 7 years |
Collie | 1.5 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Dachshund | 1 year upto 8-9 years | 1.2-1.5 years upto 8 years |
Dalmatian | 2 years upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Doberman | 16-18 months upto 6 years | 2 years upto 6 years |
French Bulldog | 12-15 months upto 12 years | 10-12 months upto 12 years |
German Shepherd | 2 years upto 10 years | 2 years upto 8 years |
German Shorthaired Pointer | 1.5-2 years upto 8 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Golden Retriever | 2 years upto 10 years | 1.5-2 years upto 8-9 years |
Great Dane | 12-15 months upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Havanese | 1 year upto 9-10 years | 2 years upto 8 years |
Labrador Retriever | 1 year upto 10-11 years | 1.5-2 years upto 8-9 years |
Maltese | 1.5 years upto 9 years | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Mastiff | 10-12 months upto 9 years | 18 months upto 8-9 years |
Miniature Schnauzer | 8 months upto 12 years | 1.5-2 years upto 7-8 years |
Newfoundland | 2 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Pomeranian | 1 year upto 8-10 years | 2-3 years upto 5-7 years |
Poodle | 12-15 months upto 8-10 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Pug | 12-15 months upto 8-9 years | 18-24 months upto 8 years |
Rhodesian Ridgeback | 2 years upto 8-9 years | 2-3 years upto 6-7 years |
Rottweiler | 15-18 months upto 9-10 years | 2 years upto 8 years |
Shetland Sheepdog | 2-2.5 years upto 7-8 years | 2 years upto 6-7 years |
Shiba Inu | 1.5-2 years upto 8 years | 2 years upto 6 years |
Shih Tzu | 8 months upto 9-10 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Siberian Husky | 12-15 months upto 10 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Spaniel (Cocker) | 2 years upto 6-7 years | 2 years upto 5-6 years |
Spaniel (English Springer) | 2 years upto 8-9 years | 2-2.5 years upto 7-8 years |
Vizsla | 18 months upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 8 years |
Weimaraner | 15-18 months upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 7 years |
Welsh Corgi | 6-12 months upto 6 years | 18 months upto 8-9 years |
West Highland White Terrier | 1.5 years upto 5-6 years | 1.5 years upto 5-6 years |
Yorkshire Terrier | 1 year upto 8-9 years | 2 years upto 5-7 years |

Akita
Best Age To Breed Akitas | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Pregnancy issues specific to Akitas include mothers hiding the pregnancy. A breeder must attend regular vet checks to keep track of the dam’s health. Akitas can also get quite irritable during pregnancy as compared to other dogs. Be sure to keep the female comfortable to avoid any behavior issues from cropping up.

American Shepherd
Best Age To Breed American Shepherds | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Multidrug Resistance Mutation, better known as MDR1, is a genetic mutation common in herding breeds. It is the miniature American shepherd more susceptible to the side effects of certain medications like medications to prevent parasites and treat diarrhea. A breeder must do thorough health and DNA check to prevent the passing of this mutation.

Australian Shepherd
Best Age To Breed Australian Shepherds | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 8-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7 years |

Basset Hound
Best Age To Breed Basset Hounds | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Beagle
Best Age To Breed Beagles | |
---|---|
Male | 9 months - 8-9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-7 years |

Belgian Malinois
Best Age To Breed Belgian Malinois | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years to 8 years |
Female | 2.5 - 3 years upto 7 years |

Bernese Mountain Dog
Best Age To Breed Bernese Mountain Dogs | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Bichon Frise
Best Age To Breed Bichon Frises | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5 years upto 8-9years |
Female | 2 years upto 8 years |

Bloodhound
Best Age To Breed Bloodhounds | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 6 years |

Border Collie
Best Age To Breed Border Collies | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 9-10 years |
Female | 18 months upto 9 years |

Boston Terrier
Best Age To Breed Boston Terriers | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5 years |

Boxer
Best Age To Breed Boxers | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 9-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7-8 years |

Brittany
Best Age To Breed Brittany | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2-2.5 years upto 6-7 years |

Bull Terrier
Best Age To Breed Bull Terriers | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 8-9 years |
Female | 1.5 years upto 8 years |

Bulldog
Best Age To Breed Bulldogs | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 4-6 years |

Cane Corso
Best Age To Breed Cane Corsos | |
---|---|
Male | 24-30 months upto 6-7 years |
Female | 18 months upto 6 years |

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Best Age To Breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2.5 years upto 5 years |

Chihuahua
Best Age To Breed Chihuahuas | |
---|---|
Male | 1.2-1.5 years upto 9 years |
Female | 2-2.5 years upto 6 years |

Chow Chow
Best Age To Breed Chow Chows | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8-9 years |
Female | 18 months upto 7 years |

Collie
Best Age To Breed Collies | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Dachshund
Best Age To Breed Dachshunds | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 8-9 years |
Female | 1.2-1.5 years upto 8 years |

Dalmatian
Best Age To Breed Dalmatians | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7-8 years |

Doberman
Best Age To Breed Dobermans | |
---|---|
Male | 16-18 months upto 6 years |
Female | 2 years upto 6 years |

French Bulldog
Best Age To Breed French Bulldogs | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 12 years |
Female | 10-12 months upto 12 years |

German Shepherd
Best Age To Breed German Shepherds | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 8 years |

German Shorthaired Pointer
Best Age To Breed German Shorthaired Pointers | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5-2 years upto 8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7 years |

Golden Retriever
Best Age To Breed Golden Retrievers | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 10 years |
Female | 1.5-2 years upto 8-9 years |

Great Dane
Best Age To Breed Great Danes | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7 years |

Havanese
Best Age To Breed Havanese | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 9-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 8 years |

Labrador Retriever
Best Age To Breed Labrador Retrievers | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 10-11 years |
Female | 1.5-2 years upto 8-9 years |

Maltese
Best Age To Breed Maltese | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5 years upto 9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7-8 years |

Mastiff
Best Age To Breed Mastiffs | |
---|---|
Male | 10-12 months upto 9 years |
Female | 18 months upto 8-9 years |

Miniature Schnauzer
Best Age To Breed Miniature Schnauzers | |
---|---|
Male | 8 months upto 12 years |
Female | 1.5-2 years upto 7-8 years |

Newfoundland
Best Age To Breed Newfoundlands | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7 years |

Pomeranian
Best Age To Breed Pomeranians | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 8-10 years |
Female | 2-3 years upto 5-7 years |

Poodle
Best Age To Breed Poodles | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 8-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Pug
Best Age To Breed Pugs | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 8-9 years |
Female | 18-24 months upto 8 years |

Rhodesian Ridgeback
Best Age To Breed Rhodesian Ridgebacks | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years to 8-9 years |
Female | 2-3 years upto 6-7 years |

Rottweiler
Best Age To Breed Rottweilers | |
---|---|
Male | 15-18 months upto 9-10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 8 years |

Shetland Sheepdog
Best Age To Breed Shetland Sheepdogs | |
---|---|
Male | 2-2.5 years upto 7-8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 6-7 years |

Shiba Inu
Best Age To Breed Shiba Inu | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5-2 years upto 8 years |
Female | 2 years upto 6 years |

Shih Tzu
Best Age To Breed Shih Tzus | |
---|---|
Male | 8 months upto 9-10 years |
Female | 2 years - 7 years |

Siberian Husky
Best Age To Breed Siberian Huskies | |
---|---|
Male | 12-15 months upto 10 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Spaniel (Cocker)
Best Age To Breed Cocker Spaniel | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 6-7 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-6 years |

Spaniel (English Springer)
Best Age To Breed English Springer Spaniel | |
---|---|
Male | 2 years upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2-2.5 years upto 7-8 years |

Vizsla
Best Age To Breed Vizslas | |
---|---|
Male | 18 months upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 8 years |

Weimaraner
Best Age To Breed Weimaraners | |
---|---|
Male | 15-18 months upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 7 years |

Welsh Corgi
Best Age To Breed Welsh Corgi | |
---|---|
Male | 6-12 months upto 6 years |
Female | 18 months upto 8-9 years |
Even though a Corgi could easily whelp more than four litters, it is highly recommended that we must not exceed this number.

West Highland White Terrier
Best Age To Breed West Highland White Terriers | |
---|---|
Male | 1.5 years upto 5-6 years |
Female | 1.5 years upto 5-6 years |

Yorkshire Terrier
Best Age To Breed Yorkshire Terriers | |
---|---|
Male | 1 year upto 8-9 years |
Female | 2 years upto 5-7 years |
Things to look out for while preparing to breed a litter
Research about the breed and understand the commitment | |
Know about the breed demand and have a good, credible clientele | |
Research and thoroughly know about caring for the dam before, during, and after pregnancy and delivering | |
Devote time to learning about the process of puppy birthing to raising | |
Be prepared for emergencies | |
Watch dogs in action and study pedigrees | |
Get registered | |
With your dog, mate another dog that will complement them, meaning, find a dog that will help overcome your dog's weakness. E.g., If your dog doesn't have the desirable coat color, mate them with a dog that has | |
Raise your dog to have a fantastic temperament – calm, friendly, curious and find a dog that has an equally good temperament | |
Get multiple thorough health checks done on both the dogs | |
Know your dog's genetics – the puppy's health, soundness, temperament, coat quality, color, looks, etc. will be passed on from gene to genes | |
Learn about chromosome numbers and structure as they're directly linked to genetic diseases |