Age to stop breeding

[HeyJude]

At what age should Rottweilers (or any dog) that is 'used for breeding', sounds terrible but I don't know what the correct term is, be retired? Is there a certain number of litters a bitch should be allowed to have before being retired?

Thank you for your answers.

[brunie's mom]

I don't breed, but from what I know of breeder friends...most of them have 2 or 3 litters (depending on the health of the dog and the size of the litters) and often spay them by the age of 6. Males I'm sure can be used till much older age.
Females cannot have their health certifications till the age of 2, and they should have some conformation title and/or obedience or working titles too...so that often means that they are closer to 3 years of age, before breeding. It does not give them much of a time frame for breeding in their best years. I would think breeding any bitch after 7 years of age would not be healthy for the bitch or puppies.

Gina

[targonrotts]

for rottweilers or large breeds, i would not recommend breeding past 7.(females).
males can breed as long as they can and in good health(akc lets you until 12 years of age-after that need a letter from the vet)but sperm production starts to decline on most past 8.

as a bitch gets older her chances of having complications double. pyometria,cystic ovaries,dystocia,and non pregnancy risks get higher with age...especially if it will be their first time.

more important than age is health and condition of bitch/dog in question.

[HeyJude]

Thank you for your replies.