Breeding

[Dakotastar]

I have a Black lab male that i would like to breed to pass on his great traits. I know that I need to have his hips x-rayed to ensure I'm not passing on displashia and have his eyes check. He is Going to be 8 years old this summer. He is a great hunter and hunts with me not by himself. My question is how old is to old to breed for male dogs and is there anything else I need to have checked out on him to ensure I'm not passing on health problems? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in addvance.

[DakotaRidge]

Two other tests are for EIC and CNM.

[RangeViewKennels]

I think that it is 9 with AKC. After that you have to get an exception from them. I would have to look that up to be sure, but I think 9.

[labmom]

You would need to certify him with the OFA for his hips and elbows.
You also would need to get his eyes checked and register them with CERF.
EIC and CNM tests are a good idea too.

[kninebirddog]

only thing about stud dogs you need to keep them healthy but with age will come some fertilization issues like lower sperm count and viability of the sperm so you need to be more precise about when you breed the bitch as semen from older dogs will not last as long as in a dogs prime

“No dog or litter out of a dam under eight (8)
months or over twelve (12) years of age at the time
of mating, or by a sire under seven (7) months or
over twelve (12) years of age at the 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.”

If you have had a litter registration application form
rejected because the age of the sire and/or dam was
not in compliance with Chapter 3, Section 5 and you
request the AKC to reconsider the matter, you should
submit as much information and material as possible.
The AKC would want to know if the breeding that
took place was a “planned” breeding. We would also
want to know if there were any witnesses to the breeding
who are in a position to identify the sire and dam
and, if so, statements from those witnesses should be
submitted. You should tell us how the bitch was confined
during the entire heat period and whether or not
there was any possibility of the dam being exposed to
any other male during the season in question.
In the case of an overage sire, we would ask whether
a recent sperm count was done by a veterinarian and, if
so, that we receive a copy of the veterinarian’s findings.
If you own an overage male and you intend to use
the dog at stud, we recommend that you have a sperm
count done by your veterinarian. If the veterinarian
finds that the male is capable of siring a litter you
should make several photocopies of his findings, which
can then be submitted in the future with applications
for litters sired by the dog. We would also recommend
that you have a sperm count done every six (6) months
thereafter.

[kninebirddog]

another thing to think about is what will you do with the puppies that don't sell

here are over 1000 lab breeders on the main breeders page, look in the paper at all the lab puppies for sale

what about the female does she also have the desired traits you seek to put in the pups?

[RufnitKennels]

Generally, each pup will be 50% of the sire and 50% of the dam (the sire brings 1/2 the traits and the dam the other 1/2). These traits (physical and/or mental) can be good traits as well as the not so good traits...unfortunately there's no way of choosing which ones are passed on to each pup. If a person is looking for a companion similar to theirs, going back to that companions sire and dam has a better chance of producing a pup with closer characteristics than taking their companion and diluting it 50%. Even "one time" breeders should always be prepared to take on the responsibility (financially/physically) of each and every pup produced for it's natural lifetime (healthy and/or unhealthy).

[RangeViewKennels]

only thing about stud dogs you need to keep them healthy but with age will come some fertilization issues like lower sperm count and viability of the sperm so you need to be more precise about when you breed the bitch as semen from older dogs will not last as long as in a dogs prime

“No dog or litter out of a dam under eight (8)
months or over twelve (12) years of age at the time
of mating, or by a sire under seven (7) months or
over twelve (12) years of age at the 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.”

If you have had a litter registration application form
rejected because the age of the sire and/or dam was
not in compliance with Chapter 3, Section 5 and you
request the AKC to reconsider the matter, you should
submit as much information and material as possible.
The AKC would want to know if the breeding that
took place was a “planned” breeding. We would also
want to know if there were any witnesses to the breeding
who are in a position to identify the sire and dam
and, if so, statements from those witnesses should be
submitted. You should tell us how the bitch was confined
during the entire heat period and whether or not
there was any possibility of the dam being exposed to
any other male during the season in question.
In the case of an overage sire, we would ask whether
a recent sperm count was done by a veterinarian and, if
so, that we receive a copy of the veterinarian’s findings.
If you own an overage male and you intend to use
the dog at stud, we recommend that you have a sperm
count done by your veterinarian. If the veterinarian
finds that the male is capable of siring a litter you
should make several photocopies of his findings, which
can then be submitted in the future with applications
for litters sired by the dog. We would also recommend
that you have a sperm count done every six (6) months
thereafter.

Thanks. Knew it was somewhere around there, but don’t think I would breed a dog that was that old. Too hard on them. (The Female)

[DakotaRidge]

12 seems awfully old

[Dakotastar]

Thanks for the information. it has helped me quite a lot i am going to have my vet check him out.

Thanks again.