Guest donatella Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I've just seen an advert of someone wanting to stud out their 11 year old dog and it got me thinking is that even still possible at that age? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I actually don't know, but I can't see it being a good idea! Will watch with interest..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 My English Setters sire was an 11 year old male. Was a natural mating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 If it were me and I were considering using a dog that age, I'd like to see either recent puppies on the ground sired by him, or better still, a good semen evaluation. But theoretically, if a dog is fit, healthy and still fertile, there is no real reason why he cannot be used, and used successfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I wonder if the semen quality reduces as they age, like humans. I also wonder if there is a greater chance of birth defects (although, as semen is produced "on demand", I believe age isn't an issue like it is for ovums). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I wonder if the semen quality reduces as they age, like humans. I also wonder if there is a greater chance of birth defects (although, as semen is produced "on demand", I believe age isn't an issue like it is for ovums). Semen quality definitely deteriorates with age. I believe it also deteriorates with inactivity, so "use it or lose it" applies. As I said above, I'd want to see recent puppies or a proper semen evaluation done before I'd pay a stud fee or count on a "special" litter sired by a dog of that age. But it isn't impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 My whippets were sired by 10 and 11 year old dogs respectively. Both were natural matings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Don't tell the boys about the "use it or lose it" concept ellz.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Wow, you learn something new every day! I thought that would have been too old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Don't tell the boys about the "use it or lose it" concept ellz.... :laugh: could create a few monsters I'd imagine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 At least you'd know the dog had made it to 11 still fit enough to sire a litter, better than using a young dog that developed health issues later in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Wow, you learn something new every day! I thought that would have been too old. For a fit and active dog, no. But on the other hand I wouldn't recommend somebody just pull a senior citizen out of cobwebs and suddenly decide they want a litter by him with no planning or forethought. They might be lucky, but they just as likely won't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 My girl was sired by what I think was a 12 year old dog at the time (or thereabouts), natural mating, but sadly it was his last hurrah. Maybe too good a time was had Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 At least you'd know the dog had made it to 11 still fit enough to sire a litter, better than using a young dog that developed health issues later in life. Yep, In fact I remember someone saying that at a seminar I went to years ago. Talking about some breeds in the US and popular sire syndrome - everyone using an imported dog young and the dog and his progeny going on to have hassles as they aged and it being near impossible to find lines clear of that dog 5 years down the track. They went on to say that they think it better to only use them a few times while young and then when they reach double figures if they are healthy and able to do the deed. and the progeny from the litters they sired when they were young are healthy then they are a good contributor to the gene pool so let them be used a few more times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 My Grumpy's sire was around 13, I think. Grumpy's now 16 and a half. I read somewhere recently about the older the sire, the greater the longevity of the offspring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 We had a 14 year old kennelled when 'Sooki' was in season and he was keen and agile enough to mount. He wasn't allowed though. The semen must have a minmum sperm count of 200 -400 million, when a normal healthy count is 2000 -3000 million. Too old? Not likely. They're mammals and its a boy thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german_shep_fan Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 At least you'd know the dog had made it to 11 still fit enough to sire a litter, better than using a young dog that developed health issues later in life. Yep, In fact I remember someone saying that at a seminar I went to years ago. Talking about some breeds in the US and popular sire syndrome - everyone using an imported dog young and the dog and his progeny going on to have hassles as they aged and it being near impossible to find lines clear of that dog 5 years down the track. They went on to say that they think it better to only use them a few times while young and then when they reach double figures if they are healthy and able to do the deed. and the progeny from the litters they sired when they were young are healthy then they are a good contributor to the gene pool so let them be used a few more times. Definately agree and something i think about often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 At least you'd know the dog had made it to 11 still fit enough to sire a litter, better than using a young dog that developed health issues later in life. Yep, In fact I remember someone saying that at a seminar I went to years ago. Talking about some breeds in the US and popular sire syndrome - everyone using an imported dog young and the dog and his progeny going on to have hassles as they aged and it being near impossible to find lines clear of that dog 5 years down the track. They went on to say that they think it better to only use them a few times while young and then when they reach double figures if they are healthy and able to do the deed. and the progeny from the litters they sired when they were young are healthy then they are a good contributor to the gene pool so let them be used a few more times. Definately agree and something i think about often. It was 1 of those things that really sat with me and I couldn't tell you much else from the weekend but I have always remembered that. Basically it was expanded on saying a dog should have no more contribution then a bitch would during the same time frame (and I think they said 2 to 7 years of age as average breeding ages for most breeds). At the point where you would retire a bitch from breeding, the dog should be left to continue to enjoy his life while you wait and see. By the time he is 10 you should have some 5 or so year old progeny to evaluate, as well as the health of the dog itself and if all of that is fine then use him a few more times. I know I can definitely think of examples where a dog has been used prolifically only for problems to turn up in the progeny at 2 to 3 years of age by which stage there are already another dozen litters on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Ive got a 14 year old champ here who still does a loverly job when he is called upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 My girl was sired by what I think was a 12 year old dog at the time (or thereabouts), natural mating, but sadly it was his last hurrah. Maybe too good a time was had Lol :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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