male maturity

Question
at what age would I expect my 9 month old male toy poodle to be sexualy mature and able to cover my bitch.

Answer
Hello Gillian,
Most Poodles can reach sexual maturity around the age of 6-8 months or so, so your guy could quite possibly already be old enough to sire a litter.  If you are not sure, you can have your Vet do a Sperm count to see 1) if there is any sperm in the ejaculate, and 2) if there is enough sperm to have a sucessful pregnancy.  While at the Vet, you may have him/her do a Pre-Breeding exam just to make sure your guy is healthy enough to breed.  You may also take into account any genetic issues that your male could pass on to the puppies.  One reason Breeders like to wait to use their males is that if there are any faults that crop up after the puppy years, they can decide whether or not to use that male.  

Also, I am assuming that your female is at least 2 yrs of age.  While younger females are capable of carrying a litter to term, its best to wait until she is 2 and to also get her Vet checked before breeding, to be sure that she is healthy enough to carry a litter to term.

I hope this has helped you some.  If you have other questions about this, or other Poodle questions in general, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim