Pomeranian dog

Question
My Pomeranian is 7 years old, and has never had any problem having babies.  When should a dog be retired?

Answer
Hi Judy,

In the same way that there is a recommended age for the first pregnancy, there is also a recommended age for the last one. Most breeders agree that a female dog's last breeding should be at 5-6 years old.

Most breeders also agree that a female dog should have no more than 2 litters over her life (starting at age 2, and skipping a heat cycle in between each breeding). If your dog has been bred more than this, then it's absolutely time to stop breeding her. Although she's been a good mother to past litters, the process of carrying a litter and giving birth is too stressful at 7 years.

At 7 years old, it's best to "retire" this dog from breeding. If there is a danger of her accidently getting pregnant, having her spayed would be a good idea.

Best of luck,
Patti