i was just wondering because i have a maltese and i want to breed it. does anyone know?
Why would you want to breed when millions of puppies are dying out there? Millions of lives without a home? Millions of dogs suffering, and waiting for their death, 3-6 days later …
Why would you want to add to that? If you don’t know the age, then you shouldn’t be breeding. Stop being a BYB, and get some sense.
ADDED: You know, it’s not very nice to send e-mails like that, honeybunches, 
Don’t breed any female dog before she is at least two years old. Also, they should not be bred beyond age 6.
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between 1 1/2 to 2 years will be a good age to have it bred for the first time.
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If you don’t know the age that dogs can begin to breed then you really don’t need to be breeding. There are so many unwanted animals in the world right now that another litter by an unexperienced person isn’t what we need.
Don’t put your dog’s life at risk because you think breeding it sounds like fun or a good way to make some cash. There are plenty of Malteses in shelters and rescue groups right now. I should know I work for one and we see malteses pretty regularly.
Just stick to loving your pet and spay her don’t add to the pet problem please!
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they say that they are fully grown at two years old so that is when they are ready
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Why would you want to breed when millions of puppies are dying out there? Millions of lives without a home? Millions of dogs suffering, and waiting for their death, 3-6 days later …
Why would you want to add to that? If you don’t know the age, then you shouldn’t be breeding. Stop being a BYB, and get some sense.
ADDED: You know, it’s not very nice to send e-mails like that, honeybunches,
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No dog should be bred until at least two years of age. However, there are several other factors that are involved with responsible breeding.
Is she shown? Does she have her championship titles? Does she have all proper genetic tests completed (OFA, CERF, PennHip, etc.)? Does she have excellent qualities to contribute to the breed? Is she a good example of the breed? How is she going to help improve the breed?
Do you have a mentor? Have you done at least a year of research on breeding? Do you know the breed standard, and what is desirable and what isn’t? Do you have an emergency fund with at least $1,000 in it? Do you have a guarantee stating the puppies will be free of genetic problems for at least 2 years, and if in that time frame a genetic problem develops, you’ll help cover the vet costs? Do you have a contract stating all puppies must be spayed/neutered at 6 months of age and proof must be provided? Does the contract also state that if at any time in the dog’s life the owner can’t keep them, the dog goes right back to you? Have you already thoroughly screened and lined up potential homes before the puppies are born?
What happens if you can’t sell the puppies? What happens if your girl needs an emergency c-section? Are you going to rush her in for the c-section in the middle of the night?
There’s SO much more to breeding than just making sure the dog is the right age. It doesn’t sound like you’ve made a real effort to learn about breeding before actually attempting it, so please don’t. There are too many irresponsible backyard breeders and puppy millers out there. Please don’t become another. Please spay your dog and enjoy her for the pet she is.
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Not only does it need to be at least two, but are you awareof all the things that need to be done when you have puppies?
Puppies are alot of work, and a lot of things can happen when yourdog is prgnant – can you afford over a thousand dollars for a C-section if she gets into trouble? That’s not a wild guess – it happens all the time. Would you be able to bottle feed the babies if something happened to her?
Would you be able to take back and rehome any puppies – for life- that couldn’t stay with their owners? Would you be able to pay vet bills for any dogs returned to you with health problems?
Do you know how to identify people who are gathering dogs for laboratories, puppymills, or dogfighting rings?
If you don’t have money to burn, and a mentor who already knows how to do this, then please get your dog spayed. It’s a lot more difficult than you think.
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Not before atleast 2 years old. Plus you have to make sre she is in good health and when the puppies come there is alot of work involved alot can happen when she starts to have puppies and if somethinggoes wrong you have to know what to do
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Do you know your dog’s genetic history? Her parents? Her grandparents? Do you know how to chose the right male dog to breed yours to? Do you know his history? His parents? HIs grandparents? My guess is not, since you don’t even know when she can be bred.
Do everyone – dogs included – a favor and don’t breed. It’s hard work (mating, whelping, training the puppies, re-homing the puppies, vet visits), lots of research (on your dog, the male dog, the process, training), and lots of money (stud fee, vet check up after mating, ultrasounds, food, supplements, vet visit for whelping, store of milk for pups if mom rejects them, more supplements, even more food, house training, more vet visits, vaccinations, etc.)
Then you have to worry about her health. Un-spayed dogs tend to develop tumors and cancer, and you have to worry about her being able to whelp and care for the litter.
You don’t breed "just because", you breed to preserve the characteristics of a breed of dog. Chances are you got your dog from a pet store or shelter, and therefore the dog is either a puppy mill dog or back yard breeder dog. That usually means bad genetics and no history.
Leave it to the professionals who have properly bred show dogs.
Plus there are more than enough dogs in the world without you adding to it. Get her spayed now, preferably before the first heat cycle.
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Owner
No bit** is mature enough to safely produce healthy puppies until she’s 2 years old.
Meanwhile, you don’t know enough at this time to be a good breeder. If you knew enough to be a reputable breeder, you would not have had to ask this question. So, either neuter her and learn before you get a female to breed, OR start now and google breeding dogs, breeding maltese, "pregnancy, labor and delivery of dogs"… and things like that… AND … find a good breeder who will be your mentor and helper in case your dog needs an emergency C-section, or the pups are failing to thrive and dying…
There’s SO MUCH to learn and a LOT of work to do…
There’s health testing you must do to make sure she doesn’t pass on hereditary, genetic flaws and disabilities.
Anyone who allows dogs to just "do it" and produce pups without learning about pregnancy, labor, delivery, emergencies, and general rules of safe breeding is NOT a good dog owner.
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You should never breed before she is 2years of age. But listen to the rest of the people on here when they warn you about breeding.
Breeding is more than just a dog having puppies. She has to be healthy and not just a vet check, but in all areas of health. Is she Showring material? Do you have the space for a whelping box? Do you have money to raise the pups and get their shots and possibly pay for a C-section should your dog need it? Not all first pregnancys go well, you may end up losing your dog as well as the puppies. The best time to give the puppies away is at 12 weeks not 5 or 6 weeks like most people think. Can you handle that? Are you just doing this for money?? Please have her spayed. You can look at all the Maltese dog Rescue Groups out there and see there is no shortage on dogs. The links below are only a few that have many Maltese in search of homes. If you have to ask about breeding you are not the person to do it.
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http://www.malteserescue.com/
http://adopt-a-maltese.1-800-save-a-pet.com/
http://www.scmradoption.com/
http://malteserescue.homestead.com/
http://www.adoptamalt.com/
http://www.lilpaws-malteserescue.org/
Some great posts here, and I do hope you take note of what they’re telling you. Please don’t add to the massive problem of dogs dying in pounds EVERY DAY – many of which are pedigrees like the Maltese.
And bear in mind that this could cost you a fortune in vets bills, so you are highly unlikely to make money from this. And not least, it could cost your dog her life. Breeding from your female dog just once increases her risk of ovarian cancer SEVEN TIMES.
Please, please, show your dog you love her, be a responsible owner and have her neutered.
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