How to Know if a Male Dog Is Fertile

Co-authored by Tom Robertson

Last Updated: February 4, 2023 References

If you want to breed your male dog then you may want to assure that it is fertile before you begin the mating process. This can be done by veterinary assessment of its overall health, ranging from a general exam to specific fertility testing. However, if you have tried to breed your dog and the breeding has been unsuccessful, then you will need to look closely for the reasons for the infertility. Either way, there are a variety of steps you can take to assess whether or not your male dog can sire offspring.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Assuring Your Dog is Fertile

1
Make sure that your dog is old enough to breed. A male dog that is too young will not be able to reproduce. A male dog usually reaches sexual maturity when they are over a year old, however they usually begin puberty when they are six months to eight months old. They can impregnate a female dog from the point of puberty on.^{[1]
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- If you want to use your dog for breeding when it is at its maximum fertility, wait until it is at least a year and a half old.
2
Make sure your dog is generally healthy. The first step in assuring that your male dog is fertile is to make sure that he is generally healthy. If he has any severe health problems, these could interfere with his fertility.^{[2]
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- Make sure that your dog gets regular annual exams and that you treat any problems that are found effectively.
- Some general health problems that could interfere with reproduction include mobility issues that could inhibit the ability to complete sexual intercourse or injuries to the reproductive organs of the dog.
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3
Have the dog tested for infectious diseases and genetic issues. There are some diseases and genetic abnormalities that can make a dog infertile. If you are serious about wanting to use your male dog to breed, then you should have it tested for a diseases that could cause infertility and genetic problems that could cause infertility or genetic problems for offspring.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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- For example, genetic problems could include chromosomal anomalies in the dog or the potential for polygenic disorders if mated.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Identifying Issues With Infertility

1
Identify risk factors for infertility. If you are trying to mate your dog and you are having difficulty doing that then you should first think about what the potential problems might be. If you can identify what the problem might stem from, then it may be easier to address. For a male dog, some potential risk factors for infertility include:^{[4]
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- Age, too old or too young
- Injury to reproductive organs
- Physical injury or physical inability that restricts ability to mount female dog
- Medications that decrease fertility or sex drive
2
Pay attention to lack of interest in mating. Lack of interest in mating can signal that your dog has a hormonal problem.^{[5]
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Research source} Take your dog to its veterinarian if you are trying to get it to mate and it does not want to.
- When you are trying to get a male dog to mate you need to get it near a female dog that is in the right stage of its reproductive cycle. The female dog will give off pheromones that lure the male dog towards it and initiate the breeding process.^{[6]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
3
Get the dog tested for fertility. If you are convinced that the issue with infertility is with the dog's semen, and not its ability to consummate sexual intercourse, then you can have the semen tested.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Tom Robertson
Dog Breeding Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.} Semen testing will tell you about the quality of the dog's sperm, if they are formed correctly, and if they have the ability to move towards a female dog's egg.^{[8]
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- Semen testing is done at many veterinary clinics, as well as clinics specializing in breeding and fertility.
- Conditions that semen testing could identify include Teratozoospermia. This is a condition in which the dog's sperm do not form correctly and some of them are abnormally shaped.^{[9]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Do male dogs get too old to breed?

Tom Robertson
Dog Breeding Specialist
Tom Robertson is a Dog Breeding Specialist and the Owner of Prize Poodles and Doodles. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in breeding doodles. Tom has also received additional educational training in dog grooming, boarding, and training.

Tom Robertson

Dog Breeding Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes, as their semen count numbers tend to drop with age. Generally we retire our males when they are around seven or eight years old.