So whats the general age to a male being "over the hill"?

The only reason I would consider taking more than 2 litters from a bitch is for breeds that produce 1-3 pups per litter. The bitch would have to be something very special and be in tip top condition for each one. With larger litters, breeding to keep a pup on for show or work, you will get more choice and have a higher probability that there is more than one pup that would do well in your chosen venue, but with small litters, sometimes you're terribly unlucky and you don't get anywhere near what you set out to produce.

Just like us humans, the men can keep going as long as they can keep going whoever said nature was fair

Fair comment

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

pmsl....................

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love me love the dogs

LOL!
Thats nice to know. Cos even though my boy is gettin on i really dont want his lines to go (cos i'm told they are really good? not that i would really know) an he is a great little guy.But as of yet i have never found a girl good enough!! lol

It doesn't matter if his lines are good or terrible.... its all about the dog in front of you. Top winning bitch could go to the top winning dog and still produce dreadful puppies..... Its all about the compatibility of the mating pair, that's gives you the good puppies..... and no disrespect intended, I sincerely mean this..... but if you , then its very likely you won't know what makes a compatible bitch for your boy, and by mating him to an uncompatible bitch, in both lines and comformation, health and temp, you are ruining the lines for future generations.

Sorry to be frank but sometimes its better to let those lines go, or have semen frozen until you know more about the importance of finding the compatible mate, which might not be for another 20+ years

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

I agree, and would add, if your boy is from very good lines, then the lines will be out there, they won't end with him.