How old should my female be before I let her mate.

Asking a question like that tells me you never did the research you need to do before you buy a dog to breed. It takes much more than an AKC pedigree and a couple of years to make a dog worth breeding. They need to be free of health problems and behavior problems. If we don't breed the best, how can we expect to have quality dogs? And by the best, I look for more than just appearance conforming to the breed standards. Even though I don't agree completely, the discussion on breeding at American Kennel Club - akc.org (http://www.akc.org) is a good place to start. The next step is a book, I know Successful Dog Breeding, by Chris Walkowicz, DMV is a good one. And be sure to check Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten. (http://www.petfinders.org) to see how many of your breed in your area need homes.