[header] How to get dogs to mate [title] Wait until your dog is old enough. [step] Just like human beings, dogs need to reach biological sexual maturity before it's medically safe for them to breed. This is especially important for the female dog, as her health might be put at risk by a pregnancy her body is not prepared to carry. 
[substeps] A male dog should be at least 1.5 years of age before breeding. A female dog should be on her second or third heat cycle.