Breeding to replace the aging

We have had a few deaths lately. One from old age and the puppy we bought to replace him had bad kidneys and lived but 6 months. All this drama has me thinking our current great pyr would be really hard to replace. He's 7 and we never had him fixed. Husband's choice. Never intended to breed him. However, I think I'd like to get a dog that I know is from healthy, well cared for parents. The only way to do that would be to breed it myself. So, we have no females. We'd either have to acquire one or make a deal with someone who has an available female. I wouldn't make this a thing. A single breeding. Simply to replace the great dog who may leave us at any time. Though he's not at all ill, he's just reached the point where he's getting older and...yeah. Making any sense? Does this seem irresponsible? I'm really against backyard breeders but I do like to get my LGD's from working farms. They tend to breed as replacements. So, yeah, buy puppy? Make a deal? Don't do it?

I've done both.  I raised and hunted with English Setter bird dogs for many years.  My first one was a gift, the second I traveled 15 hours one way to pick up as a 6wk old puppy from a well know reputable breeder.  The last one, which is laying at my feet in front of the fire, was from a breeding that I did.  I "rented" the momma dog. Basically a reverse of the stud fee system that many breeders use.  The owner of the bitch dog allowed me to bring her to my house and breed her with my male.  I took care of her the entire time and when she had weaned all the pups, I paid him by either his choice of the pick of the litter or a cash payment in the amount of what a puppy sold for, which was the agreed upon method before I took his dog home.  It works well if you know what traits etc you are breeding for or bloodlines you wish to incorporate.  It is not an easy or inexpensive thing to raise a litter of pups properly, vet checks, shots, wormer etc.  If you are only wanting one pup, I would suggest contacting a reputable breeder that breeds working, and not show dogs.  It would probably be cheaper all around and much less time and possible heartbreak.  

I agree. The pup you get needs to be a female to prevent some fights as she matures.