How to know when to stop breeding a male dog

As an owner, how do you stop your intact dog from breeding?

With shelters and rescues bursting at the seams with unwanted dogs, it is every owner’s responsibility to ensure their dog isn’t part of the cycle of unplanned pregnancies swelling the dog population. Remember, it takes two dogs to make puppies, so this is down to keeping tabs on your male dog as well as the female.

While spaying or neutering is the obvious answer, the evidence is shifting away from early surgery. Operating on an immature dog before their growth plates have closed can change the physical appearance of the adult and make them more prone to certain cancers or joint problems. So while removing their reproductive organs is the nuclear option, you may need other solutions while waiting for the dog to be mature enough for surgery.

Vigilance and Supervision

The male dog allowed to roam or the female dog unattended in the backyard are most likely to create an unplanned pregnancy. When dogs are adequately supervised and restrained they won’t have the opportunity for a ‘romantic’ liaison.

Know Your Girl’s Cycle : Be knowledgeable about the signs of heat, the estrous cycle, and when your girl is due in heat. Knowing simple facts such as the female ovulates when the vaginal discharge eases after 7 to 10 days, can stop you relaxing your vigilance too early.

Know Nature Will Find a Way: A female in heat gives off powerful pheromones that attract boyfriends from miles around. Avoid walking her in public spaces as this risks an embarrassing amorous entourage. Also, know that it’s not safe to leave her unattended in the backyard. Athletic would-be beaus will find scaling even a six-foot fence no problem in order to meet a mate.

Keep your Male Dog Under Control: Dogs should never roam, the danger of causing a traffic accident is too great. But even in rural areas, a wandering male dog is a puppy-making machine with the freedom to fertilize. Keep your male dogs within sight (and on a leash if they don’t have a rock solid recall) at all times.

Chemical Canine Contraceptives

If you have male and female dogs in the same house, then keeping them separate when the girl is in heat will be a monumental challenge. (And yes, brothers and sisters will mate.) If the time isn’t right to desex, then consider temporary contraception as an answer.

Female Contraceptives: The options are limited for a first season. As a rule, this heat needs to run through without interference to avoid health problems later in life. For females that have had at least one season, then the injection Delvosteron, containing proligestone, is the best bet. Plan ahead, giving the injection before her heat starts, and a repeat dose every 3 to 6 months to prevent subsequents heats. This therapy carries a slight risk (3%) of encouraging a womb infection.

Male Contraceptives : A Suprelorin implant is a slow release hormone that renders male dogs infertile for 6 months. Once the implant has been fully absorbed, the male’s fertility levels return to normal. This has been successfully used by many professional breeders who wish to wait before having the dog sire litters.

Spaying and Neutering

There are many factors to weigh up before deciding on the optimum age to neuter or spay your dog.

Spaying the Female : Traditional advice was to spay around 5 to 6 months of age. This provides protection against both mammary cancer and pregnancy. However, research in large breed dogs shows a tendency to an increased risk of bone cancer and certain hematogenous cancers. Therefore, owners of large dogs should consider waiting until their dog has finished growing, at 18 months or older. It is best to discuss the pros and cons with your vet, in order to ascertain what’s best for your individual pet.

Neutering the Male : Again, the ground has shifted with regards to the need for male neutering and the timing. If a dog is allowed to roam, then neutering is best, period. For a dog that is closely supervised, there is no compelling scientific proof for the health benefits of neutering. Often cited is protection against prostate cancer, but in fact, this does not seem to be the case. Neutering does protect against hormonal enlargement of the prostate as the dog ages, but this problem responds well to treatment, including neutering at an older age.

Many Benefits of Prevention

Preventing dog breeding is important from an ethical standpoint, but it also has health implications for your dog. Pregnancy is not without risk for a dog, neither is giving birth. As well as the stress on her body, you could be left facing a large vet bill if she needs a cesarean. Indeed, no one should take a chance with letting their dogs breed and all owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs from producing accidental litters.

It is not easy to mate dogs- especially if it is your pet’s first time. You cannot just put your dog with a bitch and expect it to happen- no you need the assistance of an experienced breeder, especially in case of unproven dogs. If you plan to stud your young male, you must handle him from a young age. Breeders often recommend stroking his genitals so that the dog gets used to assistance at the time of mating. Here are some important tips for breeding a male dog for the first time.

Bitch’s season

The best time to mate your male dog is when a suitable bitch is in season. The bitch’s heat can be summarized as follows:

• Day 1- this is the first day of her bleeding. Many pet parents/breeders tend to miss this date.
• For a week, she will not stand a male dog. During this period, she will snap and run away from your stud’s attention and advances. However, this is a good time to get the dogs together as they can flirt and play together and get familiar with each other.
• Then there is a week during her heat cycle where she will stand any dog and even run away to attempt to find one.
• This is followed by a week where she will again snap at the dog and will go ‘off’.

During her season, always keep her locked up. Even if you have a large fence, crazed male dogs are capable of coming over!

Dog mating tips for female dog owners

It is best to mate a (female or male) dog by the age of 2 years since they are mature by this age and sound in mind and body. Mating your female dog for the first time is best done under supervision. You can call up dog mating assistance breeders to help you. Female dog mating first time tips are as follows:

• Introduce the dogs around Day 8 of your bitch’s cycle.
• If you have not counted the days, you can get signs from her: if she is not ready, then she might snap or simply sit around. Some young bitches are ‘never ready’. You have to be firm with such girls.
• If you have found a good stud dog, ask to see his medical records. He should not have any heart issues or congenital health problems. Do not breed your bitch with a stud having aggressive tendencies.

Assisting a male dog to mate

The best days to get the dogs together for mating are Day 9, 11 & 13 and again on 10, 12 and 14 (with Day 1 being the first day of her bleeding). Get a couple of assistants to help you (at least three of you are needed to ensure that the stud does not pull out too quickly).

• Let the dogs flirt or play a bit.
• Take into account any height differences between the male and female. If the female is taller, you might have to prop the male up or make a hollow for the female.
• One person can sit on the floor with the bitch on their legs to prop her up. Another person can hold the bitch’s collar tightly.
• Let the male dog have a go. If you are breeding your male dog for the first time, he could be a bit clumsy and over excited. Do make sure that the bitch’s vulva is propped up so the male can access it easily.
• Once the male is in, put your arm firmly around him so that he does not pull out.
• If you keep getting slips-that is the male keeps coming out of her, you must ensure he stays in. This is because the male will not pump sperm unless he stops thrusting. If he pulls out too early, the sperm will end on the floor. That is why it is very important to get dog mating assistance.

Ideally, the male and female dogs should tie together. Allow your male to turn around if he wants, so that the dogs are standing back to back. Do not let them start roaming around. If you get a tie, you must still mate them a day or two later. One tie is ideally enough to get your bitch pregnant, but two or three are even better!

As can be seen, female dog mating first time and how to mate a dog for the first time can be quite tricky. We hope this brief dog breeding for beginners guide will help you stud your dog out.

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Do you have a nickname for your dog? I know that my dog has at least three – not that he responds to all of them. They’re more for me, I think!

I realized some time ago that while I know the word for a female dog, I don’t know what a male dog is officially called. Do both dog genders have their own specific name, or is there only one for female dogs?

This was bothering me, so I decided to put on my glasses and do some in-depth research. And today I am here to share the results of my official dog naming research with you!

What Are Male And Female Dogs Called?

A standard male dog is simply called a dog! If you want to get technical, this means that the dog is not used for breeding and has not fathered any young.

This practice of calling all the males of a specific breed simply by the breed name is very common with animals, particularly with canines. The only animal I can think of offhand where this differs is with cats! Female cats are usually just called cats, while male cats are often referred to as tomcats.

A standard female dog can be referred to as a bitch, though many people are starting to use this word less and less because of the negative connotations that it holds towards human females. If it is important to note the distinction, most people will use the breeding word for a female dog – a dam.

Did you know that there was once another word used to refer to male dogs that was also used as an insult to men? This word was “cur.” Cur had a very similar connotation to bitch and was used to insult men and to refer to male dogs.

In Breeding

When it comes to breeding terminology, however, there are different words that are used to refer to male and female dogs.

Male breeding dogs that have not yet fathered young are called stud dogs, and once they father a litter, they are called a sire. When listing a dog’s pedigree, the dog’s father is called a sire.

The dog’s mother is referred to as a dam when listing the dog’s pedigree. Otherwise, she is still referred to as a bitch or simply a female within the breeding world.

It is important to note that these words are only used when referring to pedigree and breeding, however, and not to a single dog. So, I would never call my neighbor’s dog a sire, even if he is a boy! It would simply be too weird to do so.

Curious about how pedigrees work for dogs? Here is some more information about a dog’s pedigree and how to read it:

So Can I Call My Pets Sire And Dames?

The words “sire” and “dam” should only be used in reference to a specific dog’s pedigree or a specific litter. They are not used to refer to a dog that has fathered puppies generally – only in relation to his pups.

So, you could say that “This dog is the sire of this litter,” but you would not say “my dog is a sire” when someone asks you what gender of dog you own.

It can be very confusing, however, so just pick the words that work best for you and be sure to make your intentions clear to others.

What About Other Countries?

In some places around the world, there are more distinct words to refer to males and female dogs! Of course, each language has their own words, so I will focus on English-speaking countries around the world.

In the UK, male dogs are sometimes referred to as a “rude.” This likely has Germanic roots, where the male dog is referred to as a rueded.

In rural Australia, female dogs are called bitches and male dogs are sometimes called mongrels. These words are not often used in politically correct circles, but you might hear them on a farm or with working animals.

So, What Should I Call My Pets?

It can be difficult to know the best way to talk about animals, especially when some words used to refer to dogs are also used as insults for humans!

If you are working in a field where you need to work with other breeders, it can be best to stick to sire and dam for pedigree purposes. But not everyone has the same ideas, so I have another idea on how to refer to your dogs.

Here are the words that I’ve found are easiest to use:

• Male
• Female
• Neutered male
• Spayed female

If you use these words, there will be no confusion about what type of dog you are referring to! While they may not be the words that other owners prefer to use, you’ll be giving a very clear description every single time.

Remember These Terms!

There you have it – the official name for a male dog is a sire, while the official name for a female dog is a bitch. Still, these words aren’t commonly used by dog owners, are they? We usually just say “oh, she’s a girl” or “he’s a boy,” when someone asks after the gender of our dogs.

I still highly recommend using male, female, spayed female, and neutered male in cases where you believe it’s important to be clear and professional about what type of dog you are talking about.

Either way, it’s good to know the official names for the different genders. You never know when this information will come in handy!

Do you know any other official dog terminology that dog owners might find useful? Share with me in the comments, and then share this article with your friends!

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CONTENTS

A female dog will be ready to breed after her second heat at every estrus stage of her heat cycle. In other words, a dog breeder should let the first two heats pass so the bitch may be bred at her third heat cycle if she has been cleared from any health concern.

The third heat in a bitch is usually the start of her prime time in terms of fertility in dog breeding. Her body and support system are fully ready to go through the hardships of pregnancy and nursing. Her hormone levels, precisely progesterone levels, have now reached the optimum level to facilitate a successful mating as well as preparing the uterus for the healthy growth of each embryo.

Many people getting started with dog breeding are wondering when is a female dog ready to breed? — and it’s a loaded question! The above is a simplified answer that can serve as a guideline.

What is the best age to breed a dog?

Generally, a year and a half or two years old are the right time to breed your bitch. She will have reached full sexual maturity and is now able to cope with a tough pregnancy. However, the best age to breed a dog depends on the dog’s size:

• small dog breeds have more frequent heat cycles, often three or four times a year
• large dog breeds have less frequent heat cycles, usually two or even one a year

Therefore, recommending an age is difficult since the numbers mean different things for each breed. However, we do recommend waiting for the third heat to start breeding your female dog.

What day of her heat should I breed my bitch?

A female dog’s heat is made up of two distinct stages, each lasting 9 days on average:

1. proestrus — blood discharges are starting and she is not yet receptive to males
2. estrus — eggs are released from ovaries, progesterone levels start rising and she accepts males

The estrus stage is the window where a female dog will accept males mounting her for coitus, hopefully resulting in pregnancy. Once you start seeing blood drops on the floor and her vulva swelling up, count roughly 7-10 days and that should be the start of the breeding window.

Diagram showing two healthy heat cycles, back to back.

The easy way to know whether or not a bitch is ready to mate with a male dog is to put them both together and see whether or not she is receptive. Common signs that the bitch is ready are her showing a flagging tail and ducking down in the presence of a male.

For a precise fertility test, you can ask your vet for progesterone checks as soon as your bitch gets into her heat — first days of proestrus. The veterinarian will schedule several blood tests to check her hormonal changes and inform you when is the best day to organize the mating or artificial insemination.

When is a female dog too old to breed?

Female dogs do not go through menopause like women dog. Instead, their fertility sharply decreases and each litter becomes smaller while holding a higher mortality risk for the newborns. Therefore, it is hard to give a hard age but ethical dog breeders will generally stop breeding their Dam after she reaches 6 years old.

Another way to gauge when it is the right time to stop breeding your female dog is the detect a sharp decline in her puppy count. If from two years old through five years old she always had 6-8 puppies in the litter; you want to stop breeding your bitch as soon as she goes below her historical average.

Stop breeding a too old bitch even if she can still get pregnant because her overall energy level and health are not what they used to be. Even if she technically could carry puppies, the bitch’s support system is less able to cope with a difficult pregnancy.

Surprisingly, breeding a bitch back to back seems to be healthier for the bitch’s uterus. However, a bitch is not just a uterus.

How many times can you breed a female dog?

A female dog, depending on her breed, can have two or three pregnancies every year. The issue here is that so many pregnancies back to back would clearly stress her body and weaken her overall health.

We’ve established a female dog should be bred from her third heat and stop being bred at around six years old. Now, we’ve got to tackle the issue of how often can you breed a bitch? Well, there are two schools of thoughts when wondering how many pregnancies are too many and it all comes down to back to back breeding. We’ve written a full article on back to back breeding and exposed facts, and the results are rather surprising.

When a dog breeder breeds his bitch back to back, he basically gets her pregnant over several consecutive heats, without skipping one. However, he will retire her earlier from her breeding career. The other way of proceeding, more mainstream, is to let the bitch rest for at least a year and a half between each pregnancy.

Learn more about breeding dogs on our Dog Breeding 101 page or download our bestselling dog breeding guide.

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If you have an intact male and a female dog and you do not want puppies, or if your dog is around another dog they may be interested in, you might want to consider preventing the two from mating. Female dogs go into heat fairly early in their lives, and male dogs typically have increased testosterone levels giving both of them the natural instinct to mate and procreate. This might be a problem for you if you do not want a litter of puppies around your house.

Mating dogs when you are not ready to for the consequences can be worrisome and potentially expensive if a litter of puppies is the outcome. If you are not ready for the cost of new pups or the commitment to care for a pregnant dog, you might want to take preventive measures to ensure your dog does not mate.

Spay and Neuter

Mating is an instinct for all species. If you have two dogs of the opposite sex around one another, their natural instinct will be to mate. The first and foremost preventive measure of mating is to have your dog spayed or neutered. This is a simple procedure your veterinarian can perform in their office. Some female dogs will go into heat before they can be spayed or some female dogs may go into heat before you can even make your appointment for spaying. In these cases, keep your female dog, who is in heat, away from male dogs. Once your female dog is spayed or your male dog is neutered, unwanted pregnancies will be prevented and their hormone levels will decrease, giving them less interest in the act of mating.

Keep Male and Female Dog Separate

One of the best ways to prevent your dogs from mating is to keep the two dogs separated. However, because your dog is most fertile before you may actually realize she is in heat, you need to work to prevent breeding before you realize your dog is fertile and cycling through her season. If you choose not to spay your female dog, you should keep her away from other dogs you may find at pet stores or dog parks. Keep a close eye on your female dog. Even if she is within the confines of your fenced-in yard, a dog in heat will attract male dogs from far away. A male dog who has yet to be neutered may also need to be kept away from other male dogs as they may be aggressive. But, certainly, keeping your male dog from a female dog who is not spayed will prevent mating.

Buy Products to Deter Male Dogs

There are several products that you can purchase to keep male dogs away from a female dog in heat. Chlorophyll, which is found in plants, masks the smell of heat which will deter male dogs from searching for a female dog in heat. Chlorophyll can be found in health food stores or pet stores in liquid or tablet form. Chlorophyll will only mask the smell of heat, so your male dog will still want to mate as he has that urge naturally. However, if you have a female dog nearby, he may not be attracted to her if she is taking chlorophyll to hide the fact that she is in heat. There are also sprays you can purchase at local pet food stores to deter dogs from mating with one another. Some people put their dogs in dog diapers or britches to keep the two from coming together in mating positions. Though this may work temporarily, it is not a surefire method of keeping your dogs from mating. If you choose to place your dog in britches to keep your dogs separated, be sure they are supervised as it will not take much for a dog to pull off the diaper of another dog.

Benefits of Preventing Mating

Female dogs who have been spayed have less risk of certain cancers and tumors, and they typically live longer than female dogs who have not been spayed. Male dogs who have been neutered tend to be less aggressive and don’t typically have the need to roam freely away from home. Keeping your dogs from mating with one another will not only give your dogs a longer and healthier life, but temperaments will be more even-keeled with hormones leveled.

If you do not want puppies, you will need to keep your intact dogs away from other intact dogs to prevent mating. It might take some effort to keep your dogs separate when your female dog is in heat, however, separating male and female dogs is the only surefire way other than spaying and neutering surgery to prevent them from bringing you a litter of puppies.

Have you been wondering about your dog’s growing abdomen for the past few weeks? If yes, it is important for you to know the signs that you may observe in your dog when she is pregnant. Here you will find information on the factors that will help you in determining whether your dog is pregnant.

Have you been wondering about your dog’s growing abdomen for the past few weeks? If yes, it is important for you to know the signs that you may observe in your dog when she is pregnant. Here you will find information on the factors that will help you in determining whether your dog is pregnant…

Most dog owners are at a loss when it comes to determining whether their dog is pregnant. If you have involved your pet in a breeding program, the news of her pregnancy is something that you must have been expecting. On the other hand, oftentimes owners are not aware of their dog’s heat cycles and sometimes the female dog mates with a male dog without the knowledge of her owner. In such conditions, the signs of pregnancy may go unnoticed.

Canine Heat Cycle

Normally, the heat cycle begins when the female is six months old. However, this is not the same for every dog breed, because in some cases, the heat cycle may begin earlier, while for others, it starts only after a full year. Most dogs experience the heat cycle, also known as estrous cycle, at least 2 times in a year. Each lasts for about 21 days. This cycle can be divided into three parts. It begins with the proestrus stage, which is followed by the estrus, and concludes with the diestrus stage. During the first stage, the dog begins bleeding lightly, and you may also observe swelling of the vulva.

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Though at this time the female attracts male dogs towards her, she does not actually invite any of them to mount her. The second stage starts 5 – 10 days after the beginning of the first stage. It is during the second stage that ovulation occurs in dogs and hence, the chances of conception are the highest during this time. Moreover, during this period the female will allow any male dog to mount her. The last stage is called diestrus, where the swelling of the vulva starts disappearing and the female stops bleeding. She will no longer be interested in male dogs and if she has mated with a male dog during the heat cycle, she will, most likely, be pregnant.

Is My Dog Pregnant?

To understand if your dog is pregnant, you have to wait at least a few weeks after your dog’s heat cycle is over, as she will start showing signs of pregnancy 2 – 3 weeks after conception. Though only a check up by the vet can actually confirm whether your dog is pregnant, there are several signs that you can see when your pet dog is expecting.

• As I said earlier, the swelling of the vulva reduces at the end of the dog’s heat cycle. However, if she has mated during the heat period and has become pregnant, it is likely that the swelling of the vulva remains even after the end of the heat cycle.
• Another early sign of pregnancy is a slight enlargement of the teats (nipples). This happens because the blood supply at the base of the nipples increases during this time and they become prominent around 25 – 30 days. You may also observe vaginal discharge within one month of conception.

• Pregnancy may also cause certain behavioral changes in your dog. Your dog may either become very clingy and loving towards you and other family members or she may become aloof, wanting to be left alone, all by herself.
• Change in the dog’s appetite is also another sign of a pregnant dog. It has been observed that pregnant dogs are likely to avoid food for the first few weeks. However, this is just a temporary phase and she will regain her normal appetite in a few weeks.
• A pregnant dog may suffer from morning sickness during the initial few weeks of pregnancy where she may vomit clear mucus or food any time of the day. She may seem to be tired as she will spend most of the time resting, instead of playing or running around.

Veterinary Procedures

If you observe any of the above symptoms in your dog, taking her to the vet will help you in knowing whether she really is pregnant. The vet will be able to determine the dog’s pregnancy 21 days after conception. During this time, the doctor will be able to feel the thickening of the uterus and even the bumps within.

Apart from this, the ultrasound method can also be used to confirm canine pregnancy. However, this is only possible after 28 days of conception. After 49 – 50 days, an X-ray of the dog’s womb can determine the number of puppies present in it. However, not all vets use this method, since there is a risk of damage due to radiation. Rather, they simply touch the dog’s abdomen to know the number of puppies in the dog’s womb.

Signs of Delivery

The average gestation period in dogs is 62 days. However, it can be anywhere between 54 – 72 days. Knowing about the signs that your pet dog will show when she is nearing the time of delivery will help you in making the necessary arrangements. As the dog nears her due date, her body will increase in size and you will observe a pronounced enlargement in the abdominal area. The temperature of the dog normally reduces as she nears her due date.

Hence, taking her rectal temperature time to time will help you in narrowing down the time of her delivery. The dog’s normal temperature is 101 degrees Fahrenheit. It will drop down 24 hours before the delivery. Apart from this, one can also determine that the dog is ready to give birth to the puppies with the help of some behavioral changes. She may become restless and you may observe her pacing and panting during this time. It is also normal to observe a greenish vaginal discharge hours before your dog goes into labor.

I hope by now you are able to resolve your question. If you observe any of the above signs in your dog, take her to your vet immediately. If she is pregnant, the vet will give you some important instructions about prenatal care which you should follow to ensure that she has a smooth and healthy pregnancy.

WHEN TO BREED YOUR BITCH

E. Katie Gammill, AKC Judge, TheDogPlace.org Exhibition Editor

Many breeders today use lab tests to measure progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and vaginal cytology (smears) to determine when ovulation occurs.

What if technology wasn’t available? Knowing the stud dog and observation of the bitch can be nearly as accurate and a lot cheaper and less stressful for the bitch.

Knowing when she’s ovulating and ready to breed comes from experience, “reading the bitch” and observing the male.

Before breeding, make sure the dogs are clean and in good condition. Watch for sheath infections and possible female infections because even though she ovulates, infection can contribute to failure to conceive.

Some stud owners want proof of a culture and clearances. It works both ways. If your bitch misses, watch her carefully for Pyometra or Metritis. The bitch will appear depressed and have a discharge with a foul odor. Prevention is always better than a cure.

Reading my bitch, I often follow up with Veterinary visits. By taking slides or an Ovulation Smear we can read if there are cornified epithelial cells under a microscope. Easily seen, one can determine the best day to take the bitch to the stud. However, the “you just gotta know” system has proven I am right within a day or so regarding her fertility cycle.

Despite what some young male dogs think, BREEDERS know the cycle is usually 21 days. Also, what may be normal for one dog may not be for another. Some bitches cycle on schedule, others ovulate and mate from 12-21 days. Some have “clear heats”, flakey or false seasons [1] or false pregnancies. This was taught to me in the 60’s by a breeder friend and holds true today.

Using a rubber glove and lubricant, the breeder can digitally examine the vulva. There will be a “milking” motion or action. Touch the “knot” at the top of the vulva and it will flex and be soft like “butter.”

It is a good policy to trim the hair around the bitch’s vulva. One might muzzle a maiden bitch for breeding, depending on the breed. Once the bitch is bred, I crate her for some “silent time” and feed the male his supper. That will encourage a male to eat during mating season and eliminate weight loss; the male really CAN do two things at one time if he is rewarded after breeding.

Keep the bred bitch away from all other males until her cycle runs out. Bathe the bitch after she is bred and wash the male’s privates.

Here are average, estrus changes one may expect in normal heat cycle.

DAY 1: Licking and attention to rear. Discharge is dark or bright red color, swelling of vulva. Start counting heat cycle from when the blood hits the ground

DAY 2-7: Bright red with swelling increasing.

DAY 8-10: Color begins to lighten to pinkish, swelling is at peak and the vulva has a spongy look and feel. There is a “knot” at the top of the vulva and it is very firm. A male cannot have a successful tie when the vulva is swollen. However, a “slip tie” CAN produce puppies. Bitch may lay her tail over and tease, then snap, so wait a little longer as she can easily turn a young male off.

DAY 9-14: Color changes from light pink to clear or straw colored. The swelling is down and the vulva appears dry or harder on edges. The knot at the top of the vulva is very soft like butter. The bitch will stand solid and elevate her rear. The male is aggressive, restless and noisy. Breed the bitch now. Monitor the tie as an aggressive bitch can damage a male. The tie may last 10-25 minutes.

DAY 14-21: Color clears, discharge and swelling almost gone, bitch may act receptive, but is still snappy. Count 58-62 days for puppies!

TESTAPE: There are always exceptions to the rule. Some bitches will mate and conceive as late as 22 days. Another way to check if the bitch is receptive is to use Testape reactions. Put discharge from the bitch on the Testape. It will go from yellow, to yellow with a green edge, on to yellow green and light blue green. When the bitch is ready to breed, it will show dark blue green somewhere between the 9th and 12th day. That is ovulation. Once bred, the tape will reverse colors back to light yellow.

Most seasoned studs don’t waste their time. They will ignore a bitch until she is READY, and then tear up the pen trying to get to her. If you breed too early, the male penetrates, works, and slips out. Wait a day or so as it’s too early and the bitch cannot hold the “tie”.

Dogs ejaculate over a period of time, which is why nature designed the “tie”. The male is at the bitch’s mercy until she releases him. (On another note: If you want to break a tie, one might turn the male back around into the normal mounting position and push his rear in carefully. This often “unlocks” the tie. If after breeding the penis will not return into the prepuce, call the vet for advice.

A natural breeding is desirable. A veterinarian can help you with an artificial insemination. Maiden bitches who are A-I’d often have trouble whelping. Suggestion: when taking the dogs to the vet for an A-I suggest the vet use a baggie and NOT a glass beaker to collect the male in. Also, have the bitch available to tease him.

There are volumes of books on the subject of Canine Reproduction but it really shouldn’t be that complicated. Dogs have been doing it for centuries. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a successful breeder to mentor you like I had so long ago, this should help and you can find out all about the Mechanics Of Mating [2] in this section. There are many misconceptions about getting the bitch pregnant. Craig White, DVM, M.S enlightens dog breeders about Speedy Sperm [3] and elevating the bitch’s hindquarters.

Reference and Related Information:

And for more on canine physiology and healing, don’t miss Energy Medicine Solutions

Dog Breeding and the Male Dog’s Importance

If you are considering mating your dogs, there are a few things to remember about breeding a male dog.

It is not always as easy as it sounds. And sometimes it can take awhile before dog breeding becomes “natural” to your Golden Retriever.

В©Photo Courtesy of John Downey

If you plan on raising a stud dog from puppyhood, never scold the young pup for humping!

You do not want to ever make him fearful of humping, as this will make him skiddish when it is time to breed him.

Get the pup use to your touch all over his body, including his genitals. This can be done during his grooming times.

You may need to actually help your stud dog find the right spot when he is first learning to stud, and therefore, having him use to your touch will not cause him to stop trying if you need to touch him.

В©Photo Courtesy of Tina LaFountain

At some point you may decide to do artificial insemination, so teaching him to allow your touch from an early age will be helpful.

For an inexperienced male stud dog, it is best to breed him with an older, experienced female. She will teach him the ropes, and not allow him to give up!

When mating dogs, always bring the female to the male, if you do not own both dogs.

If the timing of your female is correct, she doesn’t care where she is when it comes to mating!

However, it will make a huge difference on the male and whether or not he will be able to perform.

Most people believe that when breeding a dog, the male naturally understands what to do, but this is not always true. Many times, a male dog needs LOTS of practice, before he figures out what he is doing.

В©Photo Courtesy of “ZD”

He gets overly excited and when that happens, he will try his hardest, but still won’t be able to figure it out.

You will often even see him mounting away at the side of her body, her head, and every place imaginable, except where he is suppose to be!

And even if you are successful in mating your dogs, the male dog can tend to “forget” how he did it, when it is time to stud him again!

It takes many successful breedings before a male dog can truly be considered a stud dog.

A true, mature stud dog knows when the female is ready to breed, and will not unnecessarily hump a female whose timing is not quite right.

В©Photo Courtesy of Deb Wiles Zitelli

Although, he will be attentive to her by staying close to her, licking her vulva and ears, and giving her all kinds of loving affection!

Dogs can get hurt during mating, but especially the male dog. The female may bite him, if she isn’t interested. When your Golden Retriever’s tie, the male turns around, and he can sometimes lose his balance, causing both of them to fall.

When a tie is achieved, males lift their leg and turn, so the pair are standing butt to butt.

Sometimes after tying, a female may decide to run off, thereby dragging the male with her. Never allow this.

A tie can last from 5 to 30 minutes, with 15 minutes being about average. There is also the possibility of a slip mating.

When deciding whether or not breeding your male dog is a good idea, please remember this:

A Golden Retriever stud dog that knows a female is in heat, but is not allowed to mate with her, basically becomes a nightmare for 3 very long weeks!

В©Photo Courtesy of Melinda Southall Rhodes

He will stop eating, pace constantly, whine, cry and just act totally pathetic. He will not be interested in playing or interacting with you.

He will turn into the biggest cry baby you have ever encountered, and the whole world suddenly revolves around whether or not he is going to be able to mate with her.

If you own a stud dog and have a female come into heat, but do not want her bred, sometimes it is best to board the male somewhere until she is safely out of heat.

Breeding Golden Retrievers can be very exciting, but it may take more time than you expect to raise a perfect stud!

Many dog owners have breeding questions. Share some here, and maybe you’ll find the answer to some of your own questions.

Dog Breeding Questions

Can One Tie Ensure Fertilization?

Hi,My bitch shows very little swelling when in season. On a recent attempt to breed her, the dog managed a good tie of over 20 minutes. The stud was not interested on the second attempt at breeding, even though my bitch was standing. Do you think he was put off after the first mating, or do you think my bitch might have gone beyond her fertile time? Do you think one tie is enough?

Expert Reply

Your bitch’s scent may have already begun to change, and perhaps this is why the stud refused her on the second breeding. Do you happen to own the stud dog too, or does he belong to someone else? If he belongs to someone else, there’s a chance he was being used on another bitch during the same time period. If so, he simply could have been too tired to perform.

This does happen from time to time, although I believe it would be better to limit how many bitches the stud is bred to during a given week.

Yes, I do think one good tie carried out on a clearly receptive bitch is more than likely to result in a litter if the stud has a normal sperm count. It’s not a guarantee by any means, but you should be hopeful.

Good luck, and thank you for your question

Too Late in Cycle for Further Breeding?

My two-year-old Boxer dog came into season on 9/9/07. She was bred on 9/18/07 and the dogs tied for about 20 minutes with no problems. We took her back for a second breeding on 9/20/07, but this time she sat down as soon as the stud tried to mount her.

She is now on the 14th day of her heat cycle, and I’m not sure if I should take her back today to try to breed them again. She was still bleeding during the first breeding, but it was light in color. Her bleeding is now very slow and a watery pinkish color.

I don’t want to take her back if she may already be pregnant or if this last trip would be wasting everyone’s time. We already have owners for the puppies, and in fact, the list is so long it’s on a first come first serve basis. However, my main concern is for my dog.

Expert Reply

My initial hunch is that she may have been a little further along in her season than you originally calculated. Sometimes it’s very hard to catch the beginning of the season before the blood flow is significant enough to notice. This might explain why she was no longer standing for the stud on what you thought was her 11th day.

Since her color is beginning to darken up again, her fertile time may be over. However, that good tie achieved with her full cooperation should hopefully do the trick. The sperm can live up to five days and would be ready to fertilize any eggs that came down during those few days after the breeding. I would skip another attempt at breeding unless you really feel the need to try. To me, there’s no harm in seeing if she will stand one more time; it just doesn’t sound likely.

Best wishes for a healthy mom and litter. Thanks for your question.

Is It Safe to Spay a Pregnant Bitch?

I have a two-year-old Great Pyrenees bitch. We actually have a breeding pair and that was our original plan, but it has proven to be nothing but a pain to deal with it all. Our bitch had a heat cycle last year that was confirmed by our vet, but she actually ended up pregnant from a heat cycle she apparently had but showed no signs of only two months after the previous cycle. This resulted in a litter of puppies.

Now she is heat again and I am certain she bred with our male. I really don’t want another litter. I have a 14-month-old daughter now, and it’s too much for one person to handle well. I was hoping to get the 72-hour abortion shot for my female on Monday morning, but my vet’s office isn’t sure they have it in stock, and the vet is on vacation until Monday. All other vets in the area either don’t know about it or refuse to give it. Is it safe to have my bitch spayed when she comes out of heat, even if she might be pregnant?

Expert Reply

Every vet makes the choice whether spaying is safe based on a case by case basis. Although it is possible to spay during the heat cycle or even during pregnancy, the procedure does carry an extra risk for increased bleeding at this time due to the elevated blood flow through the uterus.

I am hearing that a growing number of vets are refusing to use the abortive shots because they are seeing too many side effects, so I’m not surprised you’re having difficulty finding a vet willing to use one on your bitch.

All things considered, I think you should schedule an appointment to see your vet as soon as possible so you can discuss the options in person. Your vet will give your bitch a thorough examination and advise you on how best to proceed.

Thanks for you question and best of luck with your situation.

When Should Discharge Stop After Whelping?

My bitch had her puppies on Halloween, and she still has bloody discharge. Is this normal?

Expert Reply

Actually, at over two weeks since the birth, your bitch should be finished discharging.

Try to answer these questions:

• Is it a large amount of discharge, such as right after she had the pups, or is it just a trace amount in her urine? A trace is likely nothing to worry about, but more than this is cause for concern.
• What color is the discharge? Is it bright red, indicating fresh bleeding, or is it kind of brownish? Brownish discharge in small amounts would indicate that she is nearly finished.
• Finally, have you noticed an especially unpleasant odor? If so, your bitch may have developed a uterine infection. This is not entirely uncommon after a delivery, but it does require treatment to clear it up.

For your own peace of mind, you might want to take your bitch’s rectal temperature. A dog’s normal temperature is between 100 and 101 degrees F. Anything above this generally indicates a fever.

All things considered, it would probably be a good idea to ask your vet to examine your bitch. He/She can palpate the uterus to see if it has gone back to its pre-pregnancy state. This could be why she continues to have some bloody discharge. Once your vet assesses the cause of the bleeding, he/she will determine what treatment, if any, is necessary.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your bitch gets back to normal soon.

If you’ve never seen two dogs mating before, you may be unfamiliar with how dogs can become “tied” during the process. You may feel it’s necessary to separate the dogs but this can cause more harm than good.

Why Mating Dogs Become Tied

When a male dog is mating with a female, the penis will become congested with blood and swell. The bulbourethral gland, which is located at the base of the penis, will become swollen up to three times its normal size. As it becomes larger, the female’s vulva will contract around and squeeze the male’s genitalia tightly, thereby keeping the dogs “locked” in place. The dogs will end up being tied end to end as the male will usually move one of his legs over and swing his body around during the process. The dogs will stay tied until the male’s penis has discharged his semen and the swelling dissipates. You can expect this entire process to take anywhere from five minutes to 40 minutes.

Should You Separate Dogs That Are Tied?

You should never attempt to break up two dogs that are tied during mating. Doing so could actually lead to physical damage to the female’s vulva and the male’s genitalia. It’s understandable that you may want to break them up because you want to prevent a pregnancy or because you’re concerned the female is in pain. It’s normal to hear the female “crying” during this process but attempting to disrupt the copulatory tie can hurt her far worse.

What to Do When Dogs Are Tied

If your dogs become tied, the best thing you can do is remain calm and wait until they are done. The dogs will not be able to release from each other until the male is finished ejaculating and the swelling of his genitalia goes back to normal. Getting upset, throwing cold water on them, or yelling or making loud noises can only make one or both dogs more stressed and anxious and this can prolong, rather than shorten, the mating process. If either dog appears stressed, sit with them and hold them gently to keep them from separating until they’re ready. Usually the female is the dog in greater discomfort, especially if she’s new to mating, so keeping her comfortable and coaxing her to keep still and relaxed is the safest thing to do until the dogs are done.

Preventing Dogs From Mating

If you decide to keep a whole male and female dog in your home, you will need to have a plan in place for when the female goes into heat. Some dog owners may feel that having the female wear diapers will prevent the male from mating, but an aroused, determined male isn’t likely to be deterred from mating in this way. The best ways to prevent mating are:

• Keep the dogs entirely separate if you’re able to do this in your home, using kennels, baby gates, crates and other barriers. This will not keep your male calm though as he’ll be able to sense your female’s scent throughout the home.
• Board the male or female during estrus so they are completely separated and the male does not have to be agitated by the female’s pheromones. Boarding the male is the obvious choice as you don’t want to put your female, who’s already uncomfortable, into a boarding facility where she’ll become more stressed and disruptive to the other animals there.
• Spay or neuter the male or female, or both dogs, which will permanently prevent mating. This will also help reduce the agitation the male feels around any female in heat in the future.

Allowing Dogs to Mate

If you would prefer that your dogs do become tied and you want a mating to occur, there’s not much you will need to do once the female has reached the point in her heat cycle where she’s receptive to the advances of the male. If dog breeding is something you truly want to become involved in, it’s best to become a responsible breeder and contact your local kennel club to get advice and education on the optimal age to begin breeding and how to care for the dogs properly before, during and after the mating process, as well as during the delivery of the newborn puppies.

Caring for Dogs During a Copulatory Tie

Experienced dog breeders know that the tie is part of the normal process and will do their best to keep the female calm and comfortable until the dogs separate on their own. Make sure you don’t do anything to stress the dogs further or force a separation as this can lead to serious damage to the dogs and very possibly prevent breeding in the future. If you’re new to dog breeding, seek out experienced breeders who can provide mentorship and guidance so you can provide the best care for all the dogs involved.

Breeding a cat is not as easy as it sounds. You can’t always let your kitty out and allow her to find itself a good match. There are a lot of things that you need to take care of Here’s how you can help her.

Breeding a cat is not as easy as it sounds. You can’t always let your kitty out and allow her to find itself a good match. There are a lot of things that you need to take care of Here’s how you can help her…

The breeding process of a cat is very similar to that of most other mammals. Broadly, it consists of three stages: the conception, the gestation period, and the delivery. A cat needs a lot of strength to go through these stages. Breeding is not just about having a lot of kittens to play with, it’s also about making sure that those kittens are cared for, and also that they find good homes in the future.

Tips for Breeding Cats

The heat cycle is the very first step of the process. It is the time during which the cat is ready for mating and allows a male to come near her. These cycles begin when the cat reaches an age of 6 months, and are repeated approximately every 2 weeks till the mating happens. The signs that will help you make out that your cat is in heat are:

• When you observe that your irritable and “please stay away from me” cat has suddenly turned very affectionate, take it seriously. It may be due to the fact that your cat is on a heat cycle.
• Though cats are known for their frankness when it comes to being loud and making their point clear, cats may become extra loud during the heat cycle, and may even screech. This is equivalent to mating calls used by the animals in the wild. So don’t forget to look out for the moods of the extra audible member of the family.

• A female on heat also tends to raise her rump when patted or stroked on her back. So make sure you notice this change in its posture.
• Raising the rump may also be followed by twitching the tail. A female uses this process to signal that she is ready for the mating process.

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Once you come to know that your cat is on a heat cycle, you should start looking out for other factors, like finding a right mate, checking for health factors, and to check if the cat is of the right age. The female must have attained her full adult size before she is allowed to mate. The cat has to put all her energy into feeding and nursing the kittens, leading to her own incomplete growth. A cat should be at least 18-24 months old before she is allowed to start breeding. A male should be at least 18 months old before being allowed to breed.

Health reports are another important aspect that you need to take care of. Before the breeding season begins, you should get your cat checked for internal parasites, allergies, and infections. Also, you should get a thorough physical test done, in order to determine the weight and other important factors. The cat should also be administered all the vaccinations that keep various diseases at bay during the gestation period.

It’s always suggested that the cat should also be tested for genetic conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease, hip dysplasia, and various heart diseases, that may be passed on to the offspring. You can also go for personality tests to estimate the personalities the offspring may come up with. There’s always a chance that a grumpy cat will give birth to an offspring with the same personality, and who wants to see a bunch of grumpy cats bringing down the whole house? This is why it is important to choose the right mate.

Once done with all these checkups and evaluations that your cat is ready to reproduce, you can go ahead with the rest of the procedure. What remains is the actual mating, gestation, and the delivery. You just have to make sure that the cat finds the right partner, in order to avoid any infections that may pop up later.

You can confirm that a female cat has conceived after about 3-4 weeks. The gestation period lasts for approximately 65 days. During this time, the cat may get a little shy, and won’t like to be touched a lot. She will definitely prefer a safe corner where she won’t feel intruded and exposed. It may turn out not to be so playful and appreciative of your efforts. Just let her be, if she behaves weirdly. Just build her a safe home in a protected corner of your house, and let her rest as much she wants. Make sure she is fed properly and that she drinks a lot of water.

Be ready when you approach the 60th day of gestation. Delivering 5-10 days before or after the due date is normal.

Start preparing by building a safe corner where she can deliver the kittens. Make sure the place is dark and safe enough to make her feel comfortable. If the cat doesn’t find it good enough, she will start looking out for an appropriate one, and it may turn out to be your own very cozy bed. So, to prevent all these accidents, build a safe haven that the cat will love. Also, make sure it is dry, and that not many people cross that area. A cat needs to feel safe before she goes into labor.

Labor may last for anything between 20 minutes to several hours. Always keep the number of your vet handy, in case of an emergency you may need to rush her to the clinic. Also, keep looking for any signs of distress. A cat may have certain complications, and may need help. Otherwise, just let her be. If a delivery takes a lot of time, cats tend to rest between the contractions. If your cat allows it, you may also feed her in between the contractions, this will help her regain some strength.

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As the kittens pop out, you can start noting down the basic statistics of the kittens, like their sex, weight, and color, for later use. A nail polish or natural paint may come handy if you choose to mark your kittens (please note that not all cats will allow this procedure, so don’t rush).

After the process is done, a cat normally licks her kittens clean. Help her along by cleaning the place thoroughly, to avoid any type of infections later. Another thing that you need to take care of is the number of placentas. They should equal the number of kittens. A cat eats up the placentas instantly because it provides her a lot of nutrition. So, don’t panic when she does something like that.

Afterwards, the cat prefers resting and you may not see her gamboling and playing for a week or so. In this period, keep tabs on her for any signs of weakness, and make sure that she is rested thoroughly.

In some days, you will see your cat and her ‘family’ coming out, playing, and being their feline self. This is the time for you to start looking for new homes for the newborns. It’s your responsibility now to find them a home where they will get loads of care and love. If you choose to keep them all, be ready to see your house in ruins some time in the near future, but also be assured that you will never be short of love.

Understanding a female’s heat cycle can help you prepare for a breeding or prevent an unwanted litter. Find out how the cycle works and how to spot when a female is coming into season.

The Heat Cycle

When a female comes into “heat” or “season,” her body is preparing for breeding and the possibility of producing a litter. According to Banfield Pet Hospitals, the cycle is broken into stages.

Fertility Chart

Name of Heat Stage

This stage is marked by an increase in a female’s estrogen level. She won’t be receptive to a male’s advances just yet, but she will show many of the signs of heat listed below.

During this stage estrogen levels drop while progesterone levels rise. The female will begin ovulating during this stage, which means a series of eggs will be released from her ovaries and become available for fertilization. She will now begin to be receptive to a male’s attempts to breed her. It is during the estrus stage that a dog can become pregnant.

Progesterone levels are still elevated, but the female will no longer be receptive to a male’s attempts to breed with her.

Two to three months

This is the resting stage that lasts until the female comes into heat again.

Age When Heat Commences

While it is not a hard rule, most females come into their first heat cycle around six months of age, although some females wait as long 12 to 18 months old. Very large breed females may begin cycling as late as 24 months old.

Frequency of Cycles

While many females will hold to a fairly steady schedule of coming into season about every six months, it can vary. Some girls will only come into heat once year, while others may even come into season every four months. However, these “extra” seasons are not always fertile. Once a female has her first season, you can track subsequent cycles to determine what her natural pattern will be.

Calculating the Heat Cycle

It’s possible to calculate approximately where a dog is in the heat cycle although not all dogs will follow the average time periods for each cycle with 100% accuracy. A female dog will come into heat twice a year, and younger dogs may not have a regular time interval established until they are about two years old. If you know when your dog had her last heat, you can figure out when the next one is coming on by counting the days:

• Proestrus equals about nine days
• Estrus equals about nine days as well
• Diestrus is about two months long
• Anestrus is about two to three months

You can also use an app as a dog heat cycle calculator to keep track of your dog’s progress.

Signs a Female Is in Heat

Common signs and symptoms you can expect to see when a female is in season include:

• Mood change – Some females show a change in mood shortly before their season commences, and they may even act a bit touchy. Think of it as the doggie equivalent of PMS.
• Swollen nipples – Sometimes, but not always, the nipples and breasts will swell slightly. This can also be a sign of a phantom pregnancy, when a female may begin to show signs of being pregnant even if she’s not. So, watch if this happens, but it usually resolves itself in a few weeks after the cycle ends.
• Sudden interest from males – Male studs are great early warning detectors and can smell the change in a female’s hormones before she fully comes into heat.
• Swollen vulva – The vulva can show some swelling, but it is quite variable, some girls hardly swell at all, while others swell up like a golf ball.
• Tail flagging – When a female is ready to be bred, she’ll usually stand quite still while the male investigates her vulva. She’ll hold her own tail up and wag it side to side to make sure he catches the scent.
• Blood discharge – This is usually the surest indicator the heat cycle has begun, with a pinkish red-colored discharge the first week that usually turns to a tannish color during the fertile period, and then changes back to a reddish color before gradually stopping altogether. Some females keep themselves extremely clean, and it may be difficult to tell if they are in season at all.

How Long Will Bleeding Last?

A female dog will begin to bleed in the initial pro-estrus stage which can last anywhere from four to 15 days. She may continue to bleed during the next stage, estrus, which will last another four to eight days. A female dog’s bleeding will usually begin to lessen in the estrus stage and should stop entirely before diestrus begins.

Caring for Your Female While She’s in Heat

It’s important to know what to do for your dog while she is in heat. Fortunately, caring for your female while she’s in heat is relatively simple.

• Keep a close eye on her. This is mainly to protect her from an unwanted breeding because males can detect the scent of a female in heat from some distance away, and they’ll travel from blocks away to find her.
• Be extra patient and gentle with her. She may feel a little under the weather during the proestrus stage.
• While a dog in heat is not in intense pain, they can experience mild pain and discomfort from cramping.
• Avoid bathing her until she completely stops discharging. That way you can figure her cervix is closed again, and she’ll be less likely to develop a vaginal/uterine infection from the bathwater.
• If you’ve determined your female’s regular heat cycle pattern and you intend to breed her, have her checked for brucellosis prior to her next heat cycle, and request that the stud dog owner has the male checked as well. Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted between males and females, and it can cause infertility in both sexes.

Always Good to Know

You may never breed your female, but it’s still a good idea to have a basic understanding of heat cycles so you know what she’s going through. If you want to eliminate all possibility that she’ll ever have a litter, you can ask your veterinarian to spay her for you. That way you’ll never have to deal with her heat cycle again.

My male dachshund had an injection last may that is to stop him from being able to impregnante my female dachshund, it made his testicles shrink and it was only soppossed to last a year. We had it done because we didnt want our female to get pregnant til she was old enough. My males testicles are still very small, so i’m wondering if this injection can do permanant damage to his testicles? We are wanting to breed them and she is on heat at the moment and they are showing no signs of mating anytime soon. Sorry i cant remember the name of the injection.

10 Answers

Call and ask the vet who gave the dog the injection when he will be ready to breed.

Just have him neutered. It’s a lot cheaper, and the injection doesn’t help prevent the health problems that neutering either decreases or eliminates.

95% of purebreds should be fixed (and ALL healthy mixes). Only purebred dogs who are two years old and up, have been titled, are ambassadors of their breed, and have passed through their genetic health screening with flying colours, should ever be bred. A new breeder should never attempt to breed if they do not have a mentor. Also, if you are serious about breeding; help out with rescue. A responsible breeder’s knowledge of whelping comes in handy if there is ever a puppy mill bust, etc.

Breeding information, and the realties of careless breeding:

This breeding cycle dog guide explains the classic dog breeding heat cycle. However, every bitch is different! And there are factors that can alter the dog heat cycle in breeding dogs…

To start off we’ll look at the lifetime reproductive cycle of the average small breed dogs. Then we’ll describe the “textbook” dog breeding heat cycle of the smaller breeds.

However, when looking at this dog breeding guide, it is important to remember that large breed dogs tend to commence cycling later in life, and also cycle less frequently than the smaller breeds.

Lifetime Breeding Cycle Dog

Small breed dogs tend to mature faster than large breeds, so the age at which dogs reach sexual maturity depends largely on their size.

Breeding in the Male Dog

As a rule of thumb males first become fertile at about six months of age. One precocious Miniature Schnauzer boy of mine, unbeknown to me at the time, got a bitch pregnant when he was only 7 months old.

By 12 to 15 months the male dog has reached full sexual maturity, and if healthy can remain sexually active and fertile into old age. Unlike bitches, adult males can mate at any time.

Breeding in the Female Dog

The first heat season (also called estrus) of the bitch occurs after she turns six months of age, although it might not eventuate until she is 18 months or even two years of age. Estrus is the period when the bitch is fertile and willing to be sexually receptive to a male.

Unless she is well grown and at least 12 months of age when it comes up, the bitch should not be bred during her first season.

From then on, estrus generally recurs at every six months or so until late in life. However, by the age of 7 years, more than 50% of bitches will have ceased cycling and their sexual life will be over.

Official Breeding Cycle Dog Rules

Registered breeders in Australia follow a Code of Practice that limits the number of litters bred from a bitch.

Specifically, where a bitch is capable of producing two litters a year, only two consecutive litters should be bred, followed by a rest period of a skipped litter before breeding again.

Regarding age at breeding, the AKC stipulates that (except in special circumstances) only pups born of bitches between 8 months and 12 years, and by dogs between 7 months and 12 years of age, are eligible for registration.

Active Breeding Cycle Dog

Physiological Breeding Cycle Dog

Physiologically, the bitch’s cycle can be divided into four periods.

The bitch attracts males, has a bloody vaginal discharge, and her vulva is swollen. Proestrus lasts approximately nine days; the bitch, however, will not allow breeding at this time.

During this period, which also lasts approximately nine days, the bitch will accept the male and is fertile. Ovulation usually occurs in the first 48 hours; however, this can vary greatly.

Lasting 60 to 90 days, diestrus is the period when the reproductive tract is under the control of the hormone progesterone. This occurs whether or not the bitch becomes pregnant.

False pregnancy, a condition in which the bitch shows symptoms of being pregnant although she has not conceived, is occasionally seen during diestrus.

No sexual activity takes place. Anestrus usually lasts between three and four months (but can be much longer, especially in large breed dogs).

Breeding Cycle Dog Breeding Guide

Translating the above “physiological” phases of the dog breeding heat cycle into normal language, the stages will actually look like this in real life:

• Heat – bleeding (proestrus)

• Pregnancy (diestrus)
• Lactation (anestrus)

• Rest and recuperation (anestrus)

Please note that this pie chart depicts a maximum breeding year and is not meant to imply that it is usual to maintain such frequent breeding year in and year out!

Pregnancy, and most particularly, lactation, makes heavy demands on the body of the bitch.

After two consecutive whelpings, all bitches should have an interval of at least a year before the next to recuperate. Ignore this rule and you risk your bitch developing major health problems, especially reproductive issues and dog breeding problems.

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Hello I have two chihuahuas, one is a 2 and a half years old female and the other is a year and a half old male. This is about the third time that my female has been in heat since i’ve been trying to breed them but the male can’t seem to do it. I don’t know what to do because the female wants it and so does he but when he tries to mate with her he tries to put his stuff anywhere but where it is supposed to go. It’s as if he can’t find where to put it. I think he is sexually retarded. Although he never stops trying the whole time she is in heat but he’s not getting at bit close to it. Also when he does get up on her back and get any bit close he moves in and out for a couple seconds trying to find it and when he gets close he gives up. Has anyone had this problem breeding dogs. If so I’d much appreciate the advice..Thanks *Beth*

uh for ur information i’m not breeding them to sell them. I want them for myself. I love chihuahuas and if u try to just go out and get them ppl sell them for way to much. My landlord only allows me to have small dogs or otherwise I’d probably get something that doesn’t cost as much but I can’t so as far as i’m concerned I’m not doing anything wrong by breeding them if I plan on taking care of them. And to the other person that said to put em in a room or cage. I’ve had them in my extra bedroom off and on the past couple of days but they are so spoiled that all they do is whine for me to let them out of the room. lol. I love em to death. I can’t have kids so they are my babies. lol

ok. so well most of u just seem mean about the subject and u don’t know me. like I said I want the dogs for myself and yes I have a vet and yes they have all their shots and have been checked thoroughly for any problems or complications. I have money for if anything goes wrong and believe me if I didn’t believe they were healthy I wouldn’t put them through it to try and kill em cuz i paid too much for em to watrch em die. And for those of u that say that I shouldn’t be breeding them if I don’t know how well where do u think dog breeders learned. by asking questions. And yes I asked my vet about the issue and he just said to give him time. And when I asked this question I wasn’t specifically asking for someone to give me the answer I was asking if anyone elses dogs had this problem.

I have the money to rescue or buy a dog but i don’t want to. but what is the point to pay for a dog that may not even be a full breed. one that u have no clue how big or viscous it is gonna be. it’s always better when u know the blood line. that is one thing I do know.

besides u that think i should go buy one from someone else and not breed mine to have pups. wouldn’t that just be pushing others to breed more for money anyways. If no one bought the pups that others were breeding for money then ppl would probably stop breeding for money. and as proof that i have money is that I don’t even have to work my hubby supports us both and we don’t even have kids. I get to sit here doing nothing watching tv shopping and doing anything i want because of it.

There are full blooded Chihuahuas on pet finder. If I could find em I might would consider that option but i’m still not gonna spay and neuter mine. If they have pups..then they have pups. big deal. as long as I take care of them.

While your dog is in heat she can become nervous and agitated. The duration of a dogs period depends on a range of factors. It is important to know how to care for and comfort your dog during this time.

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When a dog is in heat, it is known as “estrus.” This word refers to one stage in the reproductive cycle, also called the estrus cycle. Being “in heat” sometimes refers to the estrus stage itself, when the female is most receptive to mating, but more often refers to the period before, proestrus, as well. In heat, first estrogen levels increase. Then, they decrease drastically, and progesterone rises. Mature eggs are released from the ovaries, and the proestrus and canine estrous cycle is over. It is important to note that if you have your female dog spayed, you should do it before she begins estrus for the first time.

When Does A Dog Get Their First Heat Cycle?

The first-time that estrus occurs is when the dog is between 6 and 24 months of age. The earlier end of this age range corresponds to small dogs, with the later end corresponding to larger dogs. Some small dogs may even have their first heat cycle as early as 4 months; however, not all heats are fertile, and particularly not the first few. If you plan to breed your dog, don’t do it during the dog’s first cycles. She hasn’t yet become fully mature – instead, consult your vet to know when to start. Once this first heat has occurred, your female dog will experience her estrus cycle for the rest of her life, so there will be plenty of opportunity for breeding. The length of the cycle during the dogs first season is often similar to that of subsequent cycles but each time the dog is in season you should begin to see a pattern in the cycles length.

How Long Does Heat Last on Average?

The answer to this depends on the individual dog and the dog breed. On average, however, an unspayed female will go into heat twice a year, about every six months. The timing can sometimes be seasonal, with the two annual cycles occurring between January and March or August and October. The smaller the dog, the more often it will go into heat – three times a year for the smallest dog breeds (cocker spaniel, fox terrier), and for some of the giant breeds and largest dog breeds (mountain dog, irish wolfhounds, shepherd dog), as rarely as once every two years.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Is In Heat?

While in heat, a dog’s nervousness and skittishness increase. She is more easily distracted, and may be in a near-constant state of alertness. Frequent urination, discharge, and bleeding will also be present. The dog’s vulva will be swollen and there will be changes in her behavior due to hormonal releases. When the female is ready to mate, she will initiate with other male dogs by raising her hind quarters whenever she is approached. She will also present by moving her tail to one side.

Stages

There are two main stages to the complete canine estrus cycle. The first stage is the bleeding stage (proestrus) and the second stage is the mating stage (estrus). Together they form what is typically referred to as “in heat.” After that, there are two further stages, called the diestrus and anestrus phases.

How Long Is Each Stage of the dogs period?

The heat cycle in dogs lasts anywhere from 2-4 weeks. Early on, a female dog won’t seem interested in male dogs, although there are some breeds which are an exception to this. After that, there will be a period of time when your dog is most fertile, which might be nine or ten days after the initial stage, but remember that she can become pregnant through all of it. Let’s look at each stage in more detail.

How Long Does a Dogs Period Last (The Bleeding Stage)?

The bleeding phase of a dogs heat cycle lasts roughly nine days. The female dog will experience vaginal bleeding during this phase. The bleeding represents the dog’s body’s preparation for pregnancy, but she will not be ready yet. That means she likely won’t want to mate with a male during the bleeding stage. Sometimes, the blood and/or vaginal discharge will not show up until days after proestrus has begun. how long does a dog period last? The amount and the timing will vary with the dog. Some dogs only ever emit a small amount of discharge while some others exhibit heavy bleeding every time.

In this article, get to understand when it is highly likely for your dog to get pregnant after bleeding phase and other related insights on a dog’s fertility.

Can a dog get pregnant while bleeding?

The reproductive heat cycle of a dog can be categorized into 4 phases that is pro-estrus, estrus, met-estrus and Di-estrus. The first stage is referred to as pro-estrus and it is during this stage that your pet will bleed will not want to mate with male pets. This stage is usually complicated because your pet is in preparation for pregnancy phase. It usually lasts between 9 to 15 days and at this stage your pet is not fertile.

How long after bleeding is a dog fertile?

A female dog ovulates at about the time that the vaginal discharge becomes watery, and this usually marks her most fertile stage. During this time the female pet will be receptive to breeding. At this stage if you don’t want the pet to mate, you will need to keep her out in the yard, avoid leaving her alone as she can find an escape route out of the compound. This phase whereby your dog is fertile, in heat and receptive to met is known as diestrus phase. This phase usually last for about six to ten weeks.

How many times does a dog have to mate to get pregnant?

When a dog is in the heats cycle specifically diestrus phase the chances of getting pregnancy being successful do increase if the two dogs have a tied. That will keep them standing for long and give time for male sperms to travel up through the cervix and have a good chance to fertilize the eggs. In case of a corpus tie the dog does only to mate once to get pregnant. More importantly, the sperm once deposited in the uterus has ability to survive up to seven days and therefore if ovulation happens within that time, fertilization will occur.

However, dog’s semen is very watery and easily leaves the female reproductive system when the female begins to clean herself or sits down. Therefore, if a corpus tie did not occur during mating the chances of your dog getting pregnant are slim and you might have to mate the dog again for a second time. You can also seek the advice of a professional breeder.

It is a good thing to let your female dog in heat mate multiple times, because sometimes the female starts to appeal to males before her true fertile phase of the heat cycle begins.

What is the best time to breed a dog in heat?

According to American Kennel Club, the best time to breed a dog in heat is during the diestrus phase of the heat cycle. This stage begins just after the dog has stopped bleeding/ spotting or when vaginal discharge turns clear. This period usually last 9 to 10 days and out of which, your dog will be most fertile for the first five days, but the dog can become pregnant all the way until the end of the cycle. The best way to know that the fertile stage is complete is when her vagina returns to its normal size, appearance and she no longer flirts with or accept mates.

While dogs can get pregnant as early as their first heat cycle, many professional breeders will advice that you wait till the third cycle to breed the dog. What this means is that the dog will probably be 18 month of age or older. This is because during her first two cycles the dog is usually not fully matured physically and psychologically. Sometimes breeding a dog that is too young exerts a lot of pressure on the still-growing mother and when she gives birth, she is highly likely to reject her puppies or handle them aggressively.

Are there any test that can determine accurately when to mate my dog?

Well, there are two techniques that have been used for a very long time by veterinarians and they include:

1. Vaginal Smear

This technique has been used for a very long time and is reasonably reliable. It is usually a procedure that is done by many veterinarians on to confirm if a female dog is in heat or not. Vaginal smear is done by examining vaginal cells from your dog under a microscope. It is a non-invasive procedure and does not harm your dog. Your vet will require a sample from your dog and may perform a test on several samples to confirm your dog is in heat. As part of the testing, your vet will look for changes in cells that show your dog is ovulating. The vaginal smear can also determine your dog’s best breeding time.

1. Serum progesterone test

A serum progesterone test is also the best way to determine not only ovulation but it can give an indication that your dog is in heat. The procedure begins by providing a blood sample of your dog and then a vet conducts a blood test to measure the progesterone level in your dog’s blood. Your vet may need several samples to accurately predict your dog’s ovulation period. This test is considered very accurate for determining the best mating time for a female dog. It is usually an idea option if your female dog has a history of unsuccessful mating or if you want to be sure the female dog is ready before introducing her to a male dog for mating.

Alternatively, there are other veterinarians who prefer LH hormone test instead of serum progesterone. Discuss the different testing options and what is best for your pet.

How often do female dogs come into heat?

How often a dog comes into heat varies from dog breed to do breed, though many expert breeders opine that irregular heat cycles do not predispose the dog to false pregnancies (pyometra). On average, dogs come into heat twice a year (every six month). There are some breed such as basenji and sled dog that go into heat only once a year, typically in the spring.