LoveToKnow Dogs:Custom Breeding Dogs
Questions

If the male dog was able to tie your female, she can still get pregnant. During the heat cycle, there are three basic phases. The first week you'll notice rediish-brown discharge and swelling of the vulva. During the second week of the cycle, the discharge lightens up to a pinkish-tan color and is much less noticeable. Sometimes people think their dog is finished during this time, but she really isn't. During the third week of the cycle when the female begins going out of heat, the discharge may become a little darker and heavier, but this doesn't last long and tapers off until it ceases completely.

I can't say for certain what the situation is with your dog, but it's still very possible that she had eggs left for fertilization at the time the tie occurred. You'll want to keep an eye on her in the coming weeks for signs of pregnancy. If it turns out she is pregnant, we have a lot of good information on the channel that can help.

Good luck, and let us know how things turn out. - posted by:Kelly

Is this the male's first time breeding? If so, it can be very difficult to achieve a breeding with a male that hasn't been broken in by age two. What I suggest is that you get another person to help provide some assistence. One of you can hold your female's collar to keep her head unavailable, and the other person can try to show the dog how to mount her from the business end. This may give your male the right idea of how to go about it. If he doesn't get the idea from there, you may need to resort to an AI if you really want a litter from these two dogs.

Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

The short answer is yes, that is long enough to fertilize the eggs if the breeding took place at the most opportune time during your female's cycle. Now does it guarantee your dog is pregnant? Not really. A lot depends on the health and motility of the sperm and exactly when your female went into ovulation. Still, chances are better than average that a litter could result from this breeding.

Eight months old is a bit young to be pregnant because the mom is still growing and developing herself. Toy breeds can handle the situation better because they mature quicker, but larger breeds still have a lot of growing to do. A pregnancy at this age robs the female of some of her own resources in order to support development of the pups. So, it's going to be important to feed your dog the best food you can throughout the pregnancy.

Delivering might also be slightly more difficult for an older puppy than a mature female, so the best thing you can do right now is get in touch with your vet to discuss what has happened and have him examine your female. The vet may be able to provide advice on whether a C-section might be on the horizon, but that is usually something that isn't decided unless the the female is having great difficulty during the actual delivery.

I think you'll find the following articles very helpful.

• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Don't hesitate to join us on our Dogs forum if you need more help. :) - posted by:Kelly

Well, that's a first for me. I have never heard of a dog defecating during breeding. I'm sure it's possible if she wasn't exercised before she was introduced to the male, but I don't think it will affect that breeding in any way.

Although it only takes one well-timed breeding to create a litter, you may want to skip a day, and then breed your female one more time. That second breeding 20 minutes after the first wouldn't do much to ensure fertilization. It takes a good 24 hours for the male's sperm count to go back up. The second breeding on the heels of the first only tires the dogs excessively, so it's better to keep them apart for 24 hours and then introduce them for one more breeding.

Hopefully this breeding will be successful. We have some good article on the site that you may want to check out.

• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Keep in touch and let us know how things turn out. Join us at the Breeder's Corner in the Dogs forum. Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

Although a ten minute tie doesn't sound like much, it's certainly enough to get the job done. Dogs don't even really have to tie to ensure fertilization as long as some sperm was delivered during the breeding. However, a tie does give the sperm more time to make it closer to the eggs so less washes back out.

I'm also wondering if your dog was slightly farther along than seven days. Most females aren't ready for breeding until about nine to ten days into their cycle. Regardless of that, the sperm can live for about a week waiting for the eggs to be released, so this breeding could result in a litter.

We have some good articles on pregnancy that you may find helpful. Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

I'd also like to invite you to join us at the Breeder's Corner of our Dogs forum. You can get ongoing support and advice there. :) - posted by:Kelly

At about eight years old, it's not impossible to breed your female, but it is a bit beyond her prime. Some breeders stop breeding a female around five years of age because the uterus begins to lose some of its elasticity. Additionally, dogs don't go through menopause like women do, but they can become less fertile as they grow older. If your female refuses to accept your male, perhaps she isn't actually ovulating during this heat cycle. She may also simply not be ready yet.

We have a good article on this topic that I think you'll find helpful. Check out Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding. It explains more about the entire process.

As for your additional question about breeding a Dachshund to a hound dog, do you mean a Basset Hound? Yes, that is possible, but unless you're sure you can provide homes for all the pups, I wouldn't recommend it. Mixed breeds are usually more difficult to place in new homes and there are quite a few homeless pets at this time. Just something to think about.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope this information is helpful to you. If you find you have more questions, please join us at our Dogs forum. We'll give you all the help we can. :) - posted by:Kelly

This does sound a little unusual, but there are a lot of factors that can affect courtship during the heat cycle.

First, can you tell what day your female is on? Using the number of the day isn't a totally reliable method for predicting when a female will be ready to breed, but it would give me a general idea of where she's at in the cycle. Sometimes a male won't become all that interested until the female begins ovulating. They can tell by the change in her scent. Ovulation generally begins around day nine.

It is interesting that your male isn't showing any interest at all. This could be due to some undetected health issue with him, but it could also mean that you female is having an infertile season, one where she doesn't ovulate. This happens from time to time.

You could try keeping the dogs separated for the day to create some anticipation, and then bring them together to see if they will breed. If that doesn't work you may want to ask your vet to examine them both. The vet can examine smears of the vaginal secretions to detect whether your female is ovulating, and he can also examine your male to assess his health right now. If everything looks good and your male is simply not performing, you could ask the vet to try to perform an artificial insemination.

Thanks for your question, and I hope these suggestions prove helpful. If you'd like to keep in touch, please join us in the Breeders Corner at the Dogs forum.

Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

You raise some good questions, and you're wise to be concerned about the situation. It would be difficult and unlikely that a full-grown Boxer could breed a Toy dog in the traditional sense, but it's important to understand that fertilization can occur without much penetration. If any sperm were deposited at the opening of the vulva, they could still have the chance to swim their way up the canal to the eggs. The odds are not in their favor, but the possibility is still there.

Since there is such a large size difference between these two dogs and your female's young age, I think it would be wise to discuss the situation with your vet. The most important thing right now is determining whether or not your female is truly pregnant, and this can't really be done until three to four weeks after the breeding, depending on which method your vet uses. After all, there may be no cause for alarm, and that is the best case scenario. If she is pregnant, your vet will evaluate her age and condition and weigh it against all the risks involved to decide whether it might be safer to terminate the pregnancy.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I really do hope everything works out for the best. - posted by:Kelly

Vets tend to vary in their opinion on this issue. Some male puppies initially become fertile as early as four months old, but closer to six months old is the norm. Even so, a pup this age may not be able to actually breed a female yet, so the sperm count wouldn't matter as much. Still I think about six months old is the minimum age at which most vets would be willing to do a sperm count. The best thing you can do is give your vet a call and get his/her opinion.

I just want to add that it wouldn't be wise to breed a male at that age since he still has a lot of growing and maturing to do on his way to adulthood. Still, getting a sperm count might be a good idea if you're considering buying a dog to use as a future stud.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this info helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

This is a great question. Yes, brother and sister dogs can produce a litter together, but the bigger question is should they be allowed to do so.

You'll get different opinions from breeders about whether inbreedings of this nature should be allowed. I'm of the opinion that dogs that are this closely related should never be mated, and if a mating takes place by accident, the resulting pups should be thoroughly checked for abnormalities and spayed as soon as they are old enough to prevent further breeding.

The reason I feel this way is that inbreedings double on the good and bad qualities of the dogs involved. If you're concentrating the genes that resulted in poor conformation or temperament, you can expect to see it in the offspring.

That's not to say that this type of breeding doesn't happen accidentally, but it's not something you want to have happen on purpose. While the pups from a single inbreeding within a family line might turn out alright, further inbreedings would surely begin to produce abnormalities. For the sake of each pup's health, it's better avoid inbreeding entirely.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the info is helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

You raise some good questions, so let me share my thoughts. First, let's begin with the question about the inbreeding. Although inbreeding can be problematic, a one-generation inbreeding within a family line usually isn't enough to cause serious abnormalities in the resulting litter. The problems usually begin to appear if an inbred dog mates with another close family member. That said, a breeding between litter mates is as close as you can get, so you will want to have your vet evaluate any resulting pups just so you can be sure of their health before you place them in new homes.

As for your question about the medical risks involved, there are always risks to any pregnancy and delivery, even when the situation doesn't involve an inbreeding. Sometimes a puppy will get into the wrong position and not be able to make it out of the birth canal. This can result in the need for a C-section. We actually have some good articles on the site that I think you'll find helpful, especially if it does turn out that your female has a litter on the way. Check out:

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Also, don't hesitate to join us at the Dogs forum if you find you have more questions. We have a Breeders Corner there where you can get more information and support.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright. - posted by:Kelly

This is a great question, and I know others have found themselves in the same predicament. It's always advisable to have a vet perform a sperm count to verify fertility before purchasing any dog to use as a stud. Luckily, you enjoy this dog as a pet and your son is also able to show him in Junior competition, so there's still a lot of good in your situation.

Here are some interesting facts about stud dogs:

• Males usually hit their peak fertility between 12 months and six years of age. After age six, many males experience a slow decline in fertility. So at age nine, it would be fairly natural for a dog to have a low sperm count, even if he is healthy in other respects.
• Normal semen contains about 70 percent healthy, motile sperm. The rest of the sperm usually have some sort of defect that prevents them from being able to fertilize an egg.
• Health problems can and do affect sperm counts. For example, a male that has had a fever above 103 degrees F can experience a severe drop in sperm count for as long as six months before normal production resumes.

All of that said, since your dog's sperm count was basically zero, you may never be able to raise it, but here are a couple of things that often work to raise sperm counts on dogs that are simply below normal.

• Feed a high-quality diet with a real meat protein source.
• Make sure the dog gets daily exercise, but don't exhaust him. Exercise promotes circulation, and this often increases fertility.
• Allow your male to attempt to breed your female when she comes into heat. This may encourage his system to begin producing sperm again.

Your vet may know of a medication that could boost sperm production, but if he hasn't already mentioned it, he may not think this is suitable for your senior dog.

I think you have a great attitude about the entire situation, so go ahead and try these methods to boost your male's fertility if you really want, and have his sperm count checked again in six months. If it hasn't recovered sufficiently for breeding purposes, just enjoy him for the wonderful little fellow that he is.

Best wishes. :) - posted by:Kelly

The average heat cycle lasts about 21 days and is divided into three active phases. The numbers I'm going to give you are approximate, not a hard rule.

• Days 1-8: Symptoms appear, but the female is not yet ready to breed.
• Days 9-15: The vulva ripens, and the female begins to ovulate. She'll typically flirt, flag her tail and allow a male to breed.
• Days 16-21: Flirting stops, the swelling and discharge taper off and the heat cycle ends.

That is the short version of what happens during the average heat cycle, but you'll find more details in the following articles:

• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Dog Heat Symptoms

We also have a number of articles on dog pregnancy and delivery if you find that you need them. Each of the articles mentioned above is the beginning of a series on breeding and pregnancy, so just follow the link at the bottom of each article to proceed to the next one. I think you'll find the info very helpful.

Thanks for visiting. :) - posted by:Kelly

I can't say for sure what is happening, but it does sound as though your young female has come back into heat.

Sometimes it takes a couple of cycles for a female to establish a regular routine. A puppy can have an incomplete first cycle, and then come back into a full heat just a couple of months later. This may be what you're observing. Right now, I don't think you need to worry about what's happening, but do mark down the date and save it so you can track how long it takes for her to come into heat again. It will likely be another six months before the next cycle commences, but there are some females that actualy come into heat every four months. However, some of those cycles are usually infertile ones because no eggs are released. By your pet's third cycle, you'll have a better idea of what her pattern will be.

Thanks for your question, and if you still have any worries, don't hesitate to contact your vet about the situation. If it brings you peace of mind, it's worth it. :) - posted by:Kelly

If the dogs tied twice, there is a high possibility a litter is on the way. We have some good articles that I think you'll find helpful.

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Canine Gestation

Now for the question about your female being in pain. It's natural for a maiden female to cry out during a first time breeding. The swelling that occurs when the male ties her can also be uncomfortable that first time, but I have never heard any female scream when it occurs. Did you mean that your female screamed at that time, or while you were trying to pull the dogs apart? It's never advisable to pull the dogs apart when they are tied because you could cause internal injuries to one or both of them. If they are tied, the damage is already done and it won't matter much how long it takes for them to pull apart naturally on their own. If your female still seems to have some pain, it would be best to call your vet, explain the situation and let him examine her to make sure she will be okay.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope everything will turn out alright. Don't hesitate to come back if you find you have more questions about dog pregnancy. We actually have a pregnancy section on the Dogs forum where you can ask questions and get advice. You may find it very helpful in the weeks to come.

Best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

Although this male may have detected some trace scent of the hormones from your dog's recent heat cycle, it really doesn't sound like she is still in heat. I think this may be more of a dominance issue.

A break of two months gives these dogs a chance to establish a new relationship, and humping can be a sign of wanting to establish dominance over another dog just as much as it can be a sexual behavior. The dogs will need to work out for themselves which one of them will be top dog in their friendship, but you can gently discourage the male and try to redirect his attention and energy into more acceptible behavior. Keep a tennis ball handy and bounce it a few times to get the dogs interested in it. Hopefully that will do the trick.

Thanks for sharing your situation. :) - posted by:Kelly

It will be a while before you'll really know whether or not your dog is pregnant, but it is possible for a 15-year-old male to sire a litter. At this point, there is a 50/50 chance that your dog will conceive a litter. Do you know if the dogs actually tied? If they did, the chances of successful fertilization are even stronger.

It's usually difficult to determine if a dog is pregnant until at least three weeks after the mating took place. A vet might be able to detect the pregnancy via a blood test at that point. Vets can usually palpate the uterus to feel embryos around the 28th day of gestation, but after that the uterus enlarges and the pups can't be felt again until closer to the end of the pregnancy.

So, it's a bit of a waiting game right now, but we do have some good articles that you might find useful. Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation

Thanks for your question, and do let us know how things turn out. :) - posted by:Kelly

You'll need your vet's help to diagnose and treat this issue, but this really sounds like a case of vaginal hyperplasia.

Vaginal hyperplasia is a hormone-related condition that produces extreme vaginal tissue swelling in response to estrogen. Basically, part of the vaginal tissue is forced through the vulva and hangs outside of it.

In addition to the danger of the exposed tissue becoming damaged or infected, vaginal hyperplasia can also interfere with urination if the problem becomes severe.

The condition is believed to have a genetic link, so there's a chance other females in your dog's line have also had the condition. This also means that the female pups in any litter your dog produces could either wind up with the condition or pass it along to their own future pups. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend breeding her.

The condition is usually resolved by spaying so that it can't reoccur, and that would likely be the best course of action in your pet's case. However, your vet can offer expert advice after examining your dog to confirm what's going on.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this information proves helpful. - posted by:Kelly

I'm afraid you're going to need your vet's expertise to figure out what is really going on here. There could be a number of things happening. Your female's hormone levels sound like they are see-sawing back and forth instead of following the natural rise and fall associated with regular heat cycles. Sometimes this can be caused by a condition called hypothyroid, but it's something your vet would need to test for. An ovarian cyst can also cause irregular cycles, so this is something else to investigate, typically by sonogram. These are just a couple of suggestions about what your vet should look for.

In the meantime, I would refrain from another round of breeding if your dog shows signs of coming right back into heat again. It would be better to let your vet delve into the reproductive problems and find out what's causing them. Hopefully you'll be able to breed your dog once the current situation is resolved.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your dog's health. - posted by:Kelly

It's difficult to predict the outcome of this type of breeding. The kind of breeding you describe is considered an inbreeding, and a breeding between two littermates is the closest inbreeding there can be. If either of the parents or littermates possess faults or infirmities, there's a possibility that they could be passed on to one or more of the pups due to the concentration of the genes.

That said, one generation of inbreeding isn't as likely to cause problems in the litter as inbreeding between repeated generations. So, if there's no inbreeding behind these two littermates, you may not see any problems in the pups. Just be aware that the possibility is there for congenital defects, etc. Hopefully you won't experience this, but I would recommend having at least one of the pets spayed or neutured to prevent further litters in the future.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please know that many other pet owners have found themselves in similar circumstances after adopting littermates of the opposite sex, so you're not alone. It may be a good idea to consult your vet and get a professional opion, but hopefully the litter will turn out fine.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps. :) - posted by:Kelly

This is a great question. Let me begin by describing what is considered an inbreeding, because many people confuse the term with line breeding.

An in breeding is a breeding that takes place between a mother and son, father and daughter or brother and sister that share the same exact parents. A line breeding takes place between family members that are less closely related. For example, you can mate a half-brother and half-sister, a female back to an uncle, grandfather or cousin, and so forth. This is done selectively to secure desired characteristics in the resulting puppies, but you have to be aware of any genetic faults in the family line so you don't wind up reproducing those in the pups as well.

Sometimes an accidental inbreeding occurs when a person owns two closely related dogs. In most cases, the pups will turn out alright as long as there isn't a history of inbreeding in the family line. If there have been other inbreedings in previous generations, the chance for abnormalities in the pups is higher.

While it's always good to have a thorough health check done on all puppies before they are offered to new homes, it's especially important to have the pups from an inbreeding examined. If any congenital abnormalities are found, the vet can help you decide which course of action is best.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this information provides the answers you seek. :) - posted by:Kelly

The thing about breeding is that you can rarely predict what's going to happen. A perfectly healthy two-year-old bitch can have trouble whelping or wind up refusing to care for her own pups, so anything can happen. You just have to deal with the situation as it comes.

That said, there is a higher chance of encountering complications when breeding a seven-year-old bitch for the first time. Many breeders retire a brood bitch after five years of age because the uterus typically begins losing some elasticity, and this can make delivery and post delivery recovery a bit more difficult. There's also a greater possibility that a seven-year-old bitch might not have as strong an instinct to care for her pups.

As you can see, the risks are about the same regardless of the bitch's age, but the chance of encountering those risks does increase with the bitch's age. It would probably be wise to prepare for the possibility of needing a C-section, and/or needing to hand-rear the litter. This may not happen, but it's good to plan for all eventualities.

It will be up to you to decide whether the risk is worth it, but if you have other younger bitches coming up, it may be better to breed one of them instead. You may actually want to post this question on our Dogs forum to see if you can gather more opinions on this topic from other breeders.

Best wishes that all turns out well whatever you decide.

- posted by:Kelly

You can prevent a bitch from becoming pregnant using oral contraceptives, but it's not as simple as taking a birth control pill the way that many women do.

We have a good article on this topic, Birth Control Pills for Dogs, but in a nutshell there are two main contraceptives to choose from. One is a liquid contraceptive called Cheque Drops, and the other is pill called Ovaban. The drops need to be started approximately 30 days before the cycle begins in order to be effective, while the pills are designed to delay the heat cycle until a more convenient time. Neither of these drugs are very convenient for the average pet owner to use, and there are many undesirable side effects possible. You'll find them listed in the article.

Although spaying carries its own risks, as does any surgical procedure, you may want to consider it as another option to prevent an unwanted litter. You'll never have to worry about forgetting to give your dog medication or guessing about the timing of that next heat cycle.

My honest advice is to discuss all of these options with your vet and let him/her help you make the best decision for your pet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps. :) - posted by:Kelly

I've always found that it's a bit more difficult to introduce two females because they seem to be a bit more competitive than most males. German Shepherds are very protective of their family and their turf, so introducing another female to the household could be a little tricky. I would suggest you only do so at a time that your current pet is neither in season or expecting a litter, and it would be best to hold the meeting on neutral ground so the two could get to know each other a bit without territorial issues.

All of that said, it's not an impossible task to add another female to your family and breeding program. You just need to take it slowly so both dogs have time to adjust. Every case is unique, so you just have deal with each dog's reaction as it comes. You may face some challenges from your current dog, or you may be surprised to find that these girls take an instant liking to each other. There's just no way to predict exactly what will happen, so the best you can do is give it a cautious try.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope it all works out for you. Let us know how things turn out. :) - posted by:Kelly

As I understand it, it is possible for a spayed female to show some small signs of heat like the scent and even traces of discharge. This usually happens when a small portion of the uterus is left behind after the spaying procedure, and it's referred to as a uterine stump. Although spaying is a routine procedure, it can be difficult to to see the entire uterus and remove it completely because of the organ's location. It only takes a small amount of uterine tissue to produce the heat symptoms. I can't be certain this is what's happening in your dog's case, but it is a possibility.

The good news is that your female won't be able to get pregnant from any breeding activity. There are one or two products on the pet market that are designed to mask the scent of a female in heat. You may find one helpful, but I haven't used one of these products myself so I can't say for sure how well they work. In the meantime, it may be helpful to occasionally wipe off your female's vulva with a pet wipe or baby wipe to remove any trace scents.

It may be best to discuss this situation with your vet to find the best solution. In the meantime, I hope you find this information helpful. - posted by:Kelly

There's a lot to cover here. Let's begin with the heat cycle. During the second week of the heat cycle, bleeding lightens considerably and ovulation begins. This is the fertile phase of the cycle and usually the best time to conduct a breeding as the eggs are being released for fertilization.

As for the breeding itself, it's nice to get a tie because that provides the surest delivery of sperm, but a tie isn't always necessary to produce a litter. Some sperm can be deposited without a tie as long as penetration occured at some point.

So, there's still a good chance your dog might be pregnant. Based on the breeding date provided, your dog would only be about five weeks along, and it's difficult to detect a pregnancy at this stage because the pups would still be about the size of peas. However, they should begin to grow rapidly from this point forward, so your dog will probably begin filling out soon if she is pregnant.

I'm not sure what kind of arrangements you've made with the stud owner, but the female usually comes home after the breeding and whelps at home. If you've left your dog in this man's care because you're unsure about delivering the puppies, if there actually are any, we have a very good article that can help you learn what to do. German Shepherds are usually quite able to deliver their litters on their own, but it's always good to be there with them in case they need a little help. Since the stud owner thinks your dog probably isn't pregnant, you may want to bring her home now and keep an eye on her yourself.

Check out the following articles:

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate come back if you need more help. :) - posted by:Kelly

It's not completely unusual for a female to go off her regular feeding habits during the early days of her heat cycle. Just like women, dogs probably feel some cramping, and the discomfort may make them feel like not eating. Typically this doesn't last more than the first week of the cycle for most females, but the anxiety level associated with a female that is ready to breed could depress the appetite a bit longer.

Generally speaking, it probably won't hurt your dog if her appetite is irregular right now, but you can probably persuade her to eat a little more by following these tips:

• Soak your dog's kibble with a little chicken broth. Dogs usually love the taste.
• Mix a little canned food in with her dry kibble. Mixing it well will require her to eat the kibble too and not just pick out the meaty morsels.
• Don't be afraid to boil some boneless chicken breast and brown rice. Few dogs can resist this meal.

Hopefully, one or more of these suggestions will do the trick. Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

I know some people say you should begin breeding you dog on a particular day of the heat cycle, but in 20 years of breeding I learned to look at the signs the bitch is giving rather than rely on the number of the day.

First of all, watch for when she begins to flirt with the male. This tells you a bit about her hormone levels. Bitches usually become flirty about the time they are ready to ovulate.

Second, check for a softening of the vulva. During the first week of the cycle, the vulva becomes very swollen and the stud will not be able to enter. Around the beginning of the second week, you'll notice the vulva softens up, and this is necessary for the stud to be able to penetrate her for a breeding.

Around the time ovulation begins and the vulva softens, the color of the discharge also changes from red to a pinkish tan. This is usually the best time to let the dogs breed. It only take a maximum of three breedings for two healthy dogs to produce a litter. Some people let the dogs breed multiple times a day thinking it will ensure a litter, but this doesn't give the male time to build up a sperm count in between, so a lot of those breedings are simply wasted energy. Frankly, one well-timed breeding is usually sufficient to produce a litter because the sperm can attach to the uterine lining and wait up to a week for the eggs to ripen.

I hope this provides you with the information you need. If you find you have more questions on the subject of breeding and dog pregnancy, please visit our Dogs forum where you can get advice any time you need it. Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

This would be an unusual situation, but some spayed females do display signs of being in heat even after they have been spayed. This is usually caused when a small portion of the base of the uterus has been left intact after the surgical procedure. Although spaying is considered a routine surgery, it's still a fairly complicated one, and it can be difficult to get that last bit removed. This results in a uterine stump. It is possible for those remaining cells to produce the symptoms of a heat cycle, but it won't be a fertile cycle and the dog in question won't be able to produce a litter.

Since many dog owners have their females spayed not only to prevent breeding but also to eliminate the discharge associated with the cycle, the remaining stump can be a problem. I'd encourage anyone whose dog is experiencing a pseudo-cycle after spaying to discuss the situation with their vet. It may be possible to go back in and try to remove the stump, but it may not always be possible or even advisable depending on each dog's health history.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this answer was helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

Most females that were on a six month cycle previous to a pregnancy will have their next cycle between four and six months after delivery. It's difficult to pinpoint when to expect that cycle because it depends a lot on your dog's condition. Some females are exhausted and underweight after the pups are weaned, so they must regain their condition before normal cycles resume. Other females seem to be less stressed over the entire situation, and they usually come back into heat closer to four months after delivery. So as you can see, it's difficult to offer an answer with complete certainty. Still, I hope this answer has provided you with more insight about what to expect.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Good question. I'm providing you with a link to the results of a study conducted by the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary medicine. You can read the entire report as you have time. I'm not a vet but as I understand it, the timing of the termination shot (Estradiol Cypionate) is crucial for it to be successful. It must be given while the bitch is still in estrus, otherwise a litter may still result.

As for side-effects:

• It's possible that the shot may bring on a case of pyometra if not administered during estrus. Pyometra is a serious infection that causes a buildup of toxic pus in the uterus. It must be treated by surgical removal, so in addition to the risk associated with the infection, there is the added risk of anesthesia, surgery and post surgical infections. Even if she survives, the bitch could never be bred again.
• The drug also seems to be linked to the onset of aplastic anemia, especially if a bitch receives more than one shot, but one shot can induce it. Aplastic anemia causes a suppression of the bone marrow's ability to produce new cells. When Estradiol Cypionate is administered during estrus, the heat cycle still continues, so it's important to make sure the bitch isn't bred again. If she is, another dose should not be administered.

The study basically concluded that Estradiol Cypionate was safest when administered only during estrus, and should not be administered during proestrus or diestrus.

So, the decision to terminate a dog pregnancy requires testing to determine which part of the cycle the bitch is currently in at the time the shot would be administered. Although estrus is the safest time, there's no way to guarantee a bitch won't suffer any of the known possible side-effects of the drug. I wish I could provide you with further statistics about just how many of the bitches that receive Estradiol Cypionate during estrus develop complications from the drug, but I wasn't able to locate more data.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this information is helpful. - posted by:Kelly

If your dogs achieved a proper tie, chances are good your female could be pregnant. A tie isn't always necessary, but it does increase the chances that enough semen was delivered for some to survive long enough to fertilize the eggs.

Typically, a female will not allow a male to breed her until about the second week of the cycle when she is about to begin releasing eggs. Before that, her vulva really hasn't softened enough for penetration.

So again, chances are in your favor that your female will produce a litter, but there's no guarantee. We have a couple of good articles that will help you learn what to watch for.

Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to ask for more advice if you need it. I encourage you to visit our new Dogs Forum where you can get more input.

Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Yes, it is true that in some situations, one female in heat will trigger the others in her vicinity to come into season. This is generally attributed to the action of pheromones. Think of pheromones as a scent system to help hormones travel. When the scent of those hormones reaches a male, it triggers a breeding response. When it reaches other females it can stimulate their own hormones to kick in. No, it doesn't always happen to all females that live together, but I suspect that depends on how powerful a particular female's pheromones are. So bottom line, it really is possible. I have three Jack Russell Terriers, and when one comes into heat, the other two are usually in heat within a week or two.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

There are a several directions you can take to get your breeding program started. Although you have a champion male, most lines are actually founded on a bitch that produces well. You can try to find a champion bitch to purchase, but what you truly need is a proven brood bitch that has produced a litter of good quality puppies - regardless of whether she is a champion. This way you have a better idea of what you're getting. There's no guarantee that an unproven bitch will ever produce a litter.

Now, finding a Welsh bitch, champion or not, is going to be a task. I suggest you go back to whoever you purchased your male from and begin your search there. Having a good breeder to mentor you is simply invaluable. It's tempting to purchase an adorable puppy, but I really do recommend you purchase an adult bitch to be better assured of her conformation. A promising puppy does not always turn out to be a good example of the breed standard.

You may also want to explore the option of offering your dog as stud to a proven bitch and taking a pick of litter back in payment. Again, I'd recommend trying to accomplish this through a breeder/mentor. If you're serious about wanting to show and produce top quality progeny, you shouldn't have trouble finding a breeder willing to work with you, especially if your dog has a very good pedigree.

That should be enough info to help you get started. I hope you'll keep us posted on how you're doing by visiting our new Dog Forum.

Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Actually, what you describe is quite normal. The typical heat cycle lasts about three weeks. The first week there is heavier bleeding that is typically quite red. The second week that bleeding lightens to a pinkish-tan, and this is generally when the female is ovulating and ready for breeding. The third week is when bleeding resumes as the female begins to go out of heat. That discharge is typically a dark, brownish red. Now it's true that some dogs discharge heavier than others. I've had dogs that you could barely tell were in season and others that you couldn't help noticing the discharge. All things considered, it sound's like you friend's Bichon is normal, so I don't believe there's anything to worry about.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info puts your mind at ease. :) - posted by:Kelly

These are great questions. Let me begin with the question about the stud. If we're just considering age, the male doesn't need to be retired unless he has developed fertility problems or a medical condition/illness. Many top studs are used even at ten years of age, albeit on a limited basis at that point.

My background is in purebred dogs, so I would also consider whether the male was producing high quality pups when mated to a high quality female. If he hasn't produced well within the first three litters, it's time to retire him and remove him from the breeding program.

Now, on to the female's retirement age. I typically suggest retiring a brood bitch at age five. At this age, the uterus begins to loose some elasticity. The female's eggs are also aging right along with her, and typically the quality of the pups is a little below what earlier litters produced. As for the sheer number of litters a female should be allowed to have, I think three is usually sufficient to secure the females genes in the breeding line. From that point, it's time to move on to breeding her progeny. I would retire her sooner if she hadn't produced show quality pups within the first two litters. I know some people breed considerably more litters from a female, but it's usually for monetary gain.

So, that's my opinion on these topics, but other breeders may tell you differently, and there is certainly a lot of debate about breeding in general. I hope my thoughts give you the guidance you need. Thanks for your questions. :) - posted by:Kelly

Technically, yes, you could breed a father and daughter together to produce a litter. Whether or not you should is another question that requires careful consideration before you make a decision.

The main argument against this type of breeding, considered an "inbreeding", is that it could produce genetic faults currently in the line by concentrating the genes for those faults. There would be a risk that one or more of the pups wouldn't be healthy or mentally stable.

An argument in favor of this type of close breeding would be a case where these two dogs were the end of a superior breeding line, and that a breeding between the two was necessary for that line to continue. There would still be risks to the potential litter's health, but those risks would be far less if the line is exceptionally healthy and free of physical faults/deformities.

Unless your dogs fall into the second category in favor of an inbreeding, it would be better to find another stud for your female that isn't so closely related to her.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

It's a little difficult to say what is "normal" because there are so many variables involved. Most heat cycles last an average of three weeks, and as long as conditions are right, a female will continue to allow breedings. This could be a sign that she was ovulating later in her cycle than originally expected. You'll want to consider her due date anytime between 63 days from the first breeding through the last. This is going to give you something of a due week instead of a due date, so be sure to keep a close eye on your dog near the end. We have an article about the Signs Of Dog Pregnancy that offers information about using your dog's temperature to predict the onset of labor. I think you'll find it very useful.

Thanks for your question, and I hope all goes well. :) - posted by:Kelly

It's difficult to say whether or not these dogs actually bred, but it's not completely out of the realm of possibility. Male pups can become fertile as early as four months old, but they are usually six months old before they are capable of coordinating an actual breeding. Still, the possibility exists and it sounds like there was some sort of activity going on, so you'll want to keep your dogs separated until your female's heat cycle is completely over. That leads me to your other question. Male dogs do not actually have a heat cycle, but they are certainly affected by a nearby female's heat cycle. This produces the same ardent desire to breed that is also witnessed in females once they reach the fertile portion of their cycle.

Hopefully your young Pug wasn't actually bred, but do be sure to watch for signs of pregnancy in the weeks after her cycle is finished. If you suspect she may actually be pregnant, it would be a good idea to have it confirmed by your vet. We have plenty of good info on the topic of dog pregnancies, so come back and visit if you need it.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope it all works out for you. Best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

Most females come back into heat about four to six months after having a litter. It really depends on how much of mom's energy the puppies sapped because that will affect how long it takes her to regain weight and recover.

As a general rule, you'll want to wait until the pups are weaned and have moved on to their new homes before you follow through with the spaying. This will allow your female to heal without the demands of the litter and possible injury to the surgical site. Your vet will also help you determine when your dog is ready to go through the procedure, so give him/her a call once the puppies are weaned to discuss the entire situation.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for the good health of the entire brood. :) - posted by:Kelly

Some females swell quite a bit during a heat cycle, but I haven't had anything quite like this happen to any of mine. I'm not a vet, but what you're describing sounds like some type of prolapse. I honestly think this is something you should have your vet take a look at, so please make that call right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright. - posted by:Kelly

It was wise of you not to pull the dogs apart when they were tied. The damage was already done and either dog could have been injured in the process. You made the right call.

You're right, dogs do not care about family relationships. Any willing male and female will mate if given the opportunity and right conditions. At eight months old, the puppy is capable of fertilization, so there is a strong chance your female will conceive a litter from this mating.

My recommendation is to call your vet and explain what happened. Your vet may want to hold off on spaying until he/she confirms whether or not your dog is pregnant. Once you find out, you'll need to make a decision on what you want to do about it. You might choose to let the litter be born and have your female fixed after the puppies have been weaned. Or, you may choose to go ahead with the spaying and remove the possible litter at the same time. Your vet will have input on this option for you. Some vets will spay a female in the early stages of pregnancy, while others prefer to wait because the increased blood flow in the uterus can sometimes increase the risk associated with the surgery.

As you can see, you'll need all of this information before you can make a decision. However, please don't feel too bad about the situation you find yourself in. It has happened to many people before, and you were just trying to be responsible by taking that puppy back into your home when the owner could no longer keep him.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope you find this information helpful. Best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

The heat cycle typically lasts about three weeks. The most fertile portion of that cycle begins around the second week because this is when the ovaries release the eggs. When to breed depends a lot on how long it takes the female's swollen vulva to soften up enough to allow the stud entry. Once a breeding takes place, the sperm can attach to the lining of the canal and wait for the eggs to mature. They can detect a chemical that signals maturity, and then they release from the wall and race to any available eggs. Sperm can live a week or more in this fashion just waiting for their moment.

Most breeders check the condition of the vulva as well as the color of the discharge to let them know when the female is ready. The discharge usually lightens to a pinkish-tan color when the female is ready.

We have a full series of articles on this topic that I think you'll find helpful.

Begin with either:

• Dogs Mating
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding

Then, just follow the link at the bottom of each article to progress to the next stage.

Thanks for you question, and I hope this information proves useful. :) - posted by:Kelly

Thanks for sharing your concern. You should bring this situation to the attention of your vet to get the most accurate advice on how to proceed. First, you'll need to determine if your dog is really pregnant. If the two dogs were running the house freely together, there's a chance you might have missed an actual breeding.

As for the hernia, it's usually safer not to breed a female that has one. The pressure from the growing abdomen can make the hernia worse, and it can be painful. Sometimes a female with a small hernia will make it through a pregnancy without a problem, but a female with a larger hernia has a higher risk of complications. Your vet can check for pregnancy with a simple blood test about three weeks after the conclusion of the heat cycle. He will also examine the size of your dog's hernia and give you an honest opinion about whether a possible pregnancy should be allowed to continue. Based on that advise, you can then make a decision about what to do next. It may be better to go ahead and have your dog spayed based on what the vet advises.

Thanks again for your question, and I hope it all turns out alright. - posted by:Kelly

A male dog's testicles should have dropped long before nine months of age. When the testicles are retained in the abdominal cavity, the higher body temperature typically prevents the production of healthy sperm, and the testicles become atrophied.

All of that said, I do doubt that your female will become pregnant from these breedings. Even more important, you should ask your vet to examine your male. Retained testicles have a strong chance of becoming cancerous as time goes on. It may be better for your vet to surgically remove the testes to prevent this possibility.

I'm so glad you asked your question, and I hope you'll call your vet about your male right away. - posted by:Kelly

It is going to require DNA testing to be sure exactly which dog is the father of each pup. This is because a stud's sperm will attach to the lining of a bitch's reproductive system and wait there for over a week if necessary until the eggs released from the ovaries send the chemical signal that they are ripe for fertilization. This means that both sires could be fathers to different pups within the same litter.

DNA testing in a situation like this can be very expensive because you need samples from both sires, as well as from each pup. However, if you plan on registering these pups with a dog club like the AKC, you'll need to have it done. The article I linked to above will give you more information on the process.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for sorting it all out. - posted by:Kelly

This is a very good question that can be answered in several ways. Some breeders prefer to wait until a female is on her second or third heat cycle before breeding her for the first time. Since you have a Husky and it will take longer for her to mature, you would want to wait at least until that third heat cycle so she would have more time to finish maturing on her own. Huskies typically finish growing by the time they are two years old, so you're going to have to use your judgement when that third heat cycle comes around. If your female appears to have stopped growing and her weight is good for her frame, it could be a good time to breed her. If she still seems immature, wait until the next cycle.

All of that said, you'll also want to make sure she's free from genetic defects before you make a firm decision to breed her. This includes having her hips checked for Canine Hip Dysplasia.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info provides you with the answers you need. Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

It's not unheard of for a female to fail to cycle until she reaches the age of two. Most vets won't even begin to address fertility issues until this age, so for right now the best thing you can do is continue to watch for signs of heat. If you have any other females cycling, be sure to keep this female with them. The pheramones often signal females to come into heat close to the same time.

There is also the possibility that your female could have had a "white" or "silent" heat. This involves very little swelling and little to no discharge. Silent heats are often infertile ones, so your studs may not have given sign around her either.

All of this said, if your female doesn't have a normal heat cycle by age two, it will be time to let your vet examine her. The vet will check her hormone levels to try to gauge where she is at in the entire cycle, and also check her reproductive organs to make sure they are normal and healthy. This will be the starting point to diagnosing whether or not there is a true fertility problem with this particular female.

Thanks for your question, and hopefully your dog will come into heat on her own in the very near future. - posted by:Kelly

The average heat cycle lasts approximately 21 days, give or take a few. The first week, the vulva swells noticeably and begins to discharge red blood. During the second week of the cycle, the fertile phase sets in. This is when the ovaries begin to release eggs for fertilization. The vulva is still enlarged, but it softens considerably. The discharge lightens to a pinkish tan color and is much harder to detect. During the third and final week, the discharge turns red again and gradually tapers off to nothing.

That said, your dog still has about a week to go until she finishes her cycle. If you'd like more information on this topic, check out the following articles.

• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Dog Heat Symptoms

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Let me set your mind at ease. There is nothing to worry about at this point. Although you bred your female on the 13th day of her heat cycle, the average heat cycle is about 21 days long. Your female will continue to bleed to some extent throughout the entire length of the cycle until it eventually fades off to nothing. This is true even if the breeding was successful and fertilization took place.

For now, just relax and see if any symptoms develop. If they do, you can ask your vet to check for pregnancy. I think you'll find our article on Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding very helpful. At the bottom of that page, you'll find a link to lead you to the next topic in that pregnancy series. You can continue to read each article to learn about the entire pregnancy process right through delivery of the puppies. I hope you find the information useful.

Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

For the most part, yes, many females do experience a bit of breast tissue development after going through their first heat cycle, and it's completely normal. This is due to the change in hormone levels they exerience. In some cases, nipple growth can also be an early sign of pregnancy or a condition referred to as "false pregnancy" where the dog develops some pregnancy symptoms without actually being pregnant. However, if you're sure your dog wasn't bred during her cycle, there is likely nothing happening to cause concern.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this information was helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

You're on track thinking the female's health is a prime consideration. Pregnancy puts stress on a dog's system, so the dog should be very healthy to begin with. Any dog that displays congential problems or apparent illness should be excluded from a breeding program.

That said, I've heard of females of all ages being bred, even a 12-year-old German Shepherd champion that had been a long-time brood. I don't agree with breeding a dog that old, but the owners did it.

Some vets believe that the uterus begins to loose some of its elasticity around five years old, and this could lead to difficulties carrying the litter or delivering the pups naturally. However, many females are bred after this age and never display any complications.

So, we come back to the issue of the female's health being the primary concern. My recommendation is to have the female in question thoroughly examined by a vet to determine if she is healthy enough to be used for breeding. If the vet gives the go ahead, feel free to proceed.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes on whatever you decide. :) - posted by:Kelly

Although I don't think there's anything to worry about, for the time being you'll just have to keep an eye on your dog and wait to see what happens. Many females come into heat about every six months, but some females only cycle once a year. This means you might not see the next heat cycle until next May. Still, sometimes it just takes the first two to three cycles for a young female to establish a regular pattern. Your female could still come into heat at any time, so keep watching for it. If she hasn't cycled again by next May, you may want to discuss the situation with your vet.

In the meantime, we have two articles on this topic you might enjoy reading for more info.

• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Dog Heat Symptoms

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out fine. :) - posted by:Kelly

These really aren't the ideal ages for these young dogs to breed because they still both have a lot of maturing to dog. However, it is very possible that this breeding will result in a litter. Males can be fertile as young as four months old, but they are seldom coordinated to complete a full breeding until at least six months old. At nine months of age, your male is quite capable of getting the job done, as evidenced by that 20 minute tie. My advice is to go ahead and prepare for a litter. You'll want to make especially sure that your female receives excellent nutrition so she can support her pups while she completes her own growth. I think you'll find the following articles very helpful, but do come back if you find you have more questions.

• Canine Gestation
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Let me address your questions one at a time.

In your first question, a female is bred by two studs of different breeds. Let's call them Stud One and Stud Two. Any eggs fertilized by Stud One will be a genetic combination of that stud and whichever breed the female is. The same thing will be true for any eggs fertilized by Stud Two. In this case, it might actually be a little easier to figure out which pup belongs to which stud just by looking at them, but it's not a sure thing.

Now, in your second question, the female is bred by two different studs that are both from the same breed. It is possible that each male could produce pups that are similar to him in type. However, it would be nearly impossible to figure out which pups belong to which stud without the aid of DNA testing.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope these answers provide the information you need. :) - posted by:Kelly

Congratulations on the litter. So far, it sounds like things are going well. It's normal for such a young first-time mother to get a little antsy, and the best thing you can to combat that is keeps things low kay and quiet around the house right now. It does sound as though your dog has bonded with the pups, and that is also very good. At this point, the less you interfere during the first two weeks the better. This sends your dog the clear message that she is responsible for the pups. If you help too much, she may get the idea that you can just take over for her.

Eight is a nice size litter for a German Shepherd, and I don't forsee a need to supplement the pups unless they aren't steadily gaining weight. Check their tummies after nursing to see if they look nicely rounded, and make sure that any smaller pups get their turn at the fullest nipples. The more the pups nurse, the more milk your dog will produce. It's that old law of supply and demand in action.

What you can do to help ensure adequate milk production is make sure you dog has plenty of high quality food available to her at all times. Let her eat as much as she wants because she'll use it for her own recovery as well as feeding the pups. You can also add a little cottage cheese to her diet once a day; about two tablespoons should be sufficient to provide additional calcium.

Continue to watch the puppies' weight. Slow gains are good, but you don't want to see anyone lose weight at this point. A little weight loss usually comes later when the pups are weaning to puppy kibble.

For now, that's about it. Be sure to check out other articles on the site for more helpful info, and come back and visit us again if you have more questions. :) - posted by:Kelly

Congratulations on the new litter. For now, the best thing you can do is support mom in caring for the pups. Keep the whelping box as clean as possible, but don't use any chemical cleaners that might harm the pups. Also limit handling of the pups to just yourself and your dog. Don't allow any other dogs near the litter until they are at least five weeks hold and their immune systems are slightly stronger.

As for feeding, allow your dog to eat as much as she wants right now. She needs to replenish her own resources as well as make milk for the pups. It is a little troubling that she doesn't seem to want to drink because that could lead to dehydration. Make sure the water is very fresh, and you can also soak her dog food to get a little more liquid into her. You can also offer her low sodium chicken broth to entice her. If she doesn't begin bouncing back in a day or so, it would be a good idea to let your vet examine her to determine if she has a post delivery infection.

Finally, make sure your dog is cleaning the pups in order to stimulate bowel movements. This is very important because the pups have trouble going on their own until they are a little older.

That's about it for now. Of course, you'll want to take the litter in for their first vaccinations and basic health check at six weeks old. Be sure to make the appointment ahead of time so the shots won't be delayed.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy litter, and thanks for visiting the site. :) - posted by:Kelly

Yes, making sure the pups go to good homes is an awesome responsibility, and it can be very hard to say good-bye when the time comes. However, it's a good sign that you truly cared about them. Many breeders feel this same way.

From the May birth, it has only been about four months since your dog has delivered. Some females will come into heat again around this time, while others will take a few additional months to get back into the cycle. That said, there are the rare females that go back into a heat cycle very quickly after delivery. Thankfully, these dogs are the exception rather than the rule. All of that said, Dog Heat Symptoms would still be the same at this time as any other. Swelling of the vulva, discharge and interest from your male would be the most likely indicators that your female was in heat again.

If you never saw any breeding activity, it's probably not likely that your dog is pregnant. She may just be regaining her figure after being drained by the demands of the litter. Keep in mind that her breasts will retain the "nursing" look for some time to come, and this might be contributing to her pregnant appearance at this time. However, if you feel her body change is truly significant, it would be a good idea to have her examined by your vet. The vet can check her hormone levels with a simple blood test that would reveal a pregnancy. The vet will also feel her uterus and let you know if there is anything unusual about it. If all is well, you can take the opportunity to discuss the possibility of having her spayed.

Thanks for this question, and I hope you find the info helpful to your situation. :)

- posted by:Kelly

The answer to your question really depends on how far through the cycle your dog actually is. There is a point in the middle, typically during the second week, where the dripping is almost non-existent. The red blood lightens to a tannish-pink discharge, and the vulva becomes very soft. This is the fertile period where breedings typically take place. Around the beginning of the third week, the bleeding resumes but tapers off over the course of the week until the cycle has ended.

So, if you know whether this is your pet's second or third week in the cycle, that will tell you if it's likely too late for a successful breeding. If you're not sure, you can let the stud try to breed her and see if she is willing to cooperate. Sometimes a breeding late in the cycle will still produce a small litter, so it's worth a try.

For more info on this topic, check out:

• Dog Heat Symptoms
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding

I think you'll find both articles helpful. Thanks for your question, and good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

This is something I really wouldn't recommend. Although I know of some professional breeders that will breed a female on back to back seasons, I don't know of any reputable breeder who will go for three litters in a row from the same female.

Each litter draws on the female's own resources for their development, and it takes a while for mom to recover the nutrients and minerals lost. If she goes back into litter production without a significant rest, the next litter may dip into her personal reserves. This could mean drawing calcium from her own bones to supply puppy bone production and milk. A third litter in a row can complicate matters even further.

As you can see, it might be possible for a female to produce three litters in a row, but it's really not healthy for her. I would actually recommend a year's rest after having two litters in a row.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

There is no easy answer to this question because conditions vary from one female to the next. Most typically, a female will stay on her regular schedule. This means that if she normally comes into heat every six months, she'll have her next heat cycle about four months after the pups are born.

That said, the amount of stress caused by raising the litter can sometimes delay the heat cycle a bit until the female has regained full health and condition. This means it might take as long as six months from the time the litter was born before the next heat cycle commences.

As for your female that your males are already showing interest in, I'd keep a very close eye on her. There are exceptions to every rule, and there have been cases of females that came back into season very soon after whelping a litter. It would not be good for your female to go straight back into litter production before she's had time to fully recover from the physical demands of the previous litter. It might also be a good idea to consult your vet about what's going on, and definitely let him know if you see signs of bleeding. Renewed bleeding this soon after whelping might also indicate a problem with the uterus, so better to be on the safe side.

Thanks for your question, and for visiting the site. :) - posted by:Kelly

Yes, it's difficult to track the heat cycles of a female that keeps herself scrupulously clean. You female also may have extremely light flow in the bargain.

In our article Dog Heat Symptoms you'll find a number of other indications your dog may be in heat. Check each sign carefully against your dog to see if you can detect any similarities.

That said, your vet can also check for the heat cycle by performing a blood test to reveal the hormone levels. It may also be possible to take vaginal smears for more info. This can get expensive, so unless you plan to use your dog for breeding, it may be easier to simply have her spayed and be finshed with the cycles altogether.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

Whether your dog is bleeding too much really depends on your idea of what is a lot. Some females release so little blood discharge during the course of a heat cycle that you might not realize they are in season. Others leave spots and small puddles everywhere.

Generally speaking, most females leave spots anywhere from the size of a dime to a fifty-cent piece. If your female discharges more than this, it might be wise to consult your vet.

There really isn't a way to prevent bleeding during a heat cycle other than having a dog spayed to stop the cycles altogether. That said, you can try putting a pair of doggie britches on your female to catch the blood discharge and prevent it from staining your floors and furniture. You can find these garments at many pet supply stores, and they are easy to use. They strap around your dog's rear end and secure with snaps. The section that covers the vulva contains a small slot to insert tiny doggie pads or folded tissue. Just remember that you need to remove the britches every time you take your dog out to exercise.

I hope that this information helps you. You might also want to read our article on Dog Heat Symptoms to gain a better understanding of the entire heat cycle process. This should also help you judge whether your pet's cycle is normal.

Thanks for your questions and for visiting the site. :) - posted by:Kelly

Unfortunately it is very possible that the Boxer male bred your Boerboele bitch. If this happened, your female could produce pups by him. The added complication is that some of her eggs could also have been fertilized by the Boerboele male, so she could have a litter with pups from both males. You would need to perform DNA tests on all the parents and pups involved to sort out which pup belongs to which male. This would be an expensive undertaking, but it's really the most reliable way to sort things out.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Actually, what you're describing qualifies as a line breeding since these dogs don't have both parents in common. This type of line breeding can be useful in establishing breed type when both dogs are good specimens according to the AKC standard and neither one has a serious fault. You may want to try to find out if there are any genetic diseases inherent in the line before you breed them again, but basically what you're doing is alright.

I would only consider it necessary to tell potential buyers about an inbreeding, but there's no reason to conceal a line breeding. In fact, line breeding is usually considered desirable.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck with the litter. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, cryptorchidism is believed to be hereditary. It is caused by a recessive gene, so it takes a recessive from both parents to produce the condition in an affected male.

For our visitors who aren't familiar with the term, cryptorchidism is a condition in which a dog has two testicles, but one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. Unitlateral cryptorchidism involves just one testicle failing to descend, while a bilateral case involves the failure of both testicles to descend. A similar condition called monorchidism refers to the fact that a male has only one testicle rather than two. Both cryptorchidism and monorchidism can affect a male's fertility. For this reason, it's best to exclude the dog from a breeding program so the fault is not perpetuated to further generations.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

It's sounds as though you have a bit of a situation on your hands. Here's what I advise.

• First, call your vet to discuss the entire situation. You don't mention exactly how old your female is, but it sounds as though she is still a puppy herself. This could make the pregnancy and delivery a little tougher on her. It would be best to let your vet examine her and decide what to do from there.
• Now, let's talk about the pups. If there are no significant health problems in the dogs' line, there's a good chance these inbred pups won't be adversely affected. However, you'll want to have your vet assess the litter to make sure everyone is physically and mentally sound before you consider sending them to new homes. As a breeder myself, I feel it's important to fully disclose the fact that the pups are inbred to anyone who considers taking one. This is important for people to know in case health problems do crop up in the future. For this same reason, I wouldn't ask to be paid for the pups, just give them away as long as all parties involved understand the circumstances and agree to them.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope everything works out for the best.

- posted by:Kelly

Typically, frozen tissue that turns black is frostbitten. This tissue usually doesn't regenerate, so there's a possibility that the testicles weren't truly frozen. That said, the vet must be the one to assess this dog's reproductive health. This could be accomplished by a physical examination as well as taking a sperm sample. The vet would check the count and motility of the sperm to determine the likelihood that your friends' dog could fertilize a female. From there, your friends and their neighbors can decide how to proceed if the female is truly pregnant.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the situation works out. - posted by:Kelly

There's no reason to feel bad. You were careful about the situation, and the dogs no longer seemed interested in each other. Sometimes these things just happen. The entire heat cycle lasts about three weeks, so I usually recommend keeping the dog completely separated until then. Luckily, the breeding was between the pair you want to breed eventually.

At 17 months old, your female is old enough to breed and really shouldn't have any special problems delivering due to her age. Feed her a balanced diet, take her for a daily walk around the neighborhood to help her stay toned and all should be well.

I have a couple of articles I think you'll find helpful if this breeding does indeed produce a pregnancy.

• Canine Gestation
• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question, and I hope you feel better about the situation now. Best wishes for a healthy litter.

- posted by:Kelly

It is possible that the hair loss you're witnessing is due to the recent litter of pups. Many females blow coat after a pregnancy. This is in part due to the hormone flux, but it's also a sign that your dog's personal resources are being depleted by the pups' demand for milk.

At five weeks old, it's time to start early weaning by introducing the pups to loose solids. First, you must teach them to lap water so you can be reasonably sure they won't choke when you begin with the solids. Use a very low rim dish and fill it with water. One by one, introduce each pup to the water and encourage it to lick a bit from your fingertip. Next, coax the pup to lick your fingers right out of the dish. You should eventually be able to remove your hand completely and let the pup lap on its own.

Once the puppies appear able to lap, I usually switch to a formula consisting of high protein baby cereal mixed with a little ground up puppy kibble. Just combine two parts cereal with one part ground kibble, and add enough warm water to make a runny oatmeal mix. Teach the pups to lap this mixture just as you did the water. It's usually easier to get them to take their formula because they like the taste. Feeding time is messy, but mom is usually willing to clean up the pups afterward. You can also allow mom to finish off any leftover formula.

Allow the pups to continue nursing while you are getting them used to the formula. Also begin keeping fresh water on hand for them in a shallow dish. As the pups become good at cleaning up their formula, you can gradually increase the amount of ground kibble and reduce the protein baby cereal. You can also gradually thicken the mix to a paste. Eventually it will become time to introduce the puppy kibble whole, but you can soak it in warm water to soften it a bit.

During this entire process, begin giving you dog some time on her own away from the pups. She will eventually become used to this, and it gives her time away from nursing. This should encourage the pups to eat more on their own and become less dependent on mom. Her milk production will reduce gradually, leading to less complications with overly full breasts. The pups should be fully weaned around seven to eight weeks old.

Once your female is no longer nursing, all of her nutrition will go back into her own needs and you should see her coat begin to fill in and her weight increase back to normal. Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this advice helpful. - posted by:Kelly

A pregnancy blood test is the simplest way to confirm whether or not the bitch in question is pregnant. If she had previously been palpated by a vet, the vet might have missed feeling an embryo or two if it was tucked high up in the uterine horn. The blood test will confirm whatever is going on. Whoever takes the bitch in should be prepared to pay for the test.

Next item, the stud fee. I don't know what kind of arrangement you made with your friend, but let me tell you how breeders typically handle things. The stud fee is usually paid at the time of the breeding. It is paid in consideration of the work done by the stud, and is typically not refundable. It is up to the stud and bitch owners to discuss any terms (typically referred to as a breeding contract) before the breeding takes place to agree on which responsibilities each of them has in various situations. Typically, a stud owner will guarantee the female will have at least one live birth, and be willing to repeat the breeding one more time at no extra charge if she doesn't. Some stud owners do agree to return the fee if the bitch doesn't take, but this happens less frequently.

Although I'm not a lawyer, I do know that a judge would try to ascertain whether there was a meeting of the minds regarding the terms set for the breeding in order to determine whether the two of you had a verbal contract regarding payment of the stud fee.

Where you go from here depends on whether the bitch is actually pregnant and whether you received the stud fee at time of service. All of that said, you should also take into consideration how important this friendship is to you. The current situation with the dogs could put the relationship in jeopardy, so consider your actions carefully before making any decisions. Will the money really be worth sacrificing a friendship?

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out for the best. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, your female is really too young to go through a pregnancy, but sometimes accidents happen. The age a female is considered mature enough to breed varies according to size. Smaller breeds usually reach physical maturity between 12 and fifteen months old. Medium breeds are usually considered mature between 15 and 18 months old, while large breeds like Rottweilers are usually considered mature between 18 to 24 months old. As you can see, your puppy is extremely young to be supporting a litter at her age.

My advice is to consult your vet and ask him/her to perform a blood test for pregnancy. This way you'll know exactly what you're dealing with. If your female is pregnant, the vet will assess her overall health and ability to carry the litter. You'll also likely receive advice on proper nutrition to help keep your female from depleting her own resources that she still needs to complete her own growth.

Although this is not the ideal situation, there's still a good chance that everything will work out alright. Thanks for your question, and best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

I definitely think you should consult your vet about the situation and see what he/she advises about terminating a possible litter. The Pit is considerably larger, so the size of any potential pups belonging to him could be difficult for your female to deliver. And yes, any litter resulting from these breedings could contain puppies from both males since it just depends on which dog's sperm fertilizes each of the eggs your female produces.

I also think you might want to consider having your Pitbull neutered so there's no chance that this could happen again. It would mean a lot less worry for you in the long run.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things turn out alright. - posted by:Kelly

It sounds as though your bitch's vulva had softened enough to allow the male entry, so if she wasn't quite fertile the day of the breeding, she probably began releasing eggs shortly afterward. The good new is that it's highly possible your bitch will become pregnant from this breeding. Once the sperm have been delivered, they can live on to fertilize any eggs coming down for the next several days. Of further interest, the male sperm tend to die off quicker than the female sperm, so it's possible that a slightly early breeding such as this could produce more female pups than males.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you'll be hearing the pitter-patter of little paws in the near future. :) - posted by:Kelly

This is an interesting question. In any mating, it is the female that determines how many pups there will be, while the male determines the sex of each pup. Dachshunds and Min Pins tend to have four pups on average, but this varies from line to line. Do you know how many pups were in the litter your female came from? This might be a good indication of what she is capable of producing. However, we need to keep in mind that a lot depends on the timing of the breeding. If a breeding occurred just before your female began to release eggs, there would be optimum chance for fertilization. If the breeding took place after the female began releasing eggs, the litter size would likely be smaller.

To get an idea of how many pups might be in this particular litter, schedule a vet appointment for the 28th day after the first breeding so your vet can palpate the uterus. The embryos would be the size of peas at this time, so your vet could count as many as he/she is able to feel.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that the pregnancy and the delivery go well. - posted by:Kelly

In my opinion, it isn't wise to breed related dogs quite this closely, but sometimes it happens by accident when siblings live together. This is what we refer to as an inbreeding. An inbreeding has the potential to produce any genetic problems that might be in the line because you are doubling up on the parent's genetics.

Sometimes an inbreeding produces pups that display no health/mental problems at all. Other times the pups may be slow or have other defects. Since this was definitely an inbreeding, I would insist the breeder provide you with a written health guarantee against all genetic defects that assures you'll receive the purchase price back if your puppy does turn out to have problems. You might also be able to negotiate a trip to your vet for a thorough examination before you agree to purchase the pup. If the pup is healthy, you'd want to assume the cost of the office call. If not, you'd want the breeder to reimburse you.

That's my opinion on the subject, but I do hope things work out for you. It is very possible that this pup is healthy, so don't become discouraged until you're able to get more information about her. Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

It actually sounds like there are a number of issues going on here, so let me address them one by one and give you a few alternatives.

First, correct me if I'm wrong, but both of these dogs are inexperienced breeders, right? Breedings between virgin partners are notoriously awkward. It is usually best to begin a breeding career by pairing the inexperienced dog with a partner that has bred before. This usually results in getting the job done with a minimum of fuss, and makes future breedings easier for all concerned. In this scenario, I'd advise breeding your female to a veteran stud this first time, and using your own male for her next litter. You may even be able to work out an agreement with the stud owner to trade services and break in your inexperienced male on an experienced brood bitch.

Second issue, although your bitch may seem somewhat receptive to the male, it doesn't sound like she is quite ready yet. Your dog may have difficulty penetrating her if her vulva hasn't softened up sufficiently. This could change over the next couple of days, so you can keep trying.

Issue three, the size difference can make achieving a full breeding a bit more difficult. The shorter partner can be placed on a platform to increase height. This could be a heavy book, a small box or some other sturdy object that won't shift during the breeding. Once you equal out the height, it's usually easier for the breeding to proceed.

Finally, it does sound as though your male is wearing himself out trying. I would limit the sessions to about 15 minutes each. If he hasn't successfully tied to her by then, separate the dogs so they don't become exhausted.

I hope I have given you enough options to help you carry out a successful breeding one way or another. Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Wow, six after all, congratulations! That's a good sized litter for a Bichon, so your dog's reluctance to eat could complicate matters a bit. It's perfectly alright to offer Tara human foods, but be sure follow your vet's recommendations about the colitis issue because you don't want to aggravate it.

Many bitches don't go into full milk production until after nursing the puppies for a few days, but that nursing does stimulate production, and the body will naturally ramp up the supply to meet the demand. Right now, it's an excellent sign that the pups are only feeding from mom and still gaining weight. For now, I wouldn't begin supplementation just yet because your bitch may begin to produce less milk if there isn't as great a demand. Keep weighing the pups and look for small but continuous progress. This is a sign that all is well.

I realize your dog is picky about what she'll eat, but I typically recommend boiled chicken or ground beef with brown rice as a basic starter diet for finicky eaters. Since Tara could benefit from more calcium at this point, you could offer plain yogurt and/or cottage cheese mixed in with her food as a natural replacement for the calcium pills. If she likes these foods, she may eat more of what's in her bowl.

You can always supplement the pups if they begin to lose weight, but let's see what Tara can do on her own. Because of the circumstances, you may want to consider the possibility of early weaning to lessen Tara's wear and tear. You can offer the pups a loose mix of Gerber high protein baby cereal at the age of four weeks. This will teach them to lap from a bowl. Once they are readily eating this mix once a day, you can gradually thicken the mix. From there, I grind down puppy food in a blender and begin adding it to the cereal, eventually working to a full moistened puppy food mix without the cereal. Always keep fresh water available in a shallow bowl so the pups learn to drink this too.

Hopefully these suggestions will help Tara begin eating better and continue to feed the puppies on her own at least through the first three weeks. The pups are receiving important immunities from mom during this period that sustain them until their own immune systems are operating well enough to provide them with some protection.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck with everything! - posted by:Kelly

Breeding dogs by obtaining semen from the stud dog and chilling it to extend its life through shipping is gaining popularity among dog breeders. It certainly opens up a wider selection of studs because it is far easier than shipping a bitch to be bred or transporting her to the stud yourself.

The process isn't too complicated. Any vet that is familiar with the artificial insemination process can collect the semen from the stud dog in a sterile container. The semen is then chilled and held at the ideal temperature until it is delivered to the vet who will use it to inseminate the bitch.

Statistics show that it's easier to obtain healthy, viable semen from studs between the ages of two to four years old. The vet should collect an initial specimen to examine for any abnormalities that might interfere with fertility. Once viability has been established, it's important to chill this first sample to see how well the sperm survive the process. Each case is unique, and not every dog's semen will be suitable for chilling.

As you can see, it's better to prepare for this type of breeding well in advance of the bitch's expected heat cycle. If all goes well, a fresh sample can be collected just prior to breeding.

Thanks for a very interesting question, and best of luck with your endeavor. - posted by:Kelly

I've always watched the signals my bitch was sending in order to determine when she was ready for breeding. You should notice the vulva begin to soften after the initial swelling. Your bitch may also begin flirting and flagging her tail. Run your hand down her back from the back of her neck to her rump. Does she push up a little at the end? if so, she's probably just about ready for breeding.

I also depend on the color of the discharge to let me know when a bitch is fertile. During the fertile phase, the discharge lightens from red to pinkish tan. When I see this color, I test the bitch with the stud, and a breeding usually commences.

Thanks for your questions and good luck with the breeding. - posted by:Kelly

Right now, it's very important to follow any instructions your vet gave you about administering medication for your dog's infection. This should help her recover from the infection as quickly as possible.

As for her heat cycle, the main thing you want to do is take every precaution that she isn't bred by a male. This means staying with her when she's exercising outside, and making sure she doesn't charge out the door if you open it. As for the dripping that necessarily comes with being in season, there are a couple ways of dealing with this. You can purchase a pair of "doggie britches" that fit over her tail and rear. There's a pocket to insert a small pad or folded tissue to absorb the drippings. Just make sure to remove the britches before she goes outside to potty.

Some dogs find the britches irritating and chew through the straps, so I have an alternative suggestion that has worked well for me. Purchase three to four pairs of cotton training pants for small children. You may have trouble finding them these days, but your better department stores or a Carter's outlet may still carry them. All you need do is cut a slit for your dog's tale to fit through and you have a far more comfortable pair of britches for her. You can put a clean pair on her while the soiled one is being washed. I suppose you could try this with a disposable trainer found at most grocery stores, but your dog may find the material very easy to chew through. If you do choose this route, let me know how well the disposables work.

Thanks for your questions, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Most bitches come into their first heat cycle between six months and one year old. Once she has her second heat cycle you'll be able to judge what her future heat cycle pattern will be.

It's important that you do not allow the male dog to breed your bitch on the first heat cycle if she is less than a year old. My best advice would be to not breed a Chow before it was at least 18 months old. This way she should be mature enough to handle a litter.

I think you find our article on Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding very helpful.

Best wishes with your new dogs. - posted by:Kelly

It is fine to breed a 13-month old Shih Tzu bitch as long as she has good body for her frame size. Smaller breeds finish growing quicker than larger breeds, so you can breed them sooner, as long as the animal is in good condition.

I have heard of breeders that do back to back breedings on two seasons in a row, but I don't think this is necessary or beneficial for the bitch. Each litter depletes the mother's resources, and she needs adequate recovery time between litters.

That's my personal opinion, although I know some very famous breeders that would argue breeding a bitch two to three times in a row to several chosen studs and then spaying her. Their argument is that the bitch is already in "breeding mode", so why not get the litters you planned and then retire the brood instead of dragging the process out over a period of years. I believe it is better to give the bitch a well deserved rest between breedings.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

You should discuss this with your vet, but yes, there is something you can try to bring your bitch into heat.

Dog heat cycles are governed by hormones, some keep the dog from coming into heat, others signal the heat cycle to begin. Some vets are willing to administer a shot of cabergoline to induce the heat cycle to begin. It's not a sure thing, but it may help. You should also know that some vets recommend skipping breeding on this cycle, and breeding on the following cycle. Typically, once that first cycle has been triggered, the dog will continue to cycle on a normal schedule.

There's also a small possibility that you bitch may have had what we call a silent heat. With a silent heat there is almost no sign that the bitch is cycling. Sometimes even the stud dog isn't sure. I'd advise you to have your vet give your bitch a thorough check up to make sure everything is in order before opting for the injection.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything works out for you. - posted by:Kelly

My hunch is that your bitch is just exhausted after her big romantic weekend. She'll likely begin to act normal in another day.

I think you'll also find our article on Signs Of Dog Pregnancy quite useful.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Due to the popularity of this column, we need to roll questions off into corresponding categories sooner than we would like. However, you will find your answer by going to the bottom of this page and clicking on the "Breeding Dogs Questions" category. At the time of this writing, you are the third question from the top. - posted by:Kelly

Some bitches bleed heavier than others when in heat, but on average, it is far less than women experience in the average monthly cycle. When using doggie britches on a bitch in heat, I will typically need to change the tissue inside about three times a day.

You might like to read our article about Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding for even more information. If you decide dealing with heat cycles is not worth the trouble, you might consider having your bitch spayed once she reaches six months old. That way you'll also never have to worry about an unwanted litter.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

First and foremost, don't buy a dog yet. You have a lot of studying to do before you can evaluate whether a bitch is worthy of breeding. You should also take stock of exactly why you want to breed. Good dog breeders don't make a lot of money because they make sure every pup, as well as the breeding stock, receives the best housing and nutrition, as well as necessary medical care and testing for inherited diseases. It's a labor of love, and money is not the biggest reward.

Next, think about the pups you're likely to produce. Will you be able to find homes for each one? Are you willing and able to provide a home for every pup you're unable to place? There are thousands, if not millions of dogs in shelters as we speak, so this is an important thing to consider before increasing the canine population.

If you're still sure you want to breed, you'll need to do some research to find just the right breed for you. We have a number of articles in our Dog Breeds category that may give you some direction. Once you settle on a breed, you'll need to begin visiting breeders. This is a great way to really see if you'd like living with a particular breed, and you may even find a breeder willing to mentor you. This is absolutely the best way to learn if you are able to connect with a responsible breeder.

All of that said, here are some articles about dog breeding that you should find useful. Your library is also a great resource for finding books on the topic that have the room to go into greater depth than we can in a single article.

• Dog Breeders
• Dog Breeding
• Pet Shops and Puppy Mills
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

Well, you have your work cut out for you, but I wish you well. Being involved in dogs has enriched my life in many ways, and I can't imagine living without one. - posted by:Kelly

The typical heat cycle lasts about three weeks, give or take a couple of days. I have a few articles that I think you'll find helpful.

• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Female Dog Heat Cycle
• What Influences Heat Cycles

At thirteen weeks old, you've got at least a couple more months before your puppy has her first cycle, and she may even wait until she about one year old before her cycles begin.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your new puppy. - posted by:Kelly

I originally found your question yesterday at Female Dog Heat Cycle and answered it there. Thanks! - posted by:Kelly

I too remember hearing that old wives tale that a bitch should have a litter to help her avoid uterine disease later in life. None of the information you have been given is correct. As long as a bitch still has her uterus, she can contract any of the uterine diseases, including pyometra and cancers. Breeding doesn't make a bit of difference. My best suggestion is to have your female spayed and then you'll never have to worry about it.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Where there's a will there's a way, although it would seem very difficult for your male to have bred with your bitch. Was you female in season about a month or so ago? She had to have been in heat to become pregnant. If she was, she may actually be pregnant, however she may not. Some bitches experience a false pregnancy after a heat cycle, and it seems like the real thing. Eventually the signs go away and the bitch returns to normal.

If you really want to know whether she could possibly be pregnant, I suggest you ask your vet to perform an ultrasound on her.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright. - posted by:Kelly

The typical heat cycle lasts for three weeks. You may not have realized exactly when she started or finished.

When did you actually notice your dog was in season? If it was at the beginning of the month, she should be completely finished and no longer at risk of becoming pregnant. If she began at the very end of December, she might still be susceptible. In that case, the answer would really depend on how soon you plan on leaving.

Rest assured that if your dog is actually out of season, she cannot become pregnant. Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

It is unusual that your dog is having her first heat cycle at two years old. Couple that with the type of bleeding your describing, and there could be a more serious problem going on.

I think that given the circumstances, you should have your vet examine her right away. This could be a burst cyst on her ovaries. And, yes, it could turn out to simply be a heat cycle, but considering her history, it would be better to find out for sure.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that all goes well. - posted by:Kelly

How long was your bitch's season? The typical heat cycle lasts for three weeks, but there is very little blood discharge during the second/fertile week. Some dog owners mistake this for the end of the heat cycle, so this is why I'm asking.

Yes, your dog could have been bred, but that alone wouldn't make it difficult for her to urinate. I have also never seen a maiden bitch bleed to the extent you are discribing after the first mating.

All things considered, I really think you ought to take your bitch to the vet for an examination to make sure she didn't suffer some other type of trauma while she was out.

Best wishes that things turn out alright. - posted by:Kelly

I wouldn't have her checked until your first bitch has had her second season and this bitch hasn't had her first. There can still be variation in cycles even between litter mates.

That said, one bitch in season does tend to bring others in, so keep a close on your second bitch. I currently have two young Jack Russell bitches. One is having her first season at nine months old, but her litter sister isn't really showing any signs herself. I too am watching for signs on the second bitch, although we don't intend to breed them and plan to have them spayed in the near future.

Thanks for your question, and don't be worried just yet. - posted by:Kelly

It's entirely possible for this to happen, although I believe breeders prefer to have solid-colored dogs with good pigment as a rule.

If you have any doubts about the puppies' parentage, you might consider having a Dog DNA Test performed on any suspect pups. This test should reveal the genetic breed makeup, and I do believe Labrador Retrievers are one of the breeds on the identifiable list.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

There's definitely a possibility that you not only have witnessed the breeding, but that your dog is also pregnant. The typical heat cycle lasts for about three weeks. The first week there is swelling and bloody discharge, the second week the discharge lightens up and the dog becomes receptive and fertile. The third week bleeding resumes and tapers off to finish.

I have a few articles I think you'll find helpful.

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Personally I never breed any bitch past five years of age, and if she hasn't ever been bred before, I wouldn't start past five either.

As a bitch ages, her uterus begins to lose elasticity, so this is no longer the ideal environment for the pups, and it could cause complications during the pregnancy or the birth. Some people may tell you differently, but this is my own opinion based on 25 years of breeding dogs.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Well, it sounds as if a real breeding did take place, so right now you have a 50/50 chance of getting a litter. During the breeding, it's very important to keep the bitch still once the tie has occurred. Both dogs can be injured from the pulling, however, it doesn't sound as if there was a major problem.

The liquid you saw spill out was more likely to be excess semen than urine, but that doesn't mean there wasn't enough left inside to do the job. The good news is that the sperm live for several days after the breeding, so if your bitch wasn't quite releasing eggs on Sunday, fertilization still could have taken place in the following few days.

I still remember the first litter I ever bred, and I envy your excitement. I recommend you read the following articles. They are filled with information I think you'll find useful.

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

Best of luck, and be sure to let us know what your vet says. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, it really sounds like you took her very early. Most bitches aren't ready to breed until perhaps day ten or twelve. More than a certain number day, you're going to look for physical signs of her readiness.

I'd like you to read two of our articles on this topic:

• Female Dog Heat Cycle
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding

I think these articles will tell you what you need to know, but don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions.

Thanks, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

I wouldn't worry too much. Spaying is a fairly routine procedure and I've had several bitches spayed myself. If she is pregnant, it is very early, so there shouldn't be any real complications. I think things should work out fine. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, there are products you can use to delay your bitch's season, but they are not easy to use with any great accuracy, and they can produce some concerning side effects. I recommend you read our article on Birth Control Pills for Dogs. If you're still interested in either of these medications, it would be a good next step to discuss them with your vet and get a professional opinion about their safety and efficacy.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your search. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, there's a possibility your bitch could become pregnant as a result of this breeding. That said, some bitches that come in on a quarterly cycle are not fertile during every heat. So, right now you're looking at a 50/50 proposition.

I suggest you take your bitch in to the vet for an ultrasound around 21 days. This should tell you what's going on and what to expect.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

It would require a Dog DNA Test to sort out the litter, and you would need samples from your dog, the other stud and all the puppies. Unfortuantely, this could be a very expensive undertaking, but it is the only sure way to tell who belongs to who.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Some panting is normal in a post delivery situation, however, the fact that your dog is refusing food and water is not good, and it may indicate a fever and uterine infection.

It's very important that you take your bitch to the vet for an examination right away. Dehydration will set in quickly and you could wind up losing her and the pups.

Thank you for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright. - posted by:Kelly

Is this also the male's first breeding? It kind of sounds like he is inexperienced and is pulling out because he's frightened by the sensation of being trapped when they begin to tie.

Although a tie is always good to help ensure a breeding, it isn't truly necessary for fertilization to take place. This means that your bitch could become pregnant if any of the sperm was delivered inside the canal.

If your bitch is still receptive, you might want to enlist a second person to stay with your bitch at her head while you help your dog manage at the rear. You will want to make sure that he has truly entered her and is not just humping against her. Otherwise, the sperm is not getting where it needs to go.

Best of luck with the breeding, and let us know if things work out. - posted by:Kelly

No, it's not necessarily too late. Some bitches don't become fertile until as late as days 15-17, so continue to introduce the male to see if she accepts him.

On the other hand, her heat cycle may have been so light in the beginning that you may not be working with the correct start date. That would completely affect the timing.

I'd also like to ask how old your bitch is, and if she's ever been bred before. Some first time bitches can be quite skittish. The male's level of experience also comes into play.

Hopefully you'll be able to get your dogs together, but if not, there's always the next season. Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, there is a Dog DNA Test you can use to determine which dogs the puppies belong to. The downside is that you will need to enough tests for each of the pups, as well as both males involved. You will also need your neighbor's permission to test his male. This will be expensive, but it's the only way to be sure which pup belongs to which dad. And yes, a litter can have multiple sires.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things turn out the way you want them too. - posted by:Kelly

It's always nice to get a tie, but it's not essential to ensure a mating results in a litter. That said, there's a 50/50 chance that your dog really is pregnant.

I suggest you take your dog to the vet for an ultrasound. This will reveal any pups if present, and then you'll know exactly what your dealing with. Your vet can also examine the mucous discharge, because while it may not be cause for real concern, there's also a chance it could be related to an infection caused by the breeding. It would be good to know, one way or the other.

Best of luck! - posted by:Kelly