Questions About Dog Breeding and Pregnancy

Questions about dog breeding and pregnancy are common here at LoveToKnow. Read about these visitors' dilemmas.

I think my dog might be pregnant. She and my male were together, but I didn't think she was in heat. Her appetite has dropped, and she sleeps a lot. It has been eight weeks since she may have been bred. Her nipples are crusty like they may be leaking, but she doesn't seem much fatter.

Could she be pregnant?

~~ Susan

Expert Reply

Hi Susan,

Although I can't confirm if your dog is pregnant, there could be a couple of things going on.

First, if your bitch was actually bred then she would be due anytime. I'd prepare a place for her to have the pups just in case, and keep a very close eye on her. If she just has one or two pups tucked up under the ribs, then she might not look significantly bigger, but this would depend a lot on her size and breed.

Second, there's a possibility that she's going through a false pregnancy. She would display the symptoms that you're seeing, but if this is the case she'll get over it naturally and there's nothing you need to do.

Watch her carefully, and check back with me if you need more help.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly

I have a seven-year-old Shih Tzu that was given to me a year ago. She's healthy, and I don't really have much problem with her, but she hasn't had any pups. I'm kind of worried that she's infertile or sterile. Can she still get pregnant in her age?

Thanks~~ Berry

Expert Reply

Hi Berry,

If you've bred her and she hasn't taken, it may actually be a good thing. I gather from the info you provided that she has never had a litter, so what I say next is based on that assumption.

I am a former Shih Tzu breeder and as a rule I never bred a bitch past five years old. After this age, the uterus begins to lose its elasticity, and pregnancies can present greater chances for complication. For this same reason, I would never breed a seven-year-old bitch for the first time.

My recommendation is to enjoy your Shih Tzu just for her own charms; then if you're seriously interested in breeding, purchase a young healthy bitch from a breeder willing to be your mentor.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly

I would like to know how soon I should see milk coming from my three-year-old Rolttweiler's nipples. She is approximatley 21 days pregnant and we check them everyday like we did her mother's. Her mother's milk came in very early and we were wondering how soon to expect milk to be produced and visible.

I am positive that she is pregnant due to the fact that I was there when she and the male were tied after mating. We have also noticed that her appetite and her activity level have changed dramatically, and her behavior is different.

Thanks~~ Heather

Expert Reply

Hi Heather,

I'm going to recommend that you quit checking your bitch's nipples because it's really not necessary and you could actually make them sore. She will probably begin producing colostrum about a week or so before the birth, and then her true milk will come in within a few days once the nursing stimulates her milk flow.

That said, it never hurts to be prepared, so feel free to buy a can of puppy formula and a nursing bottle.

Even a witnessed mating does not always result in a litter, but if you'd like to be sure you could ask your vet to palpate your bitch on her 28 day of pregnancy. This is the best time to feel the pea-sized nodes in the uterine horns. After 28 days, the horns swell and the pups become difficult to detect until they are considerably larger.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy mom and litter.

~~Kelly

I have a female English Setter who is in season, and I wish to breed her to a male Setter that I own. The problem is the last time she was in season she did not let him breed her during the whole heat. He definitely wanted to, but she was not receptive.

Is there something that should be done during this heat cycle?

Thanks~~ Joe

Expert Reply

Hi Joe,

I'm guessing your bitch has never been bred before. Breeders deal with a resistant bitch in a couple of ways.

Some prefer to hold the bitch in place at the head to keep her from snapping at the male. If necessary, they have a second person help hold up the rear quarter to allow the male access.

I'm not a fan of that method, and have personally never used it. I have always preferred to have a reluctant bitch artificially inseminated (AI). This is much kinder to her, and I think she deserves that kind of treatment.

How far into her current heat cycle is she? If her color has changed from red to pinkish tan, then she should probably be in the fertile period when the eggs are descending. You should try her with your male first and if she is still resistant you have two choices. Listen to what she's trying to tell you, and forget about breeding her, or call your vet to schedule an appointment to bring the dogs in for an AI.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly.

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