LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Kathy,

A breeding between half-siblings (dogs with one parent in common) is know as a line breeding, and it is a generally accepted breeding plan when you're trying to secure desirable qualities in a family line. The key is to make sure neither dog has a major fault in its conformation, because such a close breeding will also double up on the faults as well as the good qualities.

Hope that answers your question, but don't hesitate to ask if you have more. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a question what can half siblings breed? If they have same dad but different moms. Please advise thanks. Kathy

-- Contributed by: Hi

Hi Jane,

Your breeder offers good advice. These things sometimes run true in families, so if mom and grandma never bred until around the 15th through 17th days, chances are high that your female will too. Also, is your male a virgin too? That usually makes things a little more complicated in that he may be slightly unsure of how to completely follow through. You may need to supervise him a bit. If possible, ask your female's breeder if he or she is willing to come over and try to help facilitate a breeding. This could be very helpful.

Generally speaking, it's probably not too late to get a decent breeding out of this pairing, so just keep trying.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Our ... is in season, we are wanting to mate her with our Dog. She has been in season twice in which time we kept both separate as she was to young then. This is now th first time we can use her. She is now on day 14! Our dog has howled in the mornings (as he sleeps in my room She sleeps in the kitchen), he has licked her eyes and other areas. During the day they are not separated as we are wanting a mate.

We thought that day 12 was the all important day but it seems our Dog knows better as he wasn't interested. Our ...es breeder called to tell us that it is on average normally day 11 & day 13 but then continued to tell us the our ...ed mum & Grandmum didn't accept a dog until day 15 & 17... Now Yesterday, day 13, our dog decided to mount her as well as lick her ears & other areas - he had a busy day - but they did not tie! today is Day 14 he has again mounted her with no tie... what do we do? Its not that he isn't eager because he was after her all day (we had to spearate them for a while so that they bith got a rest - not that he did because he just wanted to get the the .... She got a bit of rest, she was sulking though). Do you have any advice for us - should we be allowing them to stay together all day? Will the dog work it out eventually (I'm just hoping its not to late). We look forward to your reply. Kind Regards Jane

-- Contributed by: Jane

Hi Debbie,

A brother and a sister that share the same two parents but come from different litters would be just as closely related as if they had been from the same litter, so there's a chance for genetic problems. This could show up as a either a physical or mental defect in one or more of the pups. There's no guarantee that any of the pups would be affected, but the chances are significantly higher with this type of breeding, so it's usually not worth the risk. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi, i was wondering what serious problems there could be with brother&sisters that have the same parents but from diffrent litters?

-- Contributed by: debbie

Hello, and welcome to the site.

Chances are very high that there will be puppies from both males in this litter. It just depends on which male's sperm fertilizes which egg. Although this is an unfortunate situation, it would really be better to let your female go ahead and have the litter. At least some of the litter should be purebred, and depending on the breed of your neighbor's dog, it could be easy to tell the difference between those and the mixed pups. If your neighbor's dog is also a Golden, you'd need to perform a DNA test on him and all the puppies to determine which ones are his. If both of your dogs are registered, you can still register any pups in the litter that belong to your stud. If by chance the neighbors dog is a registered Golden, you could also register his pups to him.

So, the situation probably won't be a total loss, and letting your female have the litter is generally safer than aborting the entire litter. I hope this info and advice helps put your mind a little more at ease. Good luck with the entire situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My two Golden's bred x 2 then the neighbor's dog broke into my fence and tied once. What are the chances of having his pups to or should i have them aborted? Please help I have been waiting so long to bred my babies. I am not happy about this happening. I told my neighbor to please fence her dog.

-- Contributed by: Bred my two Golden & another male got to her

Hi Jessica, and welcome to the site.

Three breedings is usually enough to produce a litter, so it's better not to let your male exhaust himself. The bleeding you still see is completely normal. The entire cycle lasts about three weeks, and will continue if after the female has been bred.

Thanks for your questions. Don't hesitate to come back if you have more. You might even want to check out our Dogs forum. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Steph,

If you're feeding a high quality, nutritionally balanced kibble, the only thing you might want to add these last two weeks is a daily dollop of cottage cheese. This will provide additional calcium while the pups are building bone density.

As for how to feed after the delivery, you'll want to follow the same feeding schedule for the first four weeks. This will give your dog the energy and additional nutrition she needs while nursing the pups. As the pups begin weaning, your dog's appetite will likely begin to decrease on it's own. Once the pups are fully weaned, you can resume your dog's pre-pregnancy feeding schedule.

You might want to check out our article on Delivering Puppies for additional info.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My female and male have gotten tied three times in the last week. My female is still bleeding. Is this normal? My male wont leave her alone and is constantly at her kennel crying... should I continue to let them breed?

-- Contributed by: Jessica

we have a staffordshire bull terrier, who has been scanned and is expection 4 puppies. She has two weeks to go, do we need to change her diet (dry complete food normally) Also what and how much should she be eating afterwards? many thanks

-- Contributed by: Steph

Hi Ereboony,

Yes, as long as your female will allow a breeding there's a possibility she will become pregnant. Even if she hasn't begun to ovulate, the sperm will attach to the walls of the uterus and wait for the eggs to arrive. They can last about a week that way, so that ups your odds.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, My ... is standing but still has fairly dark blood day 14. The mail is very interested, and they were in a tie yesterday. Could she get pregnant if she's still bleeding duriing mating? ereboony

-- Contributed by: ereboony

Hi Janet,

Males can safely continue to breed for years longer than females. However, if your dog isn't used for a number of years, his fertility may drop. That said, it's not unheard of for a healthy male to breed at ten years of age.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to find a female soon. I'd recommend attending a local dog show to try to connect with breeders. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Susie,

How did the litter turn out?

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I have a wire hair fox terrier male six years old who has just sired six lovely puppies to a young female crossbreed (marriage without consent).I had a female wire hair for seven years who we lost pre maturely to kidney disease last year who failed to produce any pups. Now I know my male is fertile I'd like to try again with another female wire hair but due to the rareity of the breed here it might take some time to procure one. So my question is ; until what age is a male fertile for on average , how much longer can I expect him to be able to breed? thanks Janet

-- Contributed by: janet

thank you for the info. she is delivering now!

-- Contributed by: susie

Hi Susie,

You would count from the first breeding, but consider those days between the first and last breedings as possible due dates as well. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

do you count from the first day the female was bred or the last day to determine when she is due to deliver? our female was bred on the 25th and 27th of november so i counted 63 days from the 25th which would make her due the 27th of this month. is that correct?

-- Contributed by: susie

Hi BigBlue,

The onset of laction truly begins when the puppies begin to nurse. Until then the breasts only contain a small amount of colostrum, and this can appear several weeks before the delivery or immediately after the pups are born. Colostrum contains important immunities to protect the pups until there immune systems begin to function. The nursing stimulates true milk production that replaces the colostrum after a few days.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

lactation begins when in a dogs pregnancy

-- Contributed by: lactaion begins when in a dogs pregnancy

Hi Betty,

I'm not aware of any scent products that will help your male get the job done. However, there's a possibility that the problem lies with your female and not your male. This might not be a fertile season for her, and perhaps the stud can sense that by her lack of scent. If possible, try her around another male to see if he shows any interest. If he does, then you're back to your own male not being interested. If that's the case, you could ask your vet to examine him and see if an artificial mating would be possible.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it works out for you.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is there anything out on the market that will help attract a stud to a .... My stud shows little interest if any in my female while in heat. She shows all signs of heat except for any noticeable scent change. He has studded previous litters just not with her. A friend of mine thought it may be that she is not emitting a scent that he picks up on. I thought that was odd but I figured I would ask because it is the only thing I could explain his lack of interest.

Becky

-- Contributed by: ... Scent Aids

Hi Kim,

I doubt you will see any complications since you got the shot so swiftly after the breeding. Just watch for excesive bleeding or signs that your female is in major discomfort. Call your vet if something just doesn't seem right.

And yes, it's possible that the shot won't work and a litter could be produced. As you may already know, breeding two merle dogs together could produce blindness, deafness and other genetic faults. Have your vet thoroughly examine the pups for abnormalities, and you can decide what to do based on that information.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes that it all works out in your favor.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I had two merle chihuahua's breed on Sunday 5am they were uncle and niece. Icalled my vet to get the abortion shot which was done on Tuesday around noon. What should I expect if something is going wrong? I am really nervous about this decision but felt like I had no other excluding spaying. My vet told me it was a possibilty it would not work? What are the side affects? Should she be on a antibiotic

-- Contributed by: Kim

Hi Caily,

Are both of these dogs inexperienced? It sounds as though they are enthusiastic, but don't quite know what to do. Sometimes it's necessary to hold the female from the front so she stands still to let the male mount. First time breedings can be very awkward, so you may have to encourage your male to mount the female properly. If you haven't had a successful breeding after an hour of trying, separate the dogs for a few hours rest, and then try again. If all else fails, you can call your vet and set up an appointment to have the dogs bred artificially.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it all works out for you. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I have another question. I have been keeping my female separated from my males for the past few days. Today (the 11th day since I noticed bleeding) I put a male with her and he was very excited, as was she but they never mated. He didn't get a chance to try because she kept mounting him. Is that normal?

-- Contributed by: caily

Hi Caily, and welcome to the site.

Yes, it does sound like your female is coming into heat. Your male dogs' behavior is fairly typical in this situation, so just watch them to make sure they don't hurt each other. I have a few articles that I think you'll find helpful.

Thanks for your question. If the breeding is successful, I have some great articles on dog pregnancy for you as well.

Best wishes!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I think my female is coming into season. She is not bleeding at this point, but has been very swollen for the past two days. She has also been marking/urinating more frequently. Our male has become very interested, constantly licking and sniffing. He also seems a bit stressed (for example, he didn't eat this morning and just paced back and forth watching our female). He has also become uncharacteristically aggressive with our other male. When the other male gets near our female, he growls and snaps at him as if to back him off. Is this normal behavior on his part? I've heard that male dogs will fight for "their" female, but she isn't even in standing heat yet so I was just curious. Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Caily

Hi Tommy,

First, you'll need to make sure your dogs are properly licensed and check out the dog ordinances in the area where you live. Some limit breeding and the number of dogs you're allowed to keep within city limits.

With that addressed, I always recommend every breeder should have a copy of Anne Seranne's The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog. This book gives a wonderful description of the breeding process, how to know when delivery time has come and what to do. Even if you're not interested in raising show dogs, this info will help you keep your dogs and pups as healthy as possible.

You'll also need some kind of a whelping box for your female to have her pups in. You can find professional grade models at many pet supply stores, both online and off. A small plastic children's pool also works well, but it lacks the guard rails that came help keep mom from laying on the pups when they get behind her.

Finally, there is no subsitution for a good relationship with the breed you bought your stock from. A good breeder is always willing to share knowledge gathered from years of practical experience. I had the good fortune to be mentored by several wonderful breeders, and I can tell you their help was invaluable.

You'll also find the following LTK articles helpful:

Well, that should be enough info to help you get started. Do come back and visit us again, and feel free to ask more questions as they arise. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i live in cincinnati ohio besides the dogs what do you have to have to be able to breed and sale your puppys

-- Contributed by: tommy

Hi Jan,

You'll find a good description of flirting behavior in our article on Dog Heat Symptoms and Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I've read your answers where you say that sometimes a female will flirt with a male when she is ready to be bred. Not to sound stupid, but what does this 'flirting' consist of? My female has out of the blue began licking on our male, nuzzling him, nudging him for play and I'm wondering if maybe that's what you would consider flirting? Our male has been fixed so we have no worries about her getting pregnant, but I was just curious to know about the whole 'flirting' thing. Thanks.

-- Contributed by: jan

Hi Debra,

Perhaps the female found this male the least threatening of the three? It's hard to say why he has been the only male to show interest in her, but I'm glad you're going to have the vet check her for pregnancy.

Thanks for your questions, and be sure to let us know what you find out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Thanks once again for answering my questions! And actually, the male showing the most interest is the least experienced of the three. Today she will let him mount her but once he begins to thrust she walks away. It is almost as if she is teasing him because she will back up to him and nudge him and such...but as soon as he mounts she walks away. She is still not showing any signs other than that so I'm still not 100% sure what is going on. I have scheduled a vet appt for the end of this month to see if the two ties were successful or not- I suppose I'll know more then. Thanks again for your time and information!

-- Contributed by: Debra

Actually, the male showing the most interest has the least experience of the three males. The female will still let him mount, but walks forward after just a second. She will stop and let him mount again but then walks away again. She is not being aggressive toward him at all, it's more like she is teasing him.

-- Contributed by: Debra

Hi Debra,

Is the male that bred her more experienced than the others? He may have known better what he was looking for even if she wasn't show much sign of being in heat. If your female is no longer willing to stand, she probably beginning to go out of heat. This doesn't guarantee she won't stand anymore, but she most likely won't.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Thank you for answering my question! Today another one of the males has been showing great interest in her but she has been unwilling to stand. Is it odd that up until today, only one of our three males has shown interest in her? Could it be because she was showing no outward/physical signs of heat? Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Debra

Hi Debra,

I think your dog may be having what we call a silent heat. This type of cycle shows almost no signs of bleeding. Take a look at your female's vulva. Is it swollen even slightly? I think there's a very strong chance you could have a litter in a couple of months provided she is actually ovulating. You can have your vet perform a pregnancy blood test in about three weeks.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Will a female stand for a male when not in heat? I have been breeding labs for years and have never had this happen. I have a female that I expected to come in heat around November, as she had a litter in January. Yesterday I took her and one of my three males for a jog, like I do every day. He was not interested in her at all. However upon returning from our jog, one of the other males was going crazy, wanting to get out next to the female. I walked her inside the fence with that male and they played for a few minutes and then tied. She stood fairly well for him, didn't seem to mind. It is strange though because the other males have shown no interest in her whatsoever and she is not bleeding or anything right now. I thought maybe yesterday was a 'fluke' of sorts so I put them together again today to see what would happen and they tied again within minutes. Still no bleeding. Still no interest from the other two males. What do you think? Can I expect puppies in nine weeks or does it sound as if this was just in fun?

-- Contributed by: debra

Hi Mary,

First let me congratulate you on your new dog. Since you don't see any kind of a scar, I think it's definitely worth having your vet examine your new dog to make sure she was spayed. Otherwise, you're probably in for a litter about two months from now.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the news is good. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I bought a female Dal a couple weeks ago and was told by the lady that the dog had been spayed. So I thought it would be okay to let her play with my intact male. On 10/02/08 I caught them in a tie and separated them as soon they were 'finished'. Called my vet and he said that happens sometimes with a spayed female, not to worry. So I let them play together again and they've tied twice more since then. I do not see a spay scar so I'm beginning to wonder if maybe she really hasn't been spayed... She's not showing any signs of heat but our male is definitely interested and she stands willingly for him. What do you think? Spayed and just enjoying it? Or not spayed and in a silent heat? Thanks.

-- Contributed by: Mary

Hi Patty,

I'm glad you had some success. You've had two good breedings two days in a row. I would let them breed once more, and you should have it covered. Let us know how things turn out, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi,

Well you were right...Yesterday on the 21st when I introduced the two it didnt take but 5 minutes before they tied, and again this morning. Both times for only about 15 minutes....How often should you let them breed? Thank you..

Patty

-- Contributed by: Patty

Hi Patty,

It sounds like you're a few days too soon with the stud. Your female may smell interesting, but it's possible she hasn't begun ovulating yet. Just keep trying them together for short periods once or twice a day until you get a full breeding. Keeping them separated helps build the male's anticipation so he'll try harder when he's finally with her.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi,

Correction on the dates regarding my bullmastiff .... She started swelling on the 9th and started her cycle "bleeding" on the 11th the stud was brought to me on the 16th. He smells and licks her but wont get the job done???? Help.....

-- Contributed by: Patty

Hi,

I have a 3 1/2 year old bullmastiff. She goes in heat every six months like clock work. Her vulva started swelling last Saturday 8-16-2008 and she started bleeding on Monday the 18th. The stud was brought to me Saturday the 16th. She is doing everything to get his attention and he has shown no interest. What can I do?

Patty

-- Contributed by: Patty

Hi Darlene,

Breedings between two inexperienced dogs can sometimes be difficult to complete. It is usually smoother if one of the dogs has bred before. That said, check your female's discharge by wiping her vulva with a white tissue. If she's ready to be bred, the staining should be pinkish tan rather than red and the vulva should be swollen yet soft. You could generally say a dog is fertile between her ninth and fifteenth day, but this generalization isn't always accurate. It's the color of the discharge that is the true indicator of fertility.

For now keep introducing the dogs once or twice a day to see if she will accept him and if he is capable of getting the job done. I hope it works out for you.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Crystal,

Your dog would be due to come back in season sometime between September and October if she regulary cycles every six months. Part of this would depend on how quickly she bounced back from having the litter. If she usually goes a year between heat cycles, she wouldn't likely come into heat again until next May.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 3 year old female boxer. I have never bred her before. Today is her 11th day in her cycle. I took her to the stud (2years old, has never bred either), she really did not stand good for him, seemed not to be interested. I did take her yesterday on her 10th day, she stood good for him but he could not penetrate, he seemed to be too excited. How long of a window of opportunity do I have? I have read that you only have up to the 14th or 15th day but I have heard of someone taking on the 21st. Also, is it true that a female will not submit on her own property?

-- Contributed by: Darlene

HI MY NAME IS CRYSTAL I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANYONE WHO CAN ANSWER THIS FOR ME.I HAVE A BOXER AND SHE HAD A LITTER OF 10 PUPPIES BORN ON MAY 26TH 2008 AND SHE CAME INTO HEAT ON MARCH 13 2008 WHEN WILL SHE COME INTO HEAT AGAIN CAN ANYONE TELL ME I COUNTED OUT 180 DAYS FROM THE DAY SHE WAS BREED IS THAT RIGHT CAUSE IF THAT IS RIGHT SHE IS DUE TO COME IN AGAIN ON SEPT 16TH 2008.I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHEN TO WATCH FOR HER TO COME IN AGAIN THANKS

-- Contributed by: CRYSTAL FISHER

Hi Sarah,

These things happen, and you were trying to be careful so don't feel too guilty about what happened. Although 11 months old is not the ideal age for a pregnancy, it's possible that your female will come through just fine if she is indeed pregnant. And yes, a ten-year-old male could still be fertile enough to sire a litter.

Watch for Dog Pregnancy Symptoms and follow up with your vet if you suspect a litter is on the way.

The following articles might also prove helpful.

Best wishes that all works out well. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi,my 11 month old ... came in to her first season,i had managed 2 keep her away from my male,it was hard work alot of crying from my male,her sweling went down and her bleeding stoped even the male lost intresed in her so i let him join the ...es again as i thought it was safe,he never even sniffed her,then 3 days later they were all playing in the garden when i looked out my male was tied with her and now im worried as she is so young,after the tie he hasnt botherd with her,could she be pregnant or would her season have finished?the tie lasted for around 20 mins althought my male is 10 years,is there less or a chance he can produce?im just worried for my ...,pls help!!

-- Contributed by: sarah

Hi Maggie,

There is no maximum number. There are many factors that go into deciding whether a female should be bred, her health being the prime factor as well as whether the breeder can guarantee a home for every pup, even if that means giving unpurchased pups a home for life. Personally, I have never bred a female more than three times, but two litters was the average.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have heard different opinions re the maximum number of times a healthy well-bred ... can be bred. What would the maximum be? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Maggie Finch

Hi Wayne,

That ugly green discharge usually indicates that one or more of the puppies pooped in utero. It's important to take you female in for a post-partum check up to make sure the uterus has evacuated all of the contents. Your vet may want to administer an antibiotic to make sure your dog doesn't develop a uterine infection. I have always made the post-partum check up part of my breeding practices.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes with the litter. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

As my ... was having her pups there was a horrible greeny dlack dscharge she had 4 pups mother and dabies appear to be dong fine just worried about that discharge

-- Contributed by: wayne

Hi April,

Your dog's discharge should have ceased by now. It's definitely time to take your dog in and have the vet examine her uterus. There's a chance that an infection has developed.

Best wishes that all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi. My dog has just had a litter on the 16 of May and she is still having vaginal discharge. Sometimes it's bright red and sometimes it's brownish red. Should I be concerned

-- Contributed by: April

Hi Bonnie,

No, a tie isn't absolutely necessary to ensure fertilization. As long as some sperm is delivered before the dogs part, fertilization is possible.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

does a male dog have to tie to complete a fertization

-- Contributed by: bonnie

Hi Julia,

There is not much you can do to ensure your dog ties each time he is bred. You might be able to assist by holding the female so she's a bit steadier, but that's about it. The good news is that a tie isn't completely necessary for fertilization. As long as some sperm have been deposited, they should be able to find the path to the eggs and fertize them.

Thanks for your question, and good luck for a healthy litter. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I have use my male to breed previously resulting in a litter of 3 healthy puppies. When he tied with her it was not for a long period of time. The second time I was breeding to another female, he would mount her and enter her but never seemed to tie completely with her. What can I do to help this situation.

-- Contributed by: Julia

Hi Susana,

The spotting could mean that one of the embryos' placentas could have pulled away a bit from the uterine lining. This doesn't necessarily mean that pup won't survive, but it is important that your female isn't overly active for a few days. If the bleeding increases, don't hesitate to call your vet and see if you should bring your dog in for an exam. Hopefully this is just a little bump in the road and your dog will do just fine.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i bred my female dog about three weeks ago and just notice some spotting on and off i really would like to know what could this mean???

-- Contributed by: susana

Can you tell me how to figure up when to expect a heat cycle AFTER a delivery? Is it 6 months all the time or does that change to 6 months from the date of her delivery? (on average) In other words, if she cycled in January and then again in July, would it always be those times regardless of delivery or does a delivery change the next expected cycle? I hope you understand what I am asking.

Hi Jackie,

I understand what you're asking and it's a very good question, although it doesn't have a firm answer. After a litter, your bitch is likely to cycle again within four to six months. This depends on how much the pregnancy depleted her resources and how quickly she gets back into shape once the pups are weaned.

I think you'll also find the information in our article What Influences Heat Cycles helpful.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Jackie

Bleeding after breeding...... I have a question for you. My female schnauzer is 5yo, and had puppies with her previous owner. She came into heat on february 10th, she didn't start bleeding though until the 12th. She stood for my stud on the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st. That is the last day I saw them tie. However... here is where I get confused. She never really stopped bleeding. Her discharge lightened a bit, but was never free of pink tint. So, she is currently still standing to be bred. She flags her tail and pulses. Today is the 27th, and last night I noticed a little darker red in her discharge. Today she has a deep red discharge, and it almost appears "clotty", like thick..... I talked to my vet... he is old, kinda a "too far from their heart" kinda guy... and he wasn't concerned. I am. Looking forward to your opinion. Kaylyn

-- Contributed by: Kaylyn

This is the first time I have ever bred a dog so I have a couple of questions:

After my male finished and the tie was broken, there was an immediate gush of fluid from the female. Is this normal? There was also a little bit of blood in the fluid. Is this normal also?

The female is 2 and this is her first time being bred. Thanks for your help!

Hi Hillary,

You'll be relieved to hear that all of this is quite normal. The sperm are delivered in semen, and it is mostly the extra semen you saw gush out. There should still be plenty of sperm left in the canal to make their way to the eggs. The blood is also normal since your bitch is in season, and especially if this was the first time she had ever been bred.

Thanks for your question, and I hope these answers have put your mind at ease. Good luck with the breeding. :)

-- Contributed by: hillary

hi, i have three jacks 2 girls and a boy. Both my girls are in season. My male is only 4 mths old is he able to get them pregnant this early? I need to know as i dont want them to have any pups they are pets only!

Hi Mia,

Four months is the earliest it might be possible for your male to breed your bitches, but it really isn't that likely he would be able to get the job done. Still, you can't be too careful, so I wouldn't allow them to be together unsupervised. Better yet, your male is old enough to be neutered, and that would be a permanent solution to the problem.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: mia

I have a male boxer that we bought 2 years ago and the breeder I bought him from said he had fathered 2 litters. He was one and a half when we got him. We have tried to breed him 6 times with no results. We breed shih-tzu's and have done so for five years so we know what we are doing. I am not sure if he is sterile orand they just screwed with paperwork or what. He shows tons of interest the first mating and even ties with the females but none of them have gotten pregnant. I told this man I wanted him for breeding then I went out and bought a very expensive female. I advertised stud service took money and had to pay it back when there were no pups. Can a vet do tests to determine what is wrong? My vet said there is no test he does. If other vets can do testing I will find one but I need to know what to do. Can anyone help me?

Hi Billie Jo,

Actually, your vet can do a sperm count. This will reveal if there are sperm in sufficient numbers to get the job done, as well as whether the sperm are healthy enough to fertilize the eggs. I'm not sure why your vet said their was no test, when this practice is very common. Under the circumstances, you might want to consult another vet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to find out whether or not this stud is now sterile.

-- Contributed by: Billie Jo

Hi, I have a 6 yrs old female Rottie & a 2 yrs female. They are both in heat. I have tried a new stud with my 6 yr old, she at first did her usual play & then presented to the stud. She let him mount & as soon as he pentrated she freaked out like it hurt really dadly. This is not her firts time, she been bred severral times now & always took no problems. I have never seen her do this before. She now wont let him mount. Shes only afew days in to her cycle but I know my dog this is nnot like her. I also brought my 2 yr old to see if she would take but same thing happened. The stud is actually smaller than my females. Why does it seam like hes hurting hurting them ??? I have never seen this before.

Hi Roxanne,

There's a possibility the girls aren't quite ready for breeding. I wait a little longer and then try them again. If this doesn't work out, you may want to consult your vet about the problem.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Roxanne

Hi, my question is very short and simple - is it a good idea to breed a dog during their first "season"? We have a 1 year old black lab that is going into heat, but we're scared it may not be the healthiest idea, to breed her the first time around...

Hi Jaclyn,

For a bigger dog like a Lab, I'd recommend waiting until her next season to breed her. This way she will be completely finished growing and will also be a bit more mature and ready to take care of a litter.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Jaclyn

Hi, my ... is in her first season, it is day 10, I noticed tonight that when patting her on her tummy and with her legs apart, with her been so swollen, that she has a white sack just inside her vagina, she is not getting mated with this season as she is only 8mths old, I do not want to mate with her until she is 2yr, so can you please tell me if this is normal at first I panicked, but she seems very happy, and only normal blood discharge, so I am thinking that since she hasn't mated before that this is normal?? Thanks

Hi Angela,

I haven't heard of this before. You should have your vet check it out, just to be on the safe side. It could be an infection.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Angela

hi i bred my ... rottie two weeks ago i wanna no the signs to look out for if shes pregnant i was going to wait until she was 6weeks. i cant tell because her pass owner bred her and her nipples are quit big ne ways.and also want to no the best food to give them they are pregnant so the pups are big and heathly.

Hi Rottie,

You'll find the info you need in the following articles:

Thanks for your questions and good luck!

-- Contributed by: rottie

Hi, We have a 4yr old boxer. We bred her for the first time on her 9th day. They only tied once cuz she didnt cooperate very well the next time. Do you think that she is able to be pregnant from only one tie and also the tie happened on Nov.29 and still today Dec. 5th she is still swollen and bleeding a little bit. Is that normal after breeding? and is there any other ways you can tell me to look for so we know if she is pregnant any sooner than 5 wks? We are anxious and hope she is but don't want to tell our 2 and 4 year olds til we know for sure.

Hi Julie,

Technically she's only on the 15th day of her cycle, so it's not unusual that she's still swollen and bleeding. A breeding does not automatically end the cycle.

You can ask your vet to palpate your bitch at 28 days after the breeding to see if any embryos can be felt.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Julia

I am trying to breed my dog. She was swollen for almost a week before she started to bleed. She is now on day 9 of bleeding. She is not bleeding much if any. She is more swollen than she was when bleeding heavy. I have been trying to breed her for the last couple of days. Neither dog is noing anything. Did I miss her time, or has she not reached it yer?

Expert Reply

Hi Penny,

Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell when a bitch actually comes into season. Yes, some do swell for a couple of days before they begin to discharge, but sometimes they are already discharging in amounts too small to notice, especially if the bitch keeps herself very clean. This can make it seem as though the season started later than it actually did.

My advice in your situation would be to keep trying. It won't hurt anything if they do nothing. By the way, did the male ever show any interest in her at any time? Most studs will go bonkers from day one even before the bitch is ready for breeding. If he didn't show any interest, there's a chance your bitch is experiencing an infertile season. This is rare, but it does happen occasionally. If worse comes to worst, you can give it another try on your bitch's next season.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Penny

Hi I have an almost two year old female boxer and we have many concerns. She is in the end of her heat and our male has shown little interest in her in the last couple of days, this morning we found them tied. is it certain that she will become pregnant? Another concern of ours is she had puppies her last heat and it was very difficult for her. I was told that her being so small compared to the male is why she had difficulty pushing the puppies out. The puppies were too big. We ended up having to take her to the vet to have the puppies. SO our first question is... should we try to get the abortive shot and what are the negitive side effects that vets are seeing? Is it safe for her to have the puppies? And finally, if money is a concern at the moment is there a place where we can take her either to get the shot or to have the puppies? Thanks.

Expert Reply

Hi Kendra,

No, it's not certain that your dog is pregnant, but it is possible so you're going to want to watch her closely.

Some vets prefer not to give abortive estrogen shots because they cause side effects including excessive salivation and vomiting. The shot can also have some bearing on your dog's future fertility and has been linked to a elevated risk for pyometra (uterine infection), so I wouldn't advise taking this route unless you feel it's absolutely necessary.

All in all, I think you need to weigh the situation carefully before you decide which action to take.

As for the cost of the shots or a possible C-section delivery, you might want to check with your local animal shelter to see if they have any programs to help with the cost. Your own veterinarian may be willing to work out a payment plan with you since you are an established customer.

Thanks for your questions, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that your dog isn't pregnant this time around. I hope it all works out.

-- Contributed by: kendra

Is it possible for my female to be pregnant with only one successful tie? I have a 2 1/2 yr old female, 3rd heat. With this being my first time breeding her, I am not sure when she ovulates so I took her to the stud on day 7 & 9. Stud tried but she would not stand for him. On Day 11, they tied successfully for 20 minutes. Took her back on Day 12 & Day 14 and she would not stand for him. Is it possible that she will only stand one time?

Expert Reply

Hi Darlene,

Yes, it's very possible for a dog to become pregnant from a single breeding. The sperm can actually survive for up to five days, so as long as the bitch is releasing eggs, the possibility for fertilization is there.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you wind up with a beautiful litter of pups!

-- Contributed by: Darlene

Hi Lori,

Males often find the scent of a pregnant bitch's hormones interesting. Did you happen to mark the date of the breeding on your calendar? If so, you can determine the approximate due date by counting forward 63 days from the first breeding.

With this due date in mind, you can begin taking your bitch's rectal temperature from day 57 forward. Take it once in the morning, and again 12 hours later. Write these temps down so you can refer back to them later.

Approximately 24 hours before whelping, your bitch's temperature will drop down between 97 and 99 degrees F. If the temp is still down 12 hours later, your bitch should begin labor within a day. The temperature will spike back up to approximately 102 degrees during and shortly after labor, so don't be too alarmed if you notice this. You only need to worry if it doesn't return to normal by one day after delivery. In any case, you'll want to have your vet examine her immediately after delivery anyway.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you wind up with a healthy litter of baby Danes,

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a great dane that I think is pregnant. Will she throw a scent that our male can detect before delivery? He is acting a lot like he did when they bred. She is also nesting,producing a little milk and acting strange, but is not showing. Our female has an intense fear of th vet (due to a "happy tail" ordeal as a puppy) and our vet has chosen to spare her the grief and skip the ultrasound and x-ray to confirm.

-- Contributed by: Lori

Hi Michelle,

In my experience most Shih Tzu bitches aren't truly ready for breeding until days 10-12. If your bitch is tucking her rear under her, she's likely not ready yet. I doubt that she's pregnant, and even if she were she'd still be receptive to further breeding during the fertile period.

Some bitches take a little longer to get into the full swing of the heat cycle. If you truly want to breed her, give her a little more time and watch for signs of flirting with your male. Then she'll be ready for breeding.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My shih-tzu is in her second heat cycle, and she has already had a week or so of light spotting, now as of today there is more blood, also she sits down when my male is trying to constantly mate with her she is not interested and is lethargic can she be pregnant and still be bleeding? I did not witness a "tie" but she will not stand up for him and is agitated when he persists. She has been swollen for about 10 days and today she is bleeding like her first heat cycle. Is she still waiting for the "right time" or is she already pregnant? Do I need to seperate them? Please help.

-- Contributed by: michelle
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