LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Sonia,

If it has been at least three weeks since your dog got loose, your vet can perform a blood test to check for pregnancy. That's the easiest way to find out what's happening. Good luck with your situation no matter what happens.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My female dog had got loose accidently and im afraid that she might be pregnat . How can i tell for sure?

-- Contributed by: Sonia

Hello,

No, I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Each pregnancy is different. Additionally, there's a chemical in the afterbirth that stimulates milk production, so just allow her to eat a few during the delivery and she should produce milk just fine. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a female GS due in 2 weeks she has milk in only her two bottom teats I am worried. Last time she had all 10 full of milk 2 weeks before her last birth. Should I worry?

-- Contributed by: Milk in only two teats

Hi Peggy,

Yes, it's quite possible. Your male is of prime breeding age, and dogs don't recognize familial relationships the way people do. So it's entirely possible they could have bred together. This could produce abnormalities in the resulting pups, but this usually isn't a problem unless there are previous inbreedings in the family line.

Thanks for your question, and please don't hesitate to come back and ask more if you have them. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi- ithink that my long haired chiahuhua may of breed with her son,who is just about 1and a half years old. is this possible

-- Contributed by: peggy zeissler

Hi Charity,

It's still very possible that your dog will produce a pup or two. There usually isn't much of an increase in abdomen size until the pups hit around six weeks gestation and go on a growth spurt. Also, since Bull Terriers have decent sized body cavaties, it may be a bit more difficult to notice the enlargment since there is more room for the pups to stay tucked up under the ribs until closer to delivery.

We have some good articles that I think you'll find helpful right now. Check out:

And just in case your dog is pregnant, you'll also want to read Delivering Puppies.

For now, just keep treating your dog as though she has a litter on the way and prepare a box for her to whelp. I think you may see a lot of changes over the coming week. Good luck, and keep in touch. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I bred my miniature bull terrier on Aug 9th and that night she was bred twice. Anyway I kept her together with the male for a week but never saw anymore breeding but wasn't watching them a lot of the time. They were downstairs or in yard. My question is she doesn't look much bigger at all, but has gained a little weight. I am wondering if she is pregnant? Her nipples are bigger and the skin around them is sagging a little. DOn't know if that means anything. But would she be showing by now? Cause if I count from the 9th of August that would be about 48 days. Just wondering if there is hope for her to have pups or not! Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Charity

Hi Naomia, and welcome to the site.

It's not essential that two dogs tie in order to produce a litter, but a proper tie does help ensure delivery of the sperm. There have been many successful breeding where the dogs did not tie.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Do the two dogs have to "lock" in order for pregnancy to take place? We are dealing with a small schnauzer and a large male.

-- Contributed by: naomia rumpff

Hi MsCobra,

It really depends on whether the young male was able to complete the breeding, and this doesn't always include a full tie because some semen is released during the course of the breeding. Many young males do have success the first time around and sire a litter, so it's a strong possibility.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is it true that a young (1 year old) male dog is less likely to impregnant a female dog? It has been suggested that male dogs mating for the first time are unlikely to successfully get the female pregnant.

-- Contributed by: MsCobra

Hi Allison,

Some increased thirst is probably normal at this point because your dog is producing amniotic fluid for all the pups. She'll also need to drink a lot while nursing the puppies. However, if the increased thirst continues after weaning, it may be a good idea to have your vet examine her. Increased thirst and increased urine output can be signs of diabetes or possible kidney disease. I don't necessarily think that's what you're looking at right now, but keep it in mind if the thirst continues beyond weaning.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, My female is pregnant and she is close to bein due. Is it normal to drink lots of water?? And we do not kno her breed.

-- Contributed by: Allison

Hi Rosemarie,

The best thing you can do is call your vet about the situation. The vet may decide to go ahead with the spaying, and this would also prevent a litter. In the meantime, try to make sure your male doesn't breed your female again. It usually only takes one well-timed breeding to produce a litter, but each successive breeding ups the chances for fertilization.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a two year old min pin that I wish to get fixed. She did have a litter of pups in oct. 2008. She is in the 12th day of cycle and I have an appt for her next week to get spayed, but my male got her last night (6/1/09). But I still dont want her to have pups. What could be done...

-- Contributed by: RoseMarie

Hi Casey,

It really isn't good for a puppy to have puppies, but accidents do happen and I understand your predicament. Fortunately, Staffies are very strong dogs, and if you feed your puppy high quality food and make sure she gets gentle daily exercise, she will hopefully come through the experience just fine. However, you'll need to be really careful that she doesn't get bred on her next heat cycle or it will severely deplete her resources and this could affect her health and physical development.

Best wishes, and please let us know how things turn out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Jessica,

It's usually a good rule of thumb to expect the pups anytime from the 58th day of gestation onward.

It would probably be a better idea to put off your camping trip until later. Your dog might do just fine, but the extra stress of traveling could induce her to deliver a little earlier than planned. If you do decide to go through with the trip, make sure you're prepared for the delivery just in case.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have bred my dog and was wondering if the time line is pretty on for her to deliver ? are they usually within a day or two of the 63 days they are pregnant ? we are going camping the weekend before but dont want to chance her having the puppies there..help

-- Contributed by: jessica

I have a 9 month old american staffy. i left her with my mum while i went away. during this time she started her first heat cycle and her mini staffy got knotted with her. its been just over 2 weeks. there seems to be a little swelling to her nipples. is she to young to be pregnant?

-- Contributed by: Casey Lee

Hi Steve, and welcome.

Yes, a canine pregnancy can be aborted, either via a shot or by having the dog spayed. However, both procedures involve risks to your dog's health, so it would be best to discuss all the possibilities with a vet.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Can dog pregnancy be aborted

-- Contributed by: steve

Hi Jesse,

Yes vets can give a shot to terminate a possible litter. I recommend you call your vet to discuss the pros and cons of its use, because it does pose a bit of a health risk, especially if you plan to breed your female in the future. The vet may recommend waiting a few week to confirm the pregnancy before offering treatment.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it all turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi was wondering if there might be an abortion thing for dogs,i caught a stray dog with my dog and was wondering if there was a morning after pill for dogs.

-- Contributed by: jesse

Hi Salomelow,

I'm not a fan of those shots. It's unfortunate that your female was bred so young, but accidents do happen. Luckily Poms tend to have small litters.

First and most important, you'll need to make sure there are no further breedings. You may get lucky and the first breeding won't take, so you want to be extra careful that it doesn't happen again. That said, you'll need to feed your female a high quality dog food so that she gets enough nutrition for herself and any pups she might have. You can also begin adding a spoonful of cottage cheese to her daily dinner beginning around six weeks gestation. This will provide digestible calcium for both her and the pups.

Although this is not the ideal situation, there's still a chance your puppy will make it through alright. Best of luck, and let us know how things go.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 6mths old Toypom is on heat and our male Toypom somehow got to her last night. They were tied for a few seconds. She is too young to have puppies and the vet says there is a danger in giving her a course of injections to abort. What do I do??

-- Contributed by: Enter your name here

Hi Sheena, and welcome to the site.

From your description, it doesn't sound like they achieved a complete breeding. If the male is no longer showing interest, your female might be going out of heat. While I can't say whether she might be pregnant, it's still a good idea to watch for Signs Of Dog Pregnancy just in case some of that breeding activity managed to deliver a little semen. At about three weeks after the heat cycle has ended, your vet can check for pregnancy either by palpating the uterus or taking a blood sample to check for pregnancy hormones.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Yari, and welcome.

Do you mean 20 days since the first sign of your dog's heat cycle, or 20 days since it ended? If you mean since the cycle began, your dog is only just finishing her cycle because the average cycle lasts about three weeks. If this is the case, it will still take a little while for the swelling to go down.

If you meant 20 days since the cycle ended, it's possible your Chihuahua might be having a false pregnancy. I have a Jack Russell that had one during each of her first two heat cycles. This happens when the hormone levels don't immediately return to normal at the end of the cycle. For the most part, there's really nothing you need to do except encourage your dog to follow her normal routine and encourage her to get fresh air and exercise. The situation resolves itself in a few weeks.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i got a ... in season its her 11th day the dog is tryin to get on my ... is standin but e keeps slippin off her n now she not bothered by him so do u fink she cud she b pregnant x

-- Contributed by: SHEENA

I have a one year old chihuahua she just had her first heat ,she cannot be pregnant shes an indoor dog only goes out on a leash when we walk her the problem is its been 20 days and she is still swollen and i just noticed her nipples are swollen i dont know what it could be

-- Contributed by: Yari

Hi Jennifer,

A little milk production is not enough to be sure whether a female is pregnant. The elevated hormones from a false pregnancy can incite a little milk production too. Check out the following articles for additional signs your female might be carrying a litter.

If your dog appears to have more symptoms, it may be worth having your vet perform a blood test to confirm what's going on. Thanks for your question, and good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog she is 2 years old and i was checking her nipples and i seen a little bit of milk is she pregnant?

-- Contributed by: jennifer

Hi Jessica,

It sounds like your female may not be quite ready to breed yet. I think you'll find the following articles helpful for your situation.

Thanks for visiting the site, and do let us know if you have more questions after you check out these articles. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 2 year old lab that I am tring to breed to another lab, but everytime he tries to mount she snaps, What sould I do?

-- Contributed by: Jessica

Hi Alexa,

It's very possible that your six-month-old male could impregnate your female, although typically a male shouldn't be used for breeding purposes until he closer to a year old. If you've witnessed breeding activity between your dogs, you may want to follow up with a pregnancy check from your vet about three weeks after the heat cycle is finished.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a question....i have to chihuahuas the male slighty bigger than the female...the male is barley going to be 6 months... and the female is 2 yrs old can he get her pregnant if he has already mounted her?

-- Contributed by: alexa

Hi Jennifer,

No, it is far too soon to sell your puppies. They need to stay with mom until they are at least eight weeks old. You also need to take them to the vet for their health check up and first set of shots, and they are still a bit too young for that too.

This time with the puppies goes by so quickly. Take time to enjoy it and make sure they get the care they need so they'll have a good start when they go to new homes.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have 3 ...zu puppies. They are 5 weeks old and have just started eating puppy chow with milk poured over to soften it. Could they be ready to sell?

-- Contributed by: Jennifer

Hi Emily,

You should wait until your female is at least 18 months old. She must finish growing before she will be able to safely put her energy into a litter. As for your male, has he ever been bred before? If not, he may have a little trouble getting the job done at eight years old. You can try it when the right time comes, but you may need to go to another stud if your male is no longer capable.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, We have an 8 yr old intact male and a 7 month old intact female. Both are large Labradoodles. We would like to breed them but what age is healthiest for both?

-- Contributed by: Emily

Hi Jaclyn,

Puppy movement can't really be used to determine the due date. Since you have such a wide range of possible breeding dates, it would be best to have your vet perform a sonogram to try to determine the gestational age of the pups. This in turn might provide an approximate due date.

Best wishes on figuring it all out, and I hope your dog has a safe delivery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

How long after feeling the puppy's move does the ... normaly give birth? I am unsure of the date they mated, I believe it was late may early april. Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Jaclyn

Hi Jackie,

It is possible that your female might be sterile, but the problem could also rest with your male. To be on the safe side, I wouldn't assume she is sterile because another male might be able to impregnate her.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have a mini daschund and she is in heat but has never had any pups, she is 8. I know that she has been had by our male several times over the past few heats but has never gotten pregnant. Is it safe to assume she is sterile?

-- Contributed by: Jackie

Hi Myron,

Yes, your female will continue to bleed until the heat cycle is finished, even if she was bred.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

should my dog bleed after breeding

-- Contributed by: myron

Hi John,

You would need to discuss aborting a possible pregnancy with your vet. There are certain risks involved, and it can affect your female's future heat cycle and fertility. Your vet will help you sort out whether or not it may be safer to allow a cureent pregnancy to continue.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your situation has a happy outcome no matter what you decide.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have ...er spaniels 2 females 1 male (not related) one of the females has been in season and has tied succecfully the other one was not due in to season for another couple of months but the dog has tied with her also today we didnt expect or want this to happen as we wanted her to have a clear season before we mated her what can be done to reverse this and how will it affect her ie will she start her season again

-- Contributed by: john hickey

Hi Misty,

A phantom or false pregnancy can look very much like the real thing, so it's difficult to tell the difference. They can last quite a few weeks in some cases. There's also a possibility that your dog was pregnant at one point and spontaneously aborted or perhaps reabsorbed the embryo(s). This does happen occasionally. If you want to be really certain whether your dog is actually pregnant, you can ask your vet to perform an ultrasound. It's not unusual for a vet to miss feeling a single pup that is tucked up high in the rib cage. For now, it's safest to continue to treat your dog as if she is pregnant until you can confirm it one way or the other.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out in your favor.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 2 yr old labrador...who is showing all the signs of being in pup I have taken her to the vet and they have said they cant feel anything so it is more than likely a phantom. Just wondered how long a phantom can last and is there any difference between a normal pregnancy and a phantom one. Looking at her nipples they are red looking and seem to be getting larger is this normal in a phantom ?

-- Contributed by: misty

my 4 yr old shi tzu has just had her first litter of 3 pups when does the bleeding stop and how soon will she be able to go out for a walk. also she doesn't seem to want to urinate but her bowel is ok.

Hi Rosaleen,

If it's been more than a day since your bitch urinated, I recommend taking her to the vet. There could be a problem with her bladder incurred during the delivery.

As for the bloody discharge, it usually tapers off over the course of a week. I wouldn't plan on taking her out for a walk in the neighborhood for at least the next three to four weeks. The puppies don't have any immunity, and they also need mom close by. You can begin resuming walks with your bitch around the same time you begin weaning the pups, but it really is safer to wait until the puppies receive their first shots.

Thanks for your questions and good luck with the litter. :)

-- Contributed by: rosaleen crawfird

My parents and I have been trying to breed our Airedale for over a year now. We have gotten her completely checked out by a vet and tested for hip dysplasia (which she passed). We have been working with a breeder who has been a wealth of support and information. Our first attempt was last summer and it did not take. She had no unusual syptoms, it just did not take. So we tried again this January. She stayed with the breeder about a week. The breeder stayed with the two dogs most of the time, but did leave them a couple of hours here and there. She felt that our dog's inability to tie with thier dog maybe hormone related. So we actulally decided to scrap the idea of breeding her since she will be almost too old to breed next time, but still thought that we would take her to the vet before her next cylce to check her out. However, about a week and a half ago I noticed she had put on alot of weight on both sides. I figured she just had put on a good bit of weight. This weekend I noticed that her mammary glands had dropped, no milk yet and her stomach on the bottom was very round/bigger than usual. We called the breeder and she said that there was a possiblity that she did breed in those few hours that they did not watch.

We have scheduled a vet appointment and the breeder is going to visit this weekend to check her out....but I am so impatient and very excited if she is with pups. So if she has never exhibited a false pregnancy and she is 4 years old and this was her second time attempting to breed (and the first she did not exhibit a pregnancy or false pregnancy) do you think that this sounds like a viable pregnancy.

Hi Maggie,

We'll have to leave it up to your vet to confirm the pregnancy, but your chances sound good. Although it's certainly safer for both animals if the breeder supervises the breeding, some dogs would rather we gave them some privacy.

Also keep in mind that a tie is not essential for a bitch to become pregnant, as long as some sperm was deposited during the course of the breeding.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Maggie

My friends just had puppies, their dog is a miniature pincher. Very small. I was concerned because she has never had a litter and she is 10 years old. She had 4 puppies. The first puppy died, it couldn't breath. The second two are fine. The third we just discovered after serveral days of frustration, he couldn't hang onto a nipple and seemed very weak, has a cleft pallet. The only way to keep the puppy alive is by inserting a tiny tube through the mouth and hope it makes it to the stomach and not into the lungs which will kill it. This is so sad. Is it most likely that this is due to the age of the dog who had the pups? Does this puppy have much of a chance being tube fed? This is such a mess. Thank you.

Hi Devra,

It's possible that the mother's age had a bearing on the litter's health. In humans, a woman's eggs age right along with her. This is why the risk of birth defects rises as a woman reaches her forties. This could very well be the same with dogs.

As for the puppy with the cleft palate, I'm sad to say there's probably not much hope for it, even with the tube feeding. Do you know if the owners have had the puppy examined by a vet? The vet can assess the severity of the cleft as well as the pup's chances of survival.

Thank you for your question, and I do hope things turn out alright for the remaining pups.

-- Contributed by: Devra

I have a 2 year old brittany spaniel and I have her in a kennel with a male but he isn't getting the job done. He tries but I have never seen them lock. When someone comes outside they both just want attention and nothing else. Do you think they have locked and she might get pregnant?

Hi Alicia,

You've got a 50/50 chance.

Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Alicia

My Bichon delivered 5 puppies 3 days ago. She is only a year and a half and it was a huge mistake that she got pregnant. I didn't intend but take responsibility because I didn't get her spayed fast enough.

The first few hours home she seemed scared about the puppies but eventually she has become a good mommy to them. On the third day she seems to want to escape them.. and doesn't seem to want to nurse them. She DOES allow them to nurse but it seems to hurt her. I bought some creme with lanolin but I don't want to use anything that would hurt the puppies. I will call the vet tommorrow but I was looking for information on anything I can do to make this easier on her. It's her first and last litter.

Hi Amy,

It sounds as though your bitch's nipples are becoming sore from the nursing, but I wouldn't put anything on them, especially a cream that contains lanolin. Remember, the pups will ingest anything you put on your bitch's nipples.

Unfortunately, the pups need to nurse so you may need to spend some time making sure this is happening. The nipples will begin to toughen up and then it won't be so painful. Also, don't offer your dog a lot of personal attention when she leaves the pups. This might make her think she can abandon her litter.

Checking in with your vet is definitely a good decision. If truly needed, your vet can teach you how to suppliment the pups by bottle feeding puppy formula.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck raising the litter. I know it seems tough now, but the time will pass faster than you realize.

-- Contributed by: Amy

I have a female Akita who is around 9 or 10. For the first time she has hooked up (locked) with our 2 yr old male Akita. I saw them lock and they may have locked before but I'm not sure. They were locked for about 20-30 min. Does this mean for sure she is pregnant? Or can dogs lock up 1 or more times and not get pregnant?

Hi Judi,

Nothing is certain, but your dog could be pregnant. This depends on the fertility of both animals. You can have your vet check your bitch for pregnancy in a few more weeks just to be certain.

Thanks!

-- Contributed by: judi

MY Yorkshire Terrier is half way through her pregnancy.I noticed this morning that when she went to use the bathroom she was urinating red spots.Is this normal?And if it is,what is the cause of it?I would very much appreciate your expert opinion.Thank You.

Expert Reply

Hi Larisa,

It sounds as though your dog might have a urinary tract infection. This is acutally fairly common after a breeding, however, you'll want to have it taken care of as soon as possible. Your vet can put your bitch on antibiotics for the infection, as well as make sure that this is truly the cause of the bleeding.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is better soon.

-- Contributed by: Larisa

Hi Carmen,

Breeders refer to this type of close famlily breeding as an "in-breeding". Sometimes it happens accidentally, other times a breeder will purposely inbreed a mother and son to firmly establish a desired characteristic in their line.

The breeding itself shouldn't prove harmful to your bitch beyond the usual risks of pregnancy and delivery. However, there's a small risk that one or more of the puppies might have some sort of defect. This is a calculated risk all breeders take when conducting and in-breeding. That said, sometimes the entire litter is completely healthy.

My feeling is that what's done is done. Give your bitch plenty of support and a healthy diet, and I believe everything will turn out alright.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is pregnant of her own son is she at risk?

-- Contributed by: carmen

I wrote to you recently asking opinions of early signs of pregnancy for my 2 yr old boxer. Well it's now been 4 weeks since mating her and her symptoms are: cannot eat in the mornings still sicks up frothy white stuff, then eats plenty from 3pm onwards. Very restful and extremely affectionate but forgets about being restful when we mention the word 'walk' - we can no longer see her ribs (as you know you can just about see boxers ribs) she seems to have become very hairy and she is not moulting at all. We taking her to the vet - our vet will not scan until wk 5. I understand that the symptoms could also mean false pregnancy but what about the hair growth? I would very much appreciate if you could give me your opinion. Thank you

Expert Reply

Hello again Dawn,

I've mainly bred long coated dogs myself, but since women experience continuous hair growth during pregnancy, I don't see why a dog couldn't do that too. Combine the pregnancy hormones with the cooler fall weather and you have a recipe for accelerated hair growth.

The rest of your dog's symptoms do sound as though she is truly pregnant. I think you can start planning on where you're going to set up her whelping box!

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi Sherry,

A seven-year-old male isn't necessarily too old to breed as long as he's in good health. Males can continue breeding long after a female ought to be retired.

I recommend that you ask your vet to check your dog's sperm to make sure his count is good and that those swimmers look viable. As a dog ages, his sperm can lose some of their motility, and they need to be able to swim well to make it to the eggs for fertilization. If the count turns out well, you should be able to go ahead and breed him.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 7 year old male French Bulldog in wonderful health. He is too old to breed? He wants to but does he still produce quality sperm?

-- Contributed by: Sherry

Hi Lori,

Officially, a female dog will never cease having a heat cycle because there is no doggie version of menopause. However, many factors play a role in how often or how regularly a bitch comes into season. Perhaps the presence of the younger male has provoked a response from her hormones, and this has triggered her cycle?

Be aware, that your bitch can still become pregnant at fourteen if she still has any eggs left. I know of a successful breeding that was carried out with a 12-year-old German Shepherd, although I would never condone such a late in life breeding. You'll need to keep a close eye on both dogs until her cycle has comletely finished.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

At what age does a female dog quick the heat cycles. I have a 14 year old Golden Retriever and she has just started a heat cycle. I had not noticed that for many years. I am watching my son's male un-neutured dog for a few months and I'm wondering if that can trigger an older dog to go into heat?

-- Contributed by: Lori

Hi Debbie,

You're right. This could well be a sign of a UTI. Although bitches in season do seem to urinate quite often, sometimes in small amounts, they shouldn't have to strain without producing anything. I think it would be a good idea to let your vet check her out.

Good observation, and thank you for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Does a female in heat have to try to urinate frequently and nothing come out. Or is this a sign of a urinary tract infection?

-- Contributed by: Debbie

Hi Mandy,

Count forward 63 days from the breeding and this will give you her official due date. That said, most dogs deliver between 58 and 67 days. It depends a lot on the size of the litter. She should be more than half way through her pregnancy by now, so make sure she's getting good nutrition. You should also prepare a whelping box so she has time to get used to it before the birth.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY STAFFY IS PREGNANT ,SHE GOT CAUGHT ON 25 JULY, SHE IS DRINKING A LOT OF WATER NOT REALLY SURE WHEN SHE IS DUE ANY IDEA THANKS MANDY.

-- Contributed by: AMANDA

Hi Charis,

I've combined these questions with the one you left at the Ask the Dog Expert page. You'll find my reply there listed under "Questions About Fertility and Registration".

Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My shih-tzu tied with my male for about two minutes. I just have one question. Can she tie with a male during her heat cycle if she is not yet fertile? If so, how often does the sperm live long enough to impregnate the bitch? I am concerned my dog was with her brother when I first noticed her blood and if she was able to tye with my unrelated male only two days later, what are the chances her brother got to her without me noticing? I am really freaked out. I never would have exposed her to him except that my mother-in-law came over for a BBQ that day and brought her dog (my bitch's brother) before I even knew what was going on. What do I do? Also I am trying to register and I need some kind of code to register? Where do I get it?

-- Contributed by: Charis

Hi Erica,

I've seen it done both ways, but usually the female is brought to the stud dog. Studs are usually more willing to perform when they're on their own turf. I know of a number of cases where breeders have tried to meet up at a dog show to make it more convenient for everyone, and then the stud refused to cooperate.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for a healthy litter.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

when breeding a bitch .do i bring the male to her, or the male to the bitch?

-- Contributed by: erica gonzalez

Hi Blakely,

If your dog came into heat just a few days ago, she's probably not ready to breed yet, but she could be ready as early as nine to twelve days into heat. You need to be very careful about letting your male dog be with her at all until she is completely finished with her cycle.

When females are in season, they sometimes pee little and often. If she's doing this, it may be hard for you to catch her in the act. However, the urge to urinate even when she doesn't have to might also indicate a urinary tract infection. If you want to be on the safe side, take her in to your vet and tell him/her about your concerns. You may also want to talk about having one or both dogs fixed so you don't have to worry about future problems.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

a female of ours came in heat for the first time a few days ago, today my male accidently got left out side with her and now shes started this thing where every coulple minutes when shes outside she tries to pee and is unable to. is that normal for a female to do he first time she comes in or is it because she could have been bred??

-- Contributed by: blakely

Hi Tammie,

Next time your bitch is in season, take her and your male to the vet. If the vet examines both dogs and finds them in healthy condition, then he/she can perform an artificial insemination that will hopefully result in a litter. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a male and female pom and my female has already been heat 3 times and still wont let my male breed her. Will she ever give into him or is he "not her type"?

-- Contributed by: Tammie
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