LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Hi Candace,

I have some really informative articles on this topic that I think you should read. They will answer most of your questions, but don't hesitate to ask more after you read them. I'll try to help as much as I can. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 5yr old female pit she's never been breed befor but came into heat 11/5/09 and our male pit tied up with her on many many occations. Now 11/11/09 she is not eating and is even throwing up water. She is very distant and tired like. Her bleeding stopped for 2 days but has just started bleeding again. Im very scared shes my baby and im unsure about the process of breeding and if shes pregant is this a normal thing for her to go through.

-- Contributed by: Kandice

Hi Cassy,

That's very difficult to tell. Some dogs go off their food a bit in the early weeks of pregnancy, but most females only go off their food about 24 hours before delivery. Since it has been four days since your dog has eaten anything, it might actually be a good idea to check in with your vet. Is your dog still taking in water? This is essential for her health as well as her pups. If she isn't drinking much either, all the more reason to have her examined. I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is pregnant and I am not sure how far along she is. She has not ate since Thursday and today is Monday. I have even been putting out our leftovers to persuade her and that's not even working. Does this mean she is close to giving birth?

-- Contributed by: Cassy

Hi Jenny,

It is possible for a female to become pregnant and carry pups from two different studs that bred her during the same heat cycle. However, they aren't actually considered different litters since there will be only one delivery. Also, the number of puppies produced depends on how many eggs the female released, and this would turn out the same whether there were one or two studs involved. That said, there would likely be fewer pups, if any, from a breeding that took place a week after the first breeding since a number of those eggs would no longer be available for fertilization.

As for delivery time, some females have an easier time than others, and it's often easier to deliver a larger litter because there are other pups behind to help push out the ones in line ahead of them. We have a good article you should check out that explains what to watch for, Delivering Puppies.

Hope that answers all your questions and relieves a few of your concerns. Don't hesitate to come back with more questions if you need to. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is it possible for a female dog to get pregnant with multiple litters. Maybe 5 to 7days later and breed again to create a 2nd pregnancy on top of the first. If so will the female be able to deliver this many.

-- Contributed by: jenny

Hi Elizabeth,

Yes, it's true that a female can carry the pups of different males in a single pregnancy. A dog releases multiple eggs during her cycle, unlike women who typically only release one egg. If the dog is bred by more than one male during her heat cycle, it all depends on which eggs are fertilized by which male's sperm. If it's important to sort out which pups belong to which male, DNA testing is necessary.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Michelle , I once heard that a ... can carry 2 pregancies ie from 2 different males at the same time can you help me with this ??

-- Contributed by: elizabeth

Hi Lerinnea,

It's difficult to say exactly what might have gone on, but let me offer some thoughts.

First, it's not unusual for a female to whine when she has reached the point in her heat cycle where she is ready to be bred. The whining is more of an anxiety thing. However, it wouldn't be normal for your male's penis to be swollen after a breeding, so this might indicate an injury occurred. When dogs tie during a breeding, a portion of the penis swells up to "lock" the dogs together to ensure delivery of the sperm. If one or both of the dogs struggle and pull apart before the swelling goes down, it can result in an injury to either one of them.

You'll need to use your best judgment on this one, but it may be worth it to have your vet examine your male to make sure that swelling isn't anything unusual. If he is fine, your female probably is too.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I think my ... has been breed yesterday! My male dog has been umm licking and humping her. I wasn't around to notice if they breed or not. His penis though is swollen and is doing fine. On the other hand my female has been whinning and crying this afternoon! Is this normail? why would she be whinning? d

-- Contributed by: lerinnea

Hi Michelle,

This is a great question. A proper tie helps ensure delievery of the sperm, but it does not guarantee conception will take place. It's possible for a male to have a low sperm count or not enough viable sperm, and the timing of the breeding is also important to catch the eggs as they are released. The female's own fertility plays a role, so you can never count on a tie to produce a litter. All you can do is watch and wait for the Signs Of Dog Pregnancy to begin to appear. Your vet should also be able to detect the pregnancy by 28 days after the breeding took place.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is it possible for a tie not to result in a pregnancy

-- Contributed by: Michelle

Hi Stacy,

Yes, it is possible to achieve fertilization without the dogs becoming properly tied. Small amounts of semen are released during the breeding, and this is sometimes enough to result in a litter. In such a situation, it's usually best to treat the female as though she is pregnant until you can have a vet examine her.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Just wondering if a female could still get pregnant without getting stuck together with the male..?

-- Contributed by: Stacy

Hi Anne,

It sounds like you're in for an interesting litter. If your female was still ovulating during each of these breedings, it's possible that all three males could sire one or more pups in the litter. It just depends on which dog's sperm fertilized which egg. And yes, your female would have continued to allow breedings even if fertilization had taken place.

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to come back if you need more info. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my female labrador was bred three times or more by different dog breeds. What could possibly happen to the baby dogs? Would a female dog be receptive to mate even if she is already pregnant? Is it possible to be impregnated by different kinds of dogs?

-- Contributed by: Anne

Hi Jill,

First of all, I want to commend you for giving this little dog a home. That was a very kind act. As for the possibility of a current pregnancy, there are significant risks when breeding a Chihuahua. However, your dog came through the first two litters alright. This means there is a better than average chance she will make it through this pregnancy too, but you'll need to take good care of her and keep an eye on her, especially during delivery. Feed her a high quality kibble, and make sure she gets a daily 10-minute walk to help keep her toned for the delivery. Do take her back to the vet for another pregnancy exam. If she isn't pregnant, you might want to discuss having her spayed so you won't have to worry about this issue in the future.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps put your mind a little more at ease. Keep us posted. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Tina,

If we use 3/22 as the date of the breeding and count forward 63 days, that gives your dog a possible due date of 5/23, not 4/23. There's still a good chance your dog will deliver a litter. It's usally not possible to feel the pups before six weeks gestation because they aren't much larger than peas before then. We have some good article you should check out. I think you'll find them helpful.

Thanks for this question, and I hope this info is helpful. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 3 year old chi, she has had 2 litters prior to me adopting her. She went into heat shortly after I got her and I kept her away from my male wiener dog while she was bleeding. I knew nothing about heat cycles and I think she maybe pregnant? I took her in to the vet but it is to soon to tell for another week. Can this be a safe pregnancy or? I am against aborting the pregnancy but I would be devistated to loose my chi knowing I could have prevented the pregnancy by having it aborted. Thank you Unsuspected breeder...

-- Contributed by: Jill

I have an approx 3 yo rottweiler ... who came into heat around 3/10 and finally flagged and mated with a male rottie on 3/18, 19, 20, 21, 22 She only tied ONE time on 3/22 with the male tho... since then, she's only shown 'random' pregnancy signs like laziness, sleepiness, food pickiness then overeating, wanting more affection/attention, etc... more of the qualitative than quantitative signs of pregnancy. We are now looking at a due date of next week - around 4/23-25 and we do NOT see an enlarged abdomen or have NOT at any time felt any puppies or puppy like lumps on her- she does NOT seem to be larger or pregnant looking but acts like a seriously different, more mellow dog.

Without feeling anything, seeing anything, or knowing for sure - and we've had NO vet visits as she was to the vet right before heat for her annual shots//exam... we are confused as to whether or not she's pregnant! Only her lower abdomen nipples seem larger and her abdomen is slightly firmer--- nothing else?! I don't see or feel any change in size in her@

We desperately wanted a small litter of rottweiler puppies without any outward feelng of her pregnancy, what are our chances she IS actually pregnant given she doesn't look it at all? HELP! We really want to knwo if she could be pregnant without feeling /looking/seeing any puppy movement wiht hre being only a week awawy from her due date?! Thank you in advance!!!

-- Contributed by: Tina

hi i have a female shar pei who is on her 17th day off her season we have had all relivent tests to go ahead and breed her she is 2 yrs old and on her 3rd season the male dog asnt been interested what so ever untill yesterday her 16th day and also today her 17th day she will not stand for him she is lossing minimul pinkish blood loss have we missed the right time the dog as been visiting every day from day 9 off her season any advice will be greatly appreciated

-- Contributed by: diane

Hi Michelle,

We have a great article with the info you need. Visit Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding. Don't hesitate to come back with more questions if you have them. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

how long does a female normally stay in heat and when is the best time for her to get pregnant?

-- Contributed by: michelle

Hi Lailani, and welcome to the site.

Perhaps that breeding was successful. Some females go off their food a bit in the earliest stage of pregnancy. Don't try to force her to eat, but do keep food available for her. Her appetite should return in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, we have some great articles on the site that have a lot of information that will help you in the event that your dog really is pregnant.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how things go. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi kelly, i have a shih tzu she had been stud twice but while we brought her back to my place she doesnt want to eat much not the some as enerygetic pal i have!!!

-- Contributed by: lailani

Hi Aridonna,

Glad it worked out. Be sure to keep a record of which days of your dog's cycle those breedings took place on. It's not a sure indicator which days she'll be ready on future heat cycles, but it will give you a fairly good idea to go by. Let us know how it all turns out, and be sure to check out the following articles.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly, it's me again. I guess I was too soon! Got a tie last night and another this morning. Thanks for all the info!!

-- Contributed by: aridonn

Hi Aridonna,

Thanks for the additional info. It is possible that you are just a little too early, although the color change does sound right for the fertile portion of the cycle. Perhaps her vulva hasn't fully ripened. If it is still swollen firm, it will need to soften more to allow penetration. Although many females seem to breed around ten to twelve days into the heat, some are ready a little later than this. If possible, you should check with your female's previous owner to find out which days she was bred on in the past. This should be a good indicator of when she will be ready this cycle. Just keep the artificial method in mind since it would be possible to take that route if a natural breeding doesn't happen.

Thanks for your question, and keep us posted!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Thank you for your quick response. The female had two litters prior to us buying her and the male we were using sired his first litter in September. So they have both had experience. Could it be that maybe she is still not fully ready and the male knows this? After having no luck with him, we tried a second male (also experienced) on her this evening; he sniffed and licked and pranced around her but didn't attempt to mount her. He appeared to be more interested in marking everywhere she had marked than in breeding her. Do you think she is just not quite ready yet or is she possibly already finishing up her cycle? We wiped her with a white tissue this evening and she had just a small amount of a light red/pinkish color discharge... She is still quite swollen and puffy, too. What do you think? (Thanks again, by the way!!)

-- Contributed by: aridonna

Hi Aridonna,

This is actually a very good question. The amount of time a female will accept the male varies, but it usually lasts at least a couple of days. What it sounds like is that both of these dogs are inexperienced. If that is correct, you may actually need to hold your female from the front so she will stay in place for the male. You'll also need to encourage the male to mount her properly. I recommend keeping the dogs separated for a couple of hours to build anticipation, and then try again. If they don't get their act together, you may need to either bring in an experienced stud or ask your vet to carry out an artificial insemination to complete the breeding.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this advice proves helpful to you. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have kind of a silly question. Will a bi*ch only be receptive to a male for one day? We had been checking our bi*ch for the signs she was ready to breed. Yesterday, the tenth day, the swelling subsided a bit, bleeding went from a bright red to a dull red/brown color, and she began flagging. We had tried her with a male the day before that and although she jumped and played around with him for a bit, she would sit when he tried to sniff her. Yesterday, after we noticed those changes, we put them back together. She stood for him wonderfully and he would mount but he would only do it for a second then get back down. She kept flagging him, she'd back up to him and everything. But he still would only mount for 2-3 seconds and then he'd get down. We thought maybe the conditions were exactly right at that time so we tried again today hoping they would achieve a tie. However today she is back to sitting when he tries to sniff her. Or when she thinks he is approaching her from behind she will spin around to face him really quickly. Twice while he was trying to 'investigate' her, she ran around and mounted him. So now I'm confused! Is it possible that yesterday was the "only day" for mating and it's too late? Thanks in advance!

-- Contributed by: Aridonna

Hi Kim,

It sounds like your dog is extremely fertile and releases quite a few eggs during her heat cycle. If you plan to breed her again in the future, I'd suggest just allowing a single breeding around the 12th or 13th day of her cycle. That might be late enough to miss some of the eggs yet still catch a few. It's not a sure deal, but it's worth giving it a try.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a pit bull and she has has 2 litters and both times she has has 12 puppies the first one only one died and her 2nd one three dies why does she have so many she gets overwelmed by there being so many and why does she have so many

-- Contributed by: Kim

Hi Curious,

A male puppy can sometimes fertilize a female when he's as young as four months, but more typically a puppy needs to be at least six months old to get the job done. That doesn't mean a male pup should be bred that young, but he's usually technically capable by that age.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

At what age can a male dog get a ... pregnant?

-- Contributed by: Curious

Hi Jennifer,

I don't advise letting your other dogs near mom and the pups until the puppies have had their first vaccinations. The other adult dogs can transfer viruses to the pups, and some will cause early death between two to three weeks old. This is often referred to as fading puppy syndrome. Once the pups' immune systems have had some time to develop, you can slowly introduce them to your other dogs under your watchful guidance.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Do i have to worry aboout my male dogs around the puppies after the female delivers them? They are boxers

-- Contributed by: jennifer

Hi Maya,

This sounds like an emergency. Grab a towel, someone to help you drive or hold your pet and go to the vet right away.

You have my best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi my dog is trembeling, vomiting,drooling,and in pain. what should i do before i go to the vet?

-- Contributed by: maya

Hi Brittany,

This might be a sign that your female has a urinary tract infection. They are somewhat common after a breeding. Hopefully your vet can take care of it right away. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, My husband and i bread our mixed dog on july 5th. She and the male tied once. We have noticed the last couple days her consistant licking of the vulva. The vulva has turned from an irritated pink color to an infected yellowish/pink at the top of the vulva and may be a bit swollen. I am new to all of this and trying to be proactive. I have made an apt. tomorrow at our vet, but I just want to know if this is common. Or very serious? and if there is anything i can do before i meet with the vet tomorrow.

-- Contributed by: Brittany

Hi Laura,

The pair will continue to breed as long as the female is receptive, even if fertilization has already occurred. You'll know the breeding time has passed when your female no longer wants to stand for the male. She may even act slightly aggressive at his advances.

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

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I would like to know, someone told me after the male and female tie up and we have a pregnancy, that the male will no longer mount the female. Is this true? If not how will i know for sure that they are done?

-- Contributed by: Laura

Hi David,

The info you need is in our article Signs Of Dog Pregnancy.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi my question is what are some of the early signs of a dog being pregnant because my dogs breast are getting kinda big not to big and the reason i think she is pregnant is because i left her in the back with a male but only for about ten mins can she get prenant that fast?

-- Contributed by: david

Hi Christina,

You can have your female spayed after the pups are totally weaned, as long as your vet confirms your dog has fully recovered from the birth and nursing. Sometimes it's necessary to wait a little longer for a female to regain weight and condition before moving foward with the surgery. It just depends on how much the litter drained her personal resources. Your vet will be able to assess your dog's health and will schedule the procedure accordingly.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

How long should you wait to get your ... neutered,after she has puppies?

-- Contributed by: christina

Hi Shannon,

You're most likely hearing sounds from mom's digestive tract. At most, the pups might make a gurgling sound with the amniotic fluid. As for the increase in movement, the pups are likely getting into position for the birth. This usually happens a couple of days before mom goes into labor. If you need tips on what to do when the time comes, visit our article on Delivering Puppies.

Best of luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My yorkie is very close to having puppies, we had a ultrasound done today and we saw at least three puppies. By touch we can feel the puppies moving alot tonight, more than ever and it seems like they are making noise inside the womb. can unborn puppies make noise while in the womb?

-- Contributed by: shannon

Hi Chloe,

During the neutering procedure, a dog's testicles are removed so there should be no way for him to deliver sperm. You can discuss your situation with your vet, but I don't think your dog is responsible if it does indeed turn out that your female is pregnant. Also, the heat cycle does cause some body changes in a female that seem a bit like the signs of pregnancy,so this may be what you're observing. Your vet can perform a blood test to detect a pregnancy about two to three weeks after the heat cycle has ended.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out alright. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi We have two dogs a male and a female and the male has been neutered but we didnt know that it takes 4 weeks for the rest of the sperm to get out of his system and he mounted the female (who hasnt been done)now we are not sure weather or not she is pregnant. But she has all the signs but on her 3rd day she has started bleeding is this normal. Please help as i am very concerned

-- Contributed by: chloe

I have a mongrel age 7. Will she be receptive of male who is under 2 years old? Secondly, will she be pregnant with this male if they were to be kept together?

Hi Doug,

It's very possible for a male under two years old to impregnate a seven-year-old bitch if they are kept together during her heat cycle. If you plan on breeding, it's better to supervise the mating so you know when or if it took place, and you can figure out the due date accordingly.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Douglas Lee

Hello , I have a female toy poodle that is 2 years old she tied with my other toy poodle on January 7th , Im starting to see signs of pregnacy but Im really not sure what to look for ? Her stomache is not getting to big , but she is more tired lately and she is having mood swings . I want to know what I should look for ? And when they tied it was for about 20 minutes , Do you think she is pregnant ? And how far along before her nipples will drop and start to leak ? Her due date should be around March 11th going by January 7th . But I hear that the sperm could live for up to 5 days before it produces ? Can you please help me , I never went threw this before and I dont know what to do or exspect ? Thank you so much . God Bless

Hi Jennifer,

I can't say for sure whether your dog is pregnant, but you wouldn't notice the pregnancy as much if this turns out to be a small litter of one or two pups. That said, your dog would be nearing her delivery date, so you may be able to feel some movement if you lay your hand against your dog's tummy while she's relaxed and lying down. I've always liked to do this while watching TV togeher, because it may take some time for a puppy to move.

As for what to expect, I'm going to recommend you read some of our articles that cover different aspects of pregnancy and delivery. I think they should help you a lot.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope everything goes smoothly.

-- Contributed by: jennifer

Hi i was wondering if you could tell me how long after a dog is bred (and had a successful tie of 25 minutes) would it take for her to get pregnant. I have a welsh Corgi and we bred her with a PB black ...er Spaniel on Nov. 30th 2007. It is now the 17th of February. She still has not had her puppies and her milk is there. Her belly just started to bulge a little bit more about a week ago, and i can feel two distict hard blobs,lol, in her belly. they have kicked, but i can't figure it out. She has had a litter 2 years ago now and it went great.She had a bit of white mucas coming out and i have been taking her temp, for about a week now, morning and night. I live in Canada so i only know celcious and it has been ranging from 37.1 to 38.5. Please help me asap. thanks.

Hi Kerie,

A bitch is pregnant for approximately 63 days after a breeding, give or take a few. Are you very sure about the date she was bred, because she would be significantly overdue. My recommendation is to take her to your vet for an ultrasound. This will confirm or rule out the presence of any puppies, and it will also show the size of the pups. Your vet will use this to estimate their gestational age. That way, you'll have a clearer idea of when she's due.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything works out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kerie

Hello. My 2 yr old pitbull had came into season,at which point we spoke to the gentleman who had the stud an after about 3 days of mating we were quite satisfied she had probably conceived. Her nipples grew and her tummy did to. Me and my husband had not been through this before but had bred other animals so felt confident as we have had a farm and animals for many yrs. A few days ago i offered her a whelp bed but her due date is the 14th of feb and she has suddenly shrunk! And ultrasound shows an empty womb. What do you think could have happened here? Just curious as i have had several different theories. Thanks. Rhian.

Hi Rhian,

I'm sorry to say that it sounds like your bitch reabsorbed the embryos. Although it's difficult to determine why this happened, it's basically because either the embryos were too imperfect to survive or conditions in the uterus were not favorable. I would make a follow up appointment to discuss the situation with your vet, and find out if it would be advisable to attempt further breeding with your bitch.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: rhian

I have a female mini schnauzer and her son, she came in and I thought I was being very careful not to let them around each other to come home yesterday to find them tied up, they are both akc registered but I'm not sure how akc looks at mom and son breeding, wasn't intentional. Is this going to cause problems for the puppies?

Hi Leslie,

AKC will accept your registration. Although the breeding wasn't intentional, there shouldn't be a problem with the puppies' health either, as long as there hasn't been mutigenerational inbreedings in the line. This would be mother/son, father/daughter or brother/sister breedings. Any breeding carried further out between family members such as uncle/niece are considered line breedings, and are a regular practice to establish desired qualities in the offspring.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope this lessens your worries. :)

-- Contributed by: Leslie

hi, my ... started bleeding on 28th dec 07, i was very careful to seperate them as soon as he became intrested, as i read that at the start of the bleed, she will not want to be mated. once she started flaging her tail and and he became intrested i seperated them. we are now on day 19, 16th january. they have been back together for about 24hrs, as after several hours aof watching them he was not at all intrested, and hasnt been since for a couple of days. however i came into the room and found them tied. could this happen if she was not on heat, or is she still fertile. i didnt want a litter yet, as its her first season, and she is only 8mths. is it likely she will be pregnant.

Hi Katy, a heat cycle lasts approximately 21 days, sometimes a little longer, so you shouldn't allow the bitch to be with a male until the cycle is completely finished. I can't say for sure whether she was still fertile, but right now there's a 50/50 chance she's pregnant.

Good luck with the situation. I hope all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: katy

hi when i tried breeding my dog i found out that she hadnt of caught (by an altrascan) but that she did get an infection which the vet said she had water in her uterus which shes got to be monitored for incase it gets worse! does this mean that my dog cant be bred from? or is it something that can be sorted out and wont effect future matings? my vet didnt really explain alot just that she had to be watched and he also said maybe i should consider spaying her? please help as im confused? dan.

Hi Dan,

A uterine infection can leave scars that keep embryos from implanting in the future. You vet may not have said it in so many words, but it sounds like he is recommending that your bitch be spayed. Sometimes it's impossible to cure the infection, and surgical removal is your only option.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: dan

yes i just baught my dog she is maybe pregnant she has milk coming out when i squeeze but her sacks are not that big how many days until puppies come

Hi Marissa,

Honestly, I have no way to judge how far along your dog may be, if she truly is pregnant. Your best option is to schedule and ultrasound with your vet. The vet will able to judge how far along she is by the size of the embryos.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: marissa

Hi, I want to establish a boarding kennel but do not know what to do first. Please give me some advice on what I need to do.

Hi Chloe,

I'm not sure what your work experience or education level is, so take this advice as a baseline starting point.

First, get a job at a boarding kennel. This will teach you the daily ins and outs, as well as let figure out if this is really what you want to do for a living.

If it works out, I'd suggest getting a degree in business so you can keep your establishment on firm financial ground. Many colleges also offer specific courses in kennel management.

Once you get your ducks in a row, so to speak, you will need a business plan to present to a bank to get the funds you'll need to purchase or rent property and equipment. A business degree will give you the know how to put it all together.

This is a pretty tall order, but you can do it if this is really your calling.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Chloe

i have a min schaunzer she is 4 weeks in to her pregnancy i was wanting to know about how menny puppies dose this breed have as a norm?

Hi Donna,

About four to five puppies on average, but there's no way to guarantee how many puppies your bitch will have. If you know how many were in the litter she came out of, that will tell you something about her mother's fertility.

Thanks for your question and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Donna

i need some help i am trying to breed my JR ... with a lovely JR dog he has had 3 litters so far and all has gone well this is my girls first time to mate we have taken her back to him 4 times now the last 2 times have been ok but they are not locking together! she is not pulling away and standing well for the dog but he keeps pulling away they have been left and at it for ages, will i get puppies or not? do they have to lock to have puppies?

Hi Emma,

I can't tell you whether you'll get puppies or not, but I can tell you that a tie isn't necessary for fertilization, as long as the male ejaculates inside of the bitch.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

-- Contributed by: emma

My dog is about a month pregnant and she has spurts of heavy panting and bleeding. She's been whining through the night and I'm not sure what is going on. Can you tell me if this is normal?

Hi Jessica,

I'm sorry to tell you that this is not normal. I believe you should take your bitch to the vet right away because something is definitely wrong.

Best wishes for your dog's well being. Let me know what happens.

~~ Kelly

-- Contributed by: Jessica

Hello

I hve 2 staffy's a male and female. She is almost 3 and on her 5th heat. Last year we tried to breed her but with a friends staffy but they didn't tie. We now have our own boy and she is ready but he is almost 10 months and doesn't seem to know what to do. Is he to young to breed.

Hi Libee,

In physical terms, your male is technically old enough to perform, however, most breeders wait until a male is over a year old to use him for the first time.

Mentally, your dog may not yet be mature enough to get the job done. At three, your bitch still has some time left before she's too old to breed. I suggest waiting for just one more heat cycle before you attempt to breed them together. At that point you may need to teach the male how to mount her. Nature should take care of the rest.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Libee

exactly how many days will my female 'take' the male. So far they have connected three times.

-- Contributed by: kathy

Hi sorry to bother you, my Staff ... gave birth to 5 lovely pupsboth the mother and pups are doing well. When is the soonest that I can get her spayed? Thank you for your time in advance Lorrayne

Expert Reply

Hi Lorrayne,

Your vet will want to confirm that your bitch is in good health before the surgery, but you can have her spayed as soon as the pups are fully weaned.

Thanks for your question, and congratualtions on your litter.

-- Contributed by: Lorrayne

i was wondering when i should breed my ... she started her heat today the 22nd please let me know

Expert Reply

Hi Nicole,

There is no specific day number that your bitch should be bred on. Rather, you are looking for signs that tell you she is ready.

Your bitch's vulva, although quite swollen now, will soften a bit. This will make it possible for the male to enter her.
She will also begin flagging her tail invitingly to the male, and stand still for him to investigate.
The color of her discharge should be reddish right now, but when she enters the fertile portion of her heat cycle, this will turn tannish-pink. You can check on this by wiping her vulva with a white tissue to see what color the drainage is.

These are the signs you are looking for that will tell you when your bitch is ready to breed. That said, many bitches typically reach this stage somewhere between the tenth and twelfth day of their season. I think you might notice a change in your bitch around the beginning of December.

Thanks for your question, and I hope all goes well.

-- Contributed by: nicole

hi how many times should i breed my female and how do i know she is allset pregnant

Expert Reply

Hi Teo,

I typically recommend that breeders conduct two breedings, allowing one day's rest in between. This is usually enough for two healthy fertile dogs to produce a litter. After all, the sperm can live and fertilze eggs for several days after the breeding.

As for how you can know for sure if the breedings took, you can schedule an appointment with your vet to be palpated on her 28th day.

Thanks for you questions, and best of luck!

-- Contributed by: teo

I believe my dog is pregnant, she started bleeding today. Her bleeding is really heavy and i am worried.

Expert Reply

Hi Amy,

Just like women, some bitches flow more heavily than others during their heat cycle. However, an extremely heavy flow might indicate a problem, such as a burst ovarian cyst.

If your bitch's flow is significantly heavier than what you've experienced with her in the past, I'd put a call in to your vet. He/She may want to take a look at what's going on.

Best wishes that this is nothing serious.

-- Contributed by: Amy

Hi i have a dalmation who is in pup last time she tied was the 25 aug 07 and to this date has still not had them she has had a scan and is in pup yesterday morning she started panting really heavily but still nothing in the aft took her to vets at 3:30pm had another scan confirmed all heartbeats of the puppies we saw anyways she is coming upto 4 days been over due what do we do ?

Expert Reply

Hi Kelly,

Did your dog mate on more than one date? If she did, the eggs may have been fertilized at a later breeding. This could mean that she's not overdue, simply due a little later than you originally thought.

Since your vet is already involved and feels that mom and pups are still okay at this point, I'd just wait and see another day or so. If it comes down to it, your vet can perform a C-Section to deliver the puppies. Hopefully this won't be needed.

Thanks for your question, and hang in there.

-- Contributed by: kelly

Hi Kelly' I have an 11mth old staffy who came on heat and we kept her away from our entire male labrador. Unfortunately our young son let her out one morning I was in the shower and they were well and truly tied together when I became aware of it. My questions are, how will she carry labrador pups (she is little, he is big) and how dangerous is this for her at a young age & also the pups if she isn't ready to be a Mum. I didn't plan on breeding her until next year with a pure staffy male..not our beautiful lab !! I feel irresponsible but it was a complete accident and I am concerned of the outcome. It is approx 40 days after the event ! Thanks Rechelle

Expert Reply

Hi Rechelle,

Accidents happen, and you are surely not the first dog owner who has one through this, so don't beat yourself up over it. It even happens to experienced breeders from time to time.

First of all, don't worry about the size of the pups. There won't be that much of a size difference, and even breedings between like breeds can produce an extremely big pup. If need be, you can take your dog to your vet for a C-section.

Although 11 months is not the ideal time for your bitch to go through a preganacy, she'll probably pull through alright. Dogs are very resilient. Just make sure you are feeding her well and taking her for a daily walk around the block to help her stay toned. You might also want to start adding a dollop of cottage cheese to her meals for added calcium

I understand the situation seems a bit scary right now, but I really believe everything is going to be alright.

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to come back if you need more advice.

-- Contributed by: Rechelle
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