The Heat Cycle

Dogs generally have their first heat 6 – 12 months of age or 12 – 24 months for some of the larger breeds.

When to breed your female:

For the first time you're female should only be bred if you think your female is ready #1 and in good health & is in top condition. Ideally a female should be at least 18 months old or on the 2nd or 3rd heat cycle before she is bred we usually like to wait until our females are 2 to 2.5 years of age before breeding, It depends on the female's readiness; we didn't breed Maggie until she was 2 and a half years old. Studies now show us breeding every heat or 2 or 3 heats then a brake for larger litters is healthier for both mom and pups. Skipping heats can disrupt hormones and increase the chance of uterine infections. Pups should be weaned as early as possible as nursing causes the most stress on the bitch. When the bitch is done having litters "retired" she should be spayed for health reasons.

Signs of approaching heat:

Generally 3 to 5 weeks before her heat she will mount other animals, and she may be aggressive with other animals. Also when her vulva becomes soft she’s coming into heat in about 2 weeks. A week to the day before her heat her vulva will swell.

The Heat Cycle

Anestrus: The rest time between heats

Proestrus: The first day of her heat, her eggs will develop for the next couple to nine days. Pregnancy cannot occur at this stage of heat. However male dogs will become very interested in her but she will not let them mate.

Estrus: Standing heat, this is the stage when she will accept the male. Flagging will take place in this stage as well, to test for flagging run your hand down her back to her butt and if she lifts her butt she is flagging. Breeding is usually the most successful on day 12 - 14 for larger breeds sooner for smaller breeds you’ll want to get at least 2 breedings in to help ensure fertilization. Estrus lasts approximately 3 weeks. However some dogs end sooner or later.

Metestrus: The uterus readies itself for pregnancy or if fertilization didn’t happen she goes back into anestrus. False pregnancy can happen at this time.

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Emily Tiscarenio

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