Now that you know that dogs can become pregnant their entire lives, talk with your vet about the best ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
You read that right: Your cute, fluffy puppy can have puppies of its own! Once they reach sexual maturity, male dogs can mate at any time, even every day! Females, on the other hand, can mate only when they are in heat, which usually happens twice a year. However, some dogs can go into heat up to four times a year, while others will be ready to mate once a year, depending on their size and breed. Male dogs generally become fertile earlier than their female counterparts, usually when they are around five or six months old.
Toy and small breeds such as Chihuahuas become sexually mature earlier than large breeds. In most cases, you should wait until your dog is at least one year old to mate him with a female. Keep in mind that large and giant breeds need more time to fully grow, so you should wait until your pooch is 18 to 24 months old to breed him for the first time.
If you decide to use your male dog for siring litters, you will first have to ensure that he is completely healthy and fertile. Your vet can help with that and provide health clearances that your dog is a qualified stud dog ready for breeding. Once a male dog reaches sexual maturity, he remains fertile his entire life.
However, their sperm count tends to be low during the beginning and the end of their reproductive cycle. Unlike male dogs, who can mate literally every single day once they reach puberty, female dogs can breed only when they are in heat. Female dogs usually reach sexual maturity when they are six months old, but smaller breeds can go into heat as early as four months of age. As with male dogs, you should wait until your female is fully grown before attempting to mate her for the first time.
The size and breed of your dog will determine when the best time is to mate your female for the first time.
Smaller breeds reach adulthood earlier than their larger counterparts and can consequently become pregnant safely much earlier. After having their first estrus, also known as heat or season, female dogs usually go into heat every six months until they get old. However, this time frame can vary from one dog to another and can depend on the size of the dog.
Generally, smaller dogs go into heat more regularly than larger breeds and can produce more litters during their lifetime. The heat cycle is divided into four stages: proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus.
The estrus phase also lasts around nine days, at which time the female is fertile and will allow being mounted by a male dog. In most cases, ovulation happens within the first 48 hours of the estrus phase, but this can vary greatly. This phase happens whether or not the dog has gotten pregnant, and some dogs may develop signs of false pregnancy during this stage.
Lastly, the anestrus phase is the time when a female dog can no longer become pregnant and is a period without sexual activity. In most cases, this stage lasts between three to four months. Technically, both female and male dogs can have puppies their whole lives. The actual labor is also more difficult and risky for older dogs and is commonly accompanied by complications.
Older dogs also may have problems producing the milk and nursing their puppies. A 9-year-old dog can technically get pregnant and give birth to a litter of puppies. However, an older female dog can absolutely get pregnant if mounted by a fertile male during her heat cycle.
To prevent any health problems and unwanted pregnancies, keep a close eye on your dog while in heat and consider spaying her. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.
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Home Uncategorized What is the oldest age a dog can have puppies? What is the oldest age a dog can have puppies? April 21, Steffi Trott. Table of Contents. Can a dog be too old to have puppies? At what age should a dog stop having puppies? Even if your female gets pregnant, she could experience: A difficult pregnancy The need for an emergency c section A singleton litter meaning only one single pup is born Stillbirths of one, several or all pups of the litter In addition, nursing a litter of puppies is tough even for a younger female in good shape.
Can a 12 year old dog get pregnant? The later the first litter of a female is, the less likely it is that she will conceive. A female who had litters at 6,7 and 9 years old could become pregnant again at 10 years or above A female that has never been pregnant before is quite unlikely to have a first pregnancy at 10 years However, you should not rely on the chance that age will prevent a conception.
Should I try to get my old dog pregnant? The bottom line Age is not a certain form of contraception in dogs. Share this post. Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way.
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About Us. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Cookie settings Cookie Policy. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. However, you should never consider breeding a dog with a questionable temperament. As far as health goes, you should be aware that dogs are subject to many hereditary defects, some of which are potentially crippling or fatal.
If you breed, your goal should be to produce dogs that are not affected by the major known hereditary diseases occurring in your breed. To be an effective breeder, you should have a basic understanding of the science of genetics.
That is why it is essential to study the pedigrees of your mating pair. The more knowledge you have as you make your selection, the more likely you are to produce a litter with the qualities you desire.
You should also be well-versed in the genetic problems that affect your breed. Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Some genetic diseases may occur in many breeds; others occur in only one or a few breeds. The following is a brief explanation of how genetic defects may be inherited and expressed.
Diseases that follow a dominant pattern of inheritance need only one abnormal gene. That is, if only one parent is affected, the condition will show up in each successive generation. Some individuals may be only mildly affected with the condition, making it difficult to detect.
In such cases, the condition can mistakenly be thought to skip generations. Diseases that follow a recessive pattern of inheritance occur in homozygous individuals, meaning dogs with two abnormal genes. Dogs with one mutant and one normal gene are heterozygous, and they are carriers of the condition. They appear normal but can pass the abnormal gene to their offspring.
Recessive mutant genes can be passed through many generations before emerging in the offspring of two dogs that carry the same genetic mutation.
Polygenic disorders result from the cumulative action of a number of different genes. The exact number of genes involved and their individual functions are difficult to determine, and the pattern of inheritance tends to vary from family to family. Polygenic inheritance can sometimes mimic either dominant or recessive inheritance, and this feature may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the type of underlying genetic abnormality. Chromosomal anomalies — defects in chromosome number and structure — can also cause genetic diseases.
Dogs normally have 39 pairs of chromosomes on which genes are located. Major abnormalities in chromosome number and structure can produce serious defects. You have performed all necessary health checks, genetic screenings, and selected the perfect mate for your bitch.
It is an excellent idea to work out a contract with the owner of the stud dog before breeding takes place. The agreement concerning stud fees should be in writing and clearly state all obligations and circumstances. The contract should be signed by all parties to the transaction, and each signer should receive a copy.
The mode of payment may differ. The contract may state that the owner of the sire is not obligated to sign an AKC litter registration application until the stud fee has been paid. Keep in mind that the AKC cannot settle disputes between individuals in regards to contracts and breeding arrangements. Good puppies start long before breeding ever takes place.
Both parents need long-term care — what dog people call conditioning — to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding tests, and regular exercise and good nutrition. Bitches should not be overweight and should have good muscle tone before breeding.
Additionally, a bitch that is in good mental condition will make a better mother than a bitch that is insecure, snappy, or has an otherwise unstable temperament. One month before breeding, the bitch should have a thorough pre-breeding physical examination by a veterinarian. Her vaccinations should be current, and she should be tested and treated for parasites.
You may also want to have the bitch and male tested for brucellosis, an infectious bacterial disease that can cause sterility or spontaneous abortion in affected dogs.
The age at which dogs reach sexual maturity depends to a large extent on their breed. Small breeds tend to mature faster than large breeds. On average, however, males become fertile after six months of age and reach full sexual maturity by 12 to 15 months. Healthy stud dogs may remain sexually active and fertile to old age.
Adult males are able to mate at any time. Bitches have their first estrus also know as season or heat after six months of age, although it can occur as late as 18 months to two years of age. Estrus recurs at intervals of approximately six months until late in life. During estrus, the female is fertile and will accept a male.
The bitch should not be bred during her first season. Keep in mind that AKC Rules do not allow, except with special documentation, the registration of a litter out of a dam less than 8 months or more than 12 years of age at the time of mating, or by a sire less than 7 months or more than 12 years of age at the time of mating.
Responsible breeders generally do not breed a bitch at the first heat to avoid imposing the stress of pregnancy and lactation on a young, growing animal.
It is also customary to avoid breeding a bitch on consecutive heats to allow sufficient time for recuperation between pregnancies. Most dogs are first bred between the 10th and 14th day after the onset of proestrus. As long as the bitch will accept the male, mating every other day for a total of two or three matings is generally considered sufficient. However, signs of proestrus are not obvious in some bitches. To catch the peak fertile period, a veterinarian may need to perform hormone tests or examine vaginal smears under a microscope.
Bitches are usually less inhibited by new environments so they are usually taken to the stud. Breedings involving young males proceed more smoothly if they are paired with experienced bitches. Sometimes human handlers must step in with assistance or guidance during breedings. Some breeds are more apt to need assistance than others because of anatomical considerations. Discussing this process with your own breeder will help you be prepared.
During breeding, the male mounts the female from the rear and clasps her midsection with his front legs. Rapid pelvic thrusts follow until penetration and ejaculation take place. After the pelvic thrusts cease, the dog and bitch will not separate for 10 to 30 minutes. Known as a tie, this results from a swollen section of the penis called the bulbus glandis. During the tie, the male may move around until he and the bitch are positioned rear to rear.
Do not try to separate the dogs during the tie because it can injure either or both animals. After some time, they will part naturally. Artificial insemination is a relatively simple procedure that can be used when natural breeding is impractical. The AKC accepts registration of a litter mated by artificial insemination using fresh semen, fresh extended semen, and frozen semen, provided the proper procedures are followed.
Registration of these litters requires DNA certification. Canine gestation lasts approximately 63 days. Signs of pregnancy include an increase in appetite, weight, and nipple size. However, a bitch with false pregnancy may also show these signs.
A veterinarian can usually confirm a pregnancy through abdominal palpitation at 28 days or by using ultrasound or X-rays. Once pregnancy is confirmed, you should talk to your vet about special feeding requirements and about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. You should also be briefed on how to recognize and respond to an emergency. A bitch in good condition should continue into pregnancy with the same caloric intake that she had during adult maintenance.
Her food intake should be increased only as her body weight increases, beginning about the last five weeks before whelping. Daily food intake should be increased gradually, so that at the time of whelping she may be eating 35 to 50 percent more than usual.
As her weight and food intake increase, begin offering small, frequent meals to spare her the discomfort that larger meals can cause, especially in a small dog. If you have been feeding your bitch a well-balanced, high-quality diet, you should not need to add anything to her food during her pregnancy. However, some breeders advocate supplementation with a protein source such as evaporated milk, eggs, meat, or liver.
It is a good idea to build a whelping box well in advance so the bitch has time to become accustomed to it. Unless you have already accustomed her to a whelping box, she may choose your closet or another inappropriate place for a delivery room.
An ideal whelping environment is warm, dry, quiet, draft-free, and away from all other dogs when possible. Confinement and whelping location of your bitch is relative to her breed and size.
A good whelping box is roomy and has low sides so you can easily reach in. It should also have a small shelf or roll bars running halfway up along the sides so the pups have something to crawl under to avoid getting rolled on by the bitch. Many breeders prefer to line the box with newspapers until after delivery because paper can be changed quickly when it becomes soiled. After whelping, newspapers are typically replaced with non-skid bath mats, outdoor carpeting, or something else that provides better footing for the puppies.
Approximately 24 hours after her temperature drops, she can be expected to enter the first stage of labor when the cervix dilates and opens the birth canal for the passage of puppies. At this time, she will pant, strain, and appear restless.
This stage of labor is followed by actual abdominal straining and production of the puppies and placentas. Most bitches give birth easily without the need of human help. Each puppy emerges in its own placental membrane, or sac, which must be removed before the puppy can breathe.
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