EACH NEW
LIFE YOU BRING IN TO THIS WORLD IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY UNTIL DEATH
DUE YOU PART.
Oops, shes
pregnant happens so many times. If you are not ready to take
on this responsibility, please have your babies spayed or
neutered.
YOUR
FEMALE MAY GO INTO HEAT AS EARLY AS SIX MONTHS
OLD.
BREEDING
TIMES
The most commonly used breeding dates are the 9th, 11th, and
13th days from the first vaginal discharge.
The Tie That
Binds
So, when do you bring the
male/sire to her/dam for breeding? Do not wait until the tenth
day; bring the male to her a few days ahead of time because if she's
ready you better breed her now! She will let you know if your
timing is right by her willingness or unwillingness to stand for the
male. If she's ready, regardless of
what number day it is, she will crook her tail off to
one side, stand in front of the male, and even back into the
male. Just because we think she should breed on a certain day
has no influence on her hormonal
levels.
Anestrus:
R & R between
heats.
Proestrus: Onset of
heat and discharge. The
first phase of the cycle is called “Proestrus” and is characterized
by a swollen vulva, a bloody vaginal discharge, attraction of male
dogs. She flirts with the male but will not allow him to
mount. The bloody vaginal discharge is what seems to lead to the
misconception that the dog is menstruating. In fact, the blood comes
directly from the walls of the vagina rather than the sloughing of
the uterine lining as occurs in menstruation.
Estrus:
The female accepts, invites, coitus with the
male. The estrus perfume can invite males up to 3 miles
away. “Estrus” which is
characterized by the change in character of the vaginal discharge
from bloody to “straw colored.” At this time the female begins
to allow the male to mount. It is classically the change from
proestrus to estrus that ovulation occurs and the female is most
fertile.
Metestrus: or diestrus the stage that readies the uterus
for pregnancy.
Mid cycle
is best for conception. The dam ovulates over several
days. The eggs are viable for two days, while the sperm live
up to four days.
After the mating and the
discharge is over, the period of Diestrus begins. The female is hormonally
pregnant regardless of whether or not she is actually pregnant.
The pups are usually
ready to enter our world sixty-three days after conception, although
small breeds often have shorter gestation periods of only fifty-nine
or sixty days. It is best to count days starting from the
last known breeding since many bitches will allow breeding to
occur for two to four days in a row.
The
Groom
I thought my boy Pepe was the best thing
that ever happened to me. I never had a Chihuahua own me
before. His love, devotion and attention is
extraordinary.
Then
Cookie came into our lives. Pepe and my worlds were turned upside
down. Now we have double the love, double the devotion, and
double the companionship.
The Bride
You know what they say, Chihuahuas are like potato
chips, you can't have just one.
I adore my babies as much as they adore me. Pepe
is so handsome and Cookie is so beautiful, I just knew they would
make speculator babies!
Time flew! Cookie came into heat at 7
months. I had a hard time trying to keep Pepe away from her
24/7.
As the story goes, I only had to worry about keeping
Pepe away from her when she goes into standing heat. That is
about day 9 of her menstral cycle. All that means is that she
will be receptive to the male and lift her tail. That is when
the female is fertile.
Mating in Dogs
General
Information:
Average heat runs 21 days. Some
females must be followed with a mop, while other females must be
tested by a flashlight.
Female dogs generally have 2
reproductive cycles each year. This process begins at
puberty. Small breeds may start their cycles at 5-6 months
of age, while some giant breeds may not cycle until 2 years of
age. The average age of puberty is 7-10 months. After
4-9 days of bloody vaginal discharge, the female will accept the
male and stand for breeding. This receptive stage may last a
few days or as long as 2 weeks. The most
commonly used breeding dates are the 9th, 11th, and 13th days from
the first vaginal discharge. Repeated breedings, 48
hours apart, as long as the female accepts the male, produce the
best conception rate.
Wait until the second or third heat to breed your
female.
Since pregnancy represents a
considerable strain on the mother, females should not be bred every
"season." Acceptable breeding programs include breeding every
other heat or breeding during two consecutive and skipping the
third. Let me tell you, it is hard to keep them seperated when she
is in heat. This is not an easy task.
We need to ask ourselves if we
are prepared to take responsibilities for the pups we breed and to
be constantly aware for the need for breeding soundness, and try to
avoid breeding in any destructive characteristics. You will be
able to find good homes for you pups, however should someone want to
return their pup it is yours. It is your responsibility to
find someone who will love and nurture the pup for the rest of its
life.
