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Kelly Roper Kelly has more than 12 years experience as a professional writer and editor. Read More Learn about our Editorial Policy. Updated August 23, 2021 When is the best time to breed a dog in heat? It may seem as though dogs can turn up pregnant in the blink of an eye, but it's actually a fairly complicated process. Just ask any breeder who has repeatedly tried and failed to produce a litter from their champion female dog -- sometimes, things just don't go according to plan. Successful dog breeding is all about the timing, so take a closer look at the biological issues behind the process. Dog Heat Cycle Indicates When to BreedCycle LengthA normal canine heat cycle lasts approximately three weeks, during which time the dog will release a discharge that contains blood. There are numerous signs and symptoms that indicate when a dog is in heat. In the initial stage, known as proestrus, a female dog's vulva begins to swell, and you may notice them licking themselves more than usual. Male dogs will also begin sniffing them more when their hormones produce a scent that signals they are ready to breed.
Dog Heat Cycle Chart
Yearly, Bi-Yearly, or Quarterly CyclesOn average, a healthy intact female dog comes into season every six months. However, this can vary -- some dogs only cycle once a year, while others come into season on a quarterly basis. Quite often, female dogs that experience heat quarterly are not fertile every season. Signs That It's Time to BreedSo, when is the best time to breed a dog in their heat cycle? Look for these signals that your dog is ready to be bred:
How to Track a Dog's Heat CycleWhile you cannot predict the exact day or even week when a dog will come into their heat cycle, there are ways to track it and obtain a general idea of when it can occur. On the first day that your dog comes into heat, use a calendar to count out the next eight to 10 days -- this will comprise their complete cycle. From there, use the calendar to track out the next five to eight months. Months five, six, and seven are times when your dog may come into heat. Unfortunately, you'll need to track your dog's heat cycles for some time before you can get an understanding of their normal pattern. It's also possible to determine how close a dog is to their heat cycle using hormone testing, but this can be cost-prohibitive, as you will need to do it regularly to establish a pattern. Another option is to use a dog heat cycle calculator app, such as The Puppy Planner, which is available for iOS and Android devices. The Dog Mating ProcessBreeding usually takes place naturally, without any human intervention, beyond introducing the potential dam to the stud. However, a little direction may be required if one or both of the dogs involved have never been bred before.
If the mating has been successful and the female dog conceives, they will deliver pups between 58 and 63 days later. You can easily find your dog's due date by consulting a canine pregnancy calendar.
Best Time for MatingThere's no specific way to determine when ovulation will occur in a home setting. Usually, your dog will be most fertile between nine to 10 days after they entered heat, and can remain fertile for up to five days. According to VCA Hospitals, the most common sign is the color of the discharge, which becomes more of a pink, "salmon" color rather than blood red. You can also take your dog to the vet to have serum progesterone tests performed, which can give you insight into when the best time for mating is, but it does require you to take your dog for a series of tests every day or every other day during their cycle. DIY testing kits are available for purchase, as well, although they may not be as reliable as the tests performed by your veterinarian. Age and MatingA dog can breed the first time they go into heat. However, a responsible breeder will have important criteria in mind before allowing a dog to be bred. According to the American Kennel Club, you may not register any litters from a dam younger than 8 months or older than 12 years. In addition, they strongly recommend that breeders consider several factors not related to age before breeding. Prospective breeders should ask themselves the following questions.
Time Will TellOnce breeding has been completed, it will take some time to find out if it was a success. You'll be able to tell if a litter is on the way a lot sooner if you learn to spot the signs of pregnancy. © 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved. How long after bleeding is a dog fertile?After about 9-10 days, the bleeding will become more watery, or stop. It is at this time your female will, most likely, be at her most fertile. This proestrus stage can last as long as 20 days in some dogs. So the end of bleeding can be a more useful indicator of peak fertility.
What are the most fertile days of a dogs heat cycle?Bitches ovulate 48 hours after the LH surge or Day 2 post LH. Dogs go through a further maturation phase post ovulation so their optimum fertile period is Days 4 through Day 6 and post LH surge.
Can dogs get pregnant anytime during heat?However, sperm can survive for a week in the reproductive tract and still be capable of fertilizing the eggs, so it is possible for her to get pregnant at any point while she is in estrus.
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