dogs in heat (breeders only please)?

Question

my german shepherd is now 3 and a half. She didn;t have her first heat until she was 2 and a half, and now at 3 and a half she is having her second

Have always considered breeding her, but do you think it is is wise, due to her late and irregular seasons??

Just wondering, have you ever tried???

cheers

Answer 1

I would be cautious.... yes, there can be quite some variation in cycles, but when they are extreme, it could be something serious.

I know uterine cancer can effect their cycles as well as ovarian cysts. A friend of mine had a ***** who only cycled once a year and it turned out she had a tumor on her uterus that was interfering with her hormones.

I had a ***** who cycled every three to four months and eventually was diagnosed with ovarian cysts.

Besides, you really don't want to pass along irregular cycles because they are definitely inherited genetically and can possibly be a sign of future complications in gestation and whelping.

Answer 2

The decision to breed is a serious undertaking, one with far reaching ramifications. It is more than putting two dogs together to have babies. It is more than putting together two good pedigrees. It is knowing your dogs. It is understanding dog behavior and drives. It is having a goal, that your are trying to obtain.


Have you had her hips screened to make sure she does not have HD? Is she healthy? IS the stud dog healthy?

Bitches must be in good health and condition at the time of breeding and must be free of hereditary defects, parasites, or infections. They must be of good conformation and temperament and must be physically suitable for breeding to the selected male. A recent negative culture and brucellosis test are important for both the Sire and the Dam. What will you do with the puparoos once they arrive? Do you have homes for them? IF you sell them how are you sure they won't be tied to a tree for their life. The families that purchase or adopt puppies are making a lifetime commitment to that puppy. Living breathing creatures are being brought to the pounds on a daily basis and dying because, thier humans did not understand a life time commitment.

Are you prepared to raise the pups if mom decides not to or worse can not produce enough milk for her pups... Bottle feeding every couple of hours.

Pups are a lot of work especially for the beginner. I would talk at length with your vet. If you want to breed her for a few extra bucks, it never works that way. It's better to spay her and let her live a long healthy life.

Answer 3

Some lines mature late. Two years is not unheard of.

However, why are you considering breeding her? Only breed if
a) she is a good example of the breed
b) you can find a stud who is also a good example
c) you have tested for genetic defects inherant to the breed
d) you are breeding to improve the breed, not to make money, cause you won't.

Answer 4

Hi,

Like people dogs start heats at different ages. It isn't all that unusual for a dog not to start until after two and once a year may be regular for her! I would go online and see if you can find a vet specializing in reproduction in you area.
They can do a few simple tests to see if everything is normal with her.
I am betting she's fine.

Good luck!

Answer 5

1. Is she a GREAT specimen?

2. Are you breeding for the money or trying to improve the breed?

3. What "faults" does your dog have? Are they minor or major? Can you find a male that does not have these same faults?

4. Is she Registered? Whether she is or not, go to an animal shelter and look at all of the dogs needing homes...do you really want to bring another puppy in the world that could end up in a shelter,or worse!!!???

After all of that, do you still want to breed? I do love breeding dogs, it is costly, time consuming, and not really that profitable if done right. I enjoy having the cute puppies around, and I am willing to take on the responsibility of caring for them...not only is there a cost for the mother's health, now you have anywhere between 1-12 (maybe even 15) puppies to care for...mom only has enough teats for 8 pups...you are now getting up every 2 hrs to hand feed the pups. What if mom rejects all of them? I (and my husband) bottle fed 2 litters of pups because mom (Great specimen) tried to kill them. By the time we finished feeding them (and ALL the other MOM activities), we got 30 min. sleep before it started all over again. Now the puppies are eating more solid food (regardless if YOU are mom, or MOM is Mom)...what goes in comes out! Puppies poo and pee anywhere...it is your responsibility to start potty training them...(my puppies were 85% house broke when they left)...then there is their first vet ck and shots...(and maybe second)...to be a good breeder, you need to keep an up to date folder on each puppy as far as health, shots, if the puppy has been sick, with what, what was the treatment...etc.
Even as a hobby, puppy rearing is a JOB!

Now if the horror story I have just told you has not changed your mind, and you ARE ready to do this, here is more (not so harsh) advice:

German Shepherd Dogs, like most big dogs are prone to hip dysplasia(sp?)...do the puppies a favor and have her hips x-rayed (OFAed)...if she is clear, then it would be ok, to breed....I usually tell people to wait until the bitches 3rd heat (that makes her 1 1/2 - 2 yrs old)...in this case, she is a good age....My Mom-in-Law has a mini schn that came into heat a 9 months, then 5 months later, then every 6 months after that (give or take a month)...she was never "regular"...also had a friend with an unrelated Mini schn that came in only once a yr (if she was lucky)...MIL had 3 litters 5-7-9...friend also had several litters out of her girl...Take your baby to the vet and have a health ck done on her. If he/she gives the all clear, find a male with better qualities than your female (ie. yours has a short neck, chose a male with a longer neck, yours has a loooong muzzle, chose a male with a shorter muzzle) "always breed up"!..Never breed "just because your neighbor has a male and will do it for free" "You get what you pay for"!

Ok, say you did breed your female, now here is what to expect:
Count 9 weeks (give or take a day or two) from the first mating (dogs must tie, or "get stuck" for conception to take place).

You only have 9 weeks to get ready for the arrival of the pups, so get ready...call your vet and tell him when her due date is, get contact numbers from him incase labor is during the night...he may suggest and emergancy clinic for you...whelping box, heating pad, mucus bulb, and lots of towels. Do a search online, to see what else is suggested for whelping puppies.

Your females temp will drop below 100 deg or get really close. (my female never dropped below 100) and she will be very ansy (sp ck is out sorry for sp)...take her to the whelping box if she is not already there...the puppies will come in time...the important thing is...if she is in HARD labor (pushing), and no puppies after 2hrs, this is an emergancy trip to the vet! If all goes well, let her have the puppies in quite...you may stay with her to help, but let nature take it's course. Breach puppies can be born with no problem...if breach and puppy is not delivered in 3-4 pushes, gently pull puppy with each contraction (during a push) until the puppy comes out (if you can not gently pull puppy/stuck..take to vet NOW!). Let mom do her job, the licking and rolling of the puppies by mom seconds after birth is bonding time...leave puppy alone until she ignores it...be careful taking puppy, mom my be protective and give you a nip or worse!...towel dry pup and return to mom to nurse (nursing stems milk and contractions)...let her eat 3-4 afterbirth...also stems contractions...once all of the puppies are born, watch for a normal bloody discharge...black or green is not good...take mom and puppies to the vet about 24-48 hrs after last pup is born just for a health ck.

Puppies are a big expense...be prepaired to spend between $100 and $300 before the pups even find new homes.

Answer 6

I have Shepards. I think she would be fine, but I'm not a vet either. I would call the local vet and ask them. They are helpful on the phone around here.

Answer 7

Hi i have bred dogs for years and it would be fine to breed your dog. if i was you do it whilst your dog is still quite young

Dog lover and breeder

Answer 8

She might have had more heats then that. They might have been so slight you did not notice them.she is still young enough to breed