This is very important! Puppy PROBLEM!!!?

Question

i have a nine month old shih-tzu puppy and she started her period last saturday. how long are small dog's periods supposed to last? she's highly irritable, always tired, and cold. but its also a real big pain in the but to change her puppy pad every hour. we're wanting to breed her, so getting her "fixed" is out of the question. but how long will this first period last?!?!?!

Answer 1

It usually lasts about 3 weeks, with bleeding only the first 2 weeks. But, since it is your dogs first heat it may last longer. One of my females bled for 7 weeks during her first heat, but now (she is currently in her third) see is doing exactly what the average is (one week bleeding/ one week that she can actually breed/ one week going out). The irritability and tiredness are normal for females that are in heat, and it may or may not get less severe as she gets older.

Answer 2

Sorry, I have to agree with the comments above about breeding as well. There are too many backyard breeders in this world. I am sure you are a big fan of your dog and her breed, but that doesn't mean she needs to be bred. She's not the last one on earth and there are already professional breeders available if someone wants a certain breed.

For the reasons stated above, please do not breed your dog. I also wanted to point out that if you find it a "real big pain in the but" to change her puppy pad, do you know how much work taking care of a pregnant dog is, along with the puppies that come later?
You can always become a breeder later if that is what you really hope to do one day, but for now just focus on your dog until you know enough about them.

Answer 3

Hi Breanna, I think your original message has been answered - she will be "in heat" for 2-3 weeks. She will come into heat about every six months until she is spayed.

Here is more information about breeding shih tzu...

Most good breeders will not breed a female until she is about 2 years old - it gives her time to mature. They won't breed them but once every two years, to give their little bodies a chance to recover from having puppies and having to nurse them for 6-8 weeks. And good breeders retire their breeding females at around 6 years. At that point, they are around 40 in human years and don't need to be having babies any longer.

Several people have told you to spay her but if you do breed her, please be very, very careful. Shih tzu are relatively prone to having trouble whelping (delivering pups) and sometimes the first litter dies because she won't know what to do. One pregnant dog I rescued lost 4 of 7 puppies and another lost the entire litter of 5 puppies-both were first time moms - it was very, very tragic to watch those tiny, tiny babies just wither away)

If you want her to be successful, you need to do a ton of research before breeding her - running her to the emergency vet at 2 am when she's having trouble whelping and needs an emergency c-section can set you back $1500-$2000. So be certain you clearly know whether she is capable of successfully whelping a litter.

Also, consider the cost of caring for the puppies. If she doesn't know how to nurse them, you will need to be available to bottle feed them every 2-3 hours every day for six weeks. Very tiring, I can tell you from experience and so disheartening when one dies.

You should also set aside the money now for what they will need before they go to their new home - if you are going to do what a good breeder would do - they will need three sets of DHPPC shots (about $25 each plus a veterinary office visit which is another $20-$35 each visit each puppy), one bordetella ($15-$20), one rabies ($15-$20), deworming, a microchip ($50) and to be spayed or neutered BEFORE they leave your home. That's what someone who really cares for their pet quality puppies will do.

Is she an AKC registered shih tzu?

You can find a lot of good information on the American Shih Tzu Club website, www.shihtzu.org and also on our rescue website, www.shihtzu-rescue.com.

Teresa
Shih Tzu Rescue
www.shihtzu-rescue.com
www.lonestarshihtzurescue.com

Answer 4

She will be in heat for three weeks. What I see here is that you want puppies but don't want to deal with all that comes with it. You have two years before you even can think about breeding here.. I would take that time to learn all you can about breeding Shih Tzu's .. If you can't handle heat cycles you surely not going to be able to handle all what comes with puppies and breeding itself..You would be the one I would say you need to get your dog fixed. And I never say that to anyone. I must say you are one that shouldn't be breeding.

Answer 5

If you don't know something so simple you have absolutely NO BUSINESS breeding!!

There are plenty of shih-tzus in the world, a good majority of which are euthanized every year, why woudl you want to create more?!?!?!

I'm sure you can adopt shih-tzu puppies if you want them, if you're just trying to make money then you need to realize that this should be a companion, no an income source.

Answer 6

I think your breeding mentor would be the best person to ask, since she is sure to have a great deal of experience in this area. You do have a breeding mentor don't you? Most responsible breeders do. You can also contact other members of the breed club that you belong to. And check all of your books on the subject, I'm sure there's information in there.

If you don't have a breeding mentor, don't belong to a breed club, don't have books and articles and information on breeding, then I'm inclined to think you aren't really taking the act seriously enough.

Answer 7

I'm with the person before. You shouldn't be breeding animals unless you really know how and yea this world does not need more animals. There are so many pets that are euthanized every day because nobody want them. You should adopt those animals then if you're really into having pets but if it's for selling i wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 8

Well number one, it is not a period, it is a heat cycle or estrus. Exactly opposite of human menstration. Since you want to breed I am sure you have all the information you need because research would be needed if you are going to breed your dog.

Answer 9

purely bypass into any puppy keep you help, and get some chunk toys. purchase a pair diverse varieties, through fact some canines are picky! as quickly as you come across the main appropriate one nevertheless, he would desire to chunk that particularly than each little thing in sight!

Answer 10

You REALLY need to educate yourself if you want to breed your pup. Do you even know when the right age is to start breeding?! Please don't breed if you don't know what you're doing! It's a lot of work so for the sake of the mom and her pups please educate yourself!!
By the way, a female can stay in heat up to a 3 weeks.