Our breeding recommendations:
We recommend that you work with your vet to ensure your female is healthy and is physically ready for pregnancy.
If this is not a first time breeding we ask that your dog be tested and cleared of canine brucellosis.
We recommend you do not mate your dog on her first heat cycle. Wait until she has had one to two heat cycles to mate. This will ensure she is healthy enough for mating.
We recommend two mating ties between the dogs, twenty-four or forty-eight hours apart. This can help to increase the likelihood of your dog getting pregnant.
For best results, we recommend that the first tie occur as close as possible to day 10 into your dog’s being in heat.
We will work with owners to pick a location most comfortable for both the bitch and the stud. Depending on circumstances, we have chosen the home of the female and at times our home.
If this is not a first time breeding we ask that your dog be tested and cleared of canine brucellosis.
We recommend you do not mate your dog on her first heat cycle. Wait until she has had one to two heat cycles to mate. This will ensure she is healthy enough for mating.
We recommend two mating ties between the dogs, twenty-four or forty-eight hours apart. This can help to increase the likelihood of your dog getting pregnant.
For best results, we recommend that the first tie occur as close as possible to day 10 into your dog’s being in heat.
We will work with owners to pick a location most comfortable for both the bitch and the stud. Depending on circumstances, we have chosen the home of the female and at times our home.
Signs That Your Female Is In Season
There are several signs to look out for when your bitch is starting her cycle. There could be only one sign showing at first so you need to read your bitch attentively especially in the very first days.
Bloody Discharges First on this list because usually the surest sign of being in season, your bitch will start to have pinkish discharges during the first stage, to then become brighter or tanned. Some females clean themselves very well so it may be hard to notice.
Swollen Vulva Easily noticeable, your bitch’s vulva will swell within few days. You may be unlucky if you are having a females who hardly swell at all but the vulva usually swells up with a spongy look.
Tail Flagging As soon as the oestrous stage starts, your bitch will be ready for mating and breeding. To send signals to nearby males, the bitch commonly holds her tail up and moves it from side to side to disperse her scent and attract the males near her.
Male Interest The next sign of heat is not found on your dog, but in the presence of other dogs. You may notice neighbor dogs hanging out around your house. They can smell your female’s heat cycle. Dogs get VERY creative during this stage. If you notice strange males in your yard, stay away from them. Bring your dog inside and wait for them to leave. When males are anxious to breed, they can be much more likely to bite. It’s best just to keep her secluded to your yard and home.
Mood Change Some bitches can turn to an over-sensitive mood and become a bit contentious with people and other animals around them.
Swollen Nipples Not very common, some females may have their nipples swollen a little bit. It may be hard to notice for us, though.
Bloody Discharges First on this list because usually the surest sign of being in season, your bitch will start to have pinkish discharges during the first stage, to then become brighter or tanned. Some females clean themselves very well so it may be hard to notice.
Swollen Vulva Easily noticeable, your bitch’s vulva will swell within few days. You may be unlucky if you are having a females who hardly swell at all but the vulva usually swells up with a spongy look.
Tail Flagging As soon as the oestrous stage starts, your bitch will be ready for mating and breeding. To send signals to nearby males, the bitch commonly holds her tail up and moves it from side to side to disperse her scent and attract the males near her.
Male Interest The next sign of heat is not found on your dog, but in the presence of other dogs. You may notice neighbor dogs hanging out around your house. They can smell your female’s heat cycle. Dogs get VERY creative during this stage. If you notice strange males in your yard, stay away from them. Bring your dog inside and wait for them to leave. When males are anxious to breed, they can be much more likely to bite. It’s best just to keep her secluded to your yard and home.
Mood Change Some bitches can turn to an over-sensitive mood and become a bit contentious with people and other animals around them.
Swollen Nipples Not very common, some females may have their nipples swollen a little bit. It may be hard to notice for us, though.
Using Tests and Heat Cycle Tracking on Your Dog
Get a vaginal smear done by your vet. You can confirm your dog is in heat by having your vet perform a vaginal smear on your female dog. A vaginal smear is done by examining vaginal cells from your dog under a microscope. It is a non-invasive procedure and does not harm your dog. Your vet will require a sample from your dog and may perform a test on several samples to confirm your dog is in heat. As part of the testing, your vet will look for changes in cells that show your dog is ovulating. The vaginal smear can also determine your dog’s optimal breeding time.
Have a serum progesterone test done on your dog. You can also determine your dog’s ovulation by having your vet do a blood test to measure the progesterone level in your dog’s blood. This test requires your dog to provide a blood sample. Your vet may need several samples to accurately predict your dog’s ovulation period. This test is considered very accurate for determining the optimal mating time for a female dog. It is an ideal option if your female dog has a history of unsuccessful mating or if you want to be sure the female dog is ready before bringing her to a male dog for mating.
Track your dog’s heat cycle. Dogs go into heat about twice a year, so track your dog's cycle to determine when she is ovulating (which means she is fertile). Female dogs have four different stages in their cycle: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and anestrus. You may need to track several of your dog’s heat cycles to confirm each stage.
-The proestrus stage starts when the female dog’s vulva begins to swell and starts to spot. It is usually nine days, but can last from four to 20 days. During this stage, your dog may attract males but not accept them for mating.
-The estrus stage begins next, and this is the period where the female dog can breed. This period usually lasts nine days, and she is most fertile for the first five days of it. She will become more social with males and allow them to mate with her. You'll know the fertile stage is complete when her vagina returns to its normal appearance and she no longer flirts with or accepts mates.
-The metestrus stage is usually 50 days, but can last from 80 to 90 days, and the final stage called the anestrus stage can last for two to three months. During the metestrus and anestrus periods, the female dog is at the end of her cycle and will not allow breeding.
Have a serum progesterone test done on your dog. You can also determine your dog’s ovulation by having your vet do a blood test to measure the progesterone level in your dog’s blood. This test requires your dog to provide a blood sample. Your vet may need several samples to accurately predict your dog’s ovulation period. This test is considered very accurate for determining the optimal mating time for a female dog. It is an ideal option if your female dog has a history of unsuccessful mating or if you want to be sure the female dog is ready before bringing her to a male dog for mating.
Track your dog’s heat cycle. Dogs go into heat about twice a year, so track your dog's cycle to determine when she is ovulating (which means she is fertile). Female dogs have four different stages in their cycle: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and anestrus. You may need to track several of your dog’s heat cycles to confirm each stage.
-The proestrus stage starts when the female dog’s vulva begins to swell and starts to spot. It is usually nine days, but can last from four to 20 days. During this stage, your dog may attract males but not accept them for mating.
-The estrus stage begins next, and this is the period where the female dog can breed. This period usually lasts nine days, and she is most fertile for the first five days of it. She will become more social with males and allow them to mate with her. You'll know the fertile stage is complete when her vagina returns to its normal appearance and she no longer flirts with or accepts mates.
-The metestrus stage is usually 50 days, but can last from 80 to 90 days, and the final stage called the anestrus stage can last for two to three months. During the metestrus and anestrus periods, the female dog is at the end of her cycle and will not allow breeding.
