A female dog’s reproduction is not as straightforward as a male’s, which is why it takes more time and work to breed them.
It can be very frustrating for the breeder when they cannot figure out the reason behind their failure or success in breeding their dogs, which could be due to many reasons, but many would not expect one of those reasons being the dog’s readiness.
So if you’re wondering when is a female dog ready to breed, this article is for you. This article will discuss a female dog’s reproductive system and tell you when the time is right to breed it.
What Is the Best Age?
Your dog won’t go into heat until she’s six months old, at which point she’ll become sexually mature, although the exact time is also dependent on the dog’s breed and size.
Smaller breeds can reach sexual maturity as early as four months, while larger breeds may need to wait until two years of age.
The optimal age for a female dog to become pregnant is when it reaches sexual maturity. Sexual maturity, on the other hand, does not always imply that your dog is ready to become pregnant.
Even though most dogs can become pregnant between the ages of six and twelve months, this does not necessarily mean that it is the best age to breed.
Your dog must mature before breeding since pregnancy before it’s ready, might cause behavioral and health issues. Your dog should have the opportunity to mature. It’s best to wait until your dog is in her second or third heat before breeding her.
When Is the Best Day to Breed a Dog in Heat?
A female dog’s heat cycle has two distinct stages, each lasting 9 days on average:
● Proestrus – bloody discharge will start but the dog is not receptive to males yet
● Estrus – eggs are released from the dog’s ovaries and progesterone levels start to go up. Your dog is receptive to males already.
The second stage or the estrus stage is when a female dog will accept males mounting her for copulation. Successful copulation will result in pregnancy.
So from the time you start to see bloody discharge, count 10 to 14 days and you have the optimal period to breed your dog.
Some females, on the other hand, ovulate as early as the third or fourth day or as late as the eighteenth.
For a precise day, it’s best to have progesterone tests as soon as your dog gets into the heat cycle. Your veterinarian can perform these tests and tell you when the best time to breed your dog is.
Without these tests, you may still be able to tell when your dog is ready to mate if it is receptive to a male dog when put together.
How Often Do Dogs Get in Heat?
This happens twice a year on average, but it varies depending on the dog. Three cycles in a year can be normal for certain dogs.
● small dog breeds have three or four heat cycles in a year
● large dog breeds have two or even one heat cycle a year
The cycles might fluctuate in length and frequency, and each cycle can occur at a different time. A dog’s cycle can take some time to become regular.
Get Progesterone Tests to Time Your Breeding Correctly
The only way to pinpoint ovulation in dogs with great accuracy is to get a progesterone test. It is a very useful and inexpensive tool to answer the question of, “when is a female dog ready to breed.”
You can get it done by your veterinarian, or you could do it yourself and save money on tests and vet visits.
Check out MR Diagnostic Services for progesterone test machines. You’ll also find other testing kits and breeding tools designed for a serious breeder. Drop by their website today.
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