Some puppies may have problems when born, so It's good to make sure they're doing well. Gender. How Can I Prevent My Dog From Going Into Heat? 2. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Estrus: The estrus phase is the mating phase where your female dog will be receptive to males. This is also when the vaginal discharge is less copious, and she should be more interested in male companionship. Very helpful and easy to understand. You may also notice the blood or discharge has a distinct smell. It is usually nine days, but can last from four to 20 days. During estrus, your female dog may appear nervous, easily distracted and more alert than usual. To figure out if she's in heat, check for a swollen vulva and watch out for blood or sharp-smelling discharge left behind on furniture, carpets, and bedding. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Yes, just to make sure they are healthy. This period usually lasts nine days, and she is most fertile for the first five days of it. It is highly recommended that you get your female dog spayed, not only to prevent estrus and accidental pregnancy, but to protect her against breast cancer and diseases of the reproductive system. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. My dog usually gets moody around my male dog when I am around, but once I am gone they both get heated up and mate. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. What's wrong? Meet this smart and adaptable breed! The strong smell is meant to attract the attention of a male dog. You may notice that your female dog wants to be let outside more often to urinate than she usually does. In order to breed your female dog with a male dog, you will need to determine exactly when your dog is at the optimal stage in her heat cycle for breeding. How old should the male dog be to pair with the female dog? Please do not breed dogs if you are not experienced and are not breeding purebred dogs with papers. ;)", "Thanks for the info on blood tests. Kitten Care -- From Adoption to Kitty-Proofing Your Home, Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet, Helping Stray and Feral Cats: What You Should Know. This could be a sign she is experiencing the period in her heat cycle when she is most fertile. This article received 17 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. As part of the testing, your vet will look for changes in cells that show your dog is ovulating. The proestrus stage starts when the female dog’s vulva begins to swell and starts to spot. * Within 5-6 hours of last puppy’s birth, you can take bitch and puppies to vet for check up if something seems to be wrong. Wait until she has had one to two heat cycles to mate her. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Thank you! I'm trying to breed her at least once, and your article was very, "Great information! Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The dog didn't complain, but the vet said a larger amount would, "I didn't have a clue about how to breed my dog. This can help to increase the likelihood of your dog getting pregnant. The estrus stage begins next, and this is the period where the female dog can breed. Female dogs often have hidden infections in the urethra, not the bladder, especially older females, that will only show up … When the female is receptive to males, vaginal discharge decreases in amount and is straw-colored. Before The Pregnancy. Firstly, and most importantly, make sure your dog is the right age.You want to ensure they’re older than 2 – ideally, 3! You can turn your dog over on her stomach to examine her genital area or observe her genital area from behind. I do believe he is healthy, "willing and able. She may also urinate more frequently when she's in heat.