If you are considering either breeding your dog for more pups or performing surgery to remove that possibility, you need to know certain stages in your dog’s life that can improve the likelihood of pregnancy. This is probably a question posed by female dog owners since you have probably seen your dog bleeding during the mating season.
This can become quite messy for your household since she will leave a bloody trail during her wake, which can be quite impossible to clean after. If you are currently struggling with a dog in heat, these diapers might be the ones for you since they will prevent your canine companion from bleeding all over the place!
Even though puppies can be quite cute, they cost quite a bit of money and a lot of time if you want to raise them from that age. The first step to being a responsible dog owner is to know your limit, whether it is regarding financial matters or your mental well-being. So know your limit, and stick to it!
Without further introduction, let’s jump straight into our list of questions that we are going to cover for today, and I hope that this information will be helpful to you as well as for your pet. Please stay tuned till the end, and thanks again for reading through our website!
Can Dogs Become Pregnant During Bleeding Phase?
Many dog owners relate dog’s breeding cycles with that of humans, and that is absolutely a myth! They are absolutely different from one other, and this is the reason why many uninformed dog owners make the mistake of ending up with pregnant females.
The bleeding phase, when females are actively bleeding, is called the proestrus stage, which is the start of their breeding cycle. After the bleeding ebbs away, the females go into a stage called “standing heat”, and they will allow and even invite males to mount and start the breeding process.
So the answer to our first question is highly unlikely. During the bleeding phase, the female is readying herself for the breeding process, and in most cases, she will not allow the male to mount her and even show aggression to ones that do.
With all that said, there is still a slight chance of your dog becoming pregnant even during the bleeding phase. If you don’t want your dog to become pregnant, don’t take any risks, and please make sure that your dog stays away from its male counterparts!
How Long Does a Dog Stay Fertile After the Bleeding Phase?
After the bleeding phase has passed, your dog will stay fertile till the end of the cycle, which is about 2~3 weeks. If you want to look at it just by using numbers, the entire cycle usually takes at least 15 days or at most a whole month.
Since the bleeding phase can take up to 1~2 weeks, the remaining days in that cycle are still fair game since females can get pregnant during their cycle. Even though females are most fertile right after the bleeding phase, don’t lower your guard until several weeks have passed!
How Many Times Do You Have to Breed Your Dog In Order to Become Pregnant?
The number of times that you have to breed your dog depends on several factors. First, the dog breed might play a factor in this, but most importantly, the timing is very crucial. As I have mentioned before, if your dog mate during the bleeding phase, there is a very low chance of your dog becoming pregnant.
Due to this reason, many dog owners take their females to the vet to get some testings done to determine the optimal time for mating. The vet can perform various tests to determine whether or not your dog is “in heat”, and if she is, there will be a higher chance for the one-time breeding to be successful.
In addition, the actions that your dog takes after the breeding has finished can be quite important. If a female dog cleans herself or immediately sits down after breeding, the sperm might leave her body and not be absorbed into her system.
Due to these various factors, the number of times that you have to breed your dog might vary, but you can take extra steps as taking your dog to a vet to increase the likelihood of success!
What Are the Best Times for Breeding a Dog?
As I have mentioned before, females are most fertile right after the bleeding phase, which is about 10 days into the cycle. This would mean the best times for breeding would be around this time since the likelihood of success is greatest, which means your dog only has to go through the breeding process once or twice.
Even if the breeding is unsuccessful, most male dog owners will offer the same services for free, but make sure to double-check this information since it is not always guaranteed. If you want to know the best timing for your dog, vaginal smears and blood tests are available through your vet’s help.
What Are Some Early Signs of Females “In Heat”?
Even though the bleeding out from her rear end is pretty obvious, let’s cover some other signs that your pet gives out during the heated session. Changes in appearance can include different tail positions, swollen vulva (reproductive instrument located at her rear), and bloody & pinkish discharge.
Changes in behavior will include frequent urination, excessive licking in the genital parts, and irregular behavior such as mounting. I happen to own a female dog that has passed away recently, and during one of her cycles, she tried to mount my arm frequently when I was trying to relax on the couch.
In addition, her behavior will grow into a nervous wreck, and she will be more receptive toward males, which means she will actively try to invite males to mount her. She will even stand still and shove her rear end toward any male dogs near her, so you better watch out and keep your dog out of danger!
If you don’t want your dog to go into heat, you need to get her spayed, which can prevent you from having major headaches down the road. Spaying will not only save your dog from accidental pregnancies and heat cycles, but it will also save your pet from cancer and reproductive diseases.
How Often Do Females Go “In Heat”?
Even though this might vary between the breeds, the general trend that most females fall into are about once every six months. It might take a while for young females to develop a regular pattern, but as time goes on, you will be able to recognize the early signs and be able to adequately care for your pet!
For small dogs, the heat cycle happens more regularly, and sometimes, they can go into heat 3 and even 4 times every year. The opposite is true for breeds of giant dogs since they often go in heat only once in a single year.
Conclusion: Having Measures in Place
If you own a male dog, you probably won’t have as much of a problem as owning a female dog, but if you are a female dog owner, it is vital that you have safety measures in place. Many a time, female dogs often get lost when they are in heat, and they come back to their owners several days later when they have already done the deed.
In most cases, the bad turns for the worst, and your pet becomes a mother of several pups. If this happens, you either have to turn in those puppies back into the animal shelter or try to raise those pups on your own, which can be a great hassle that you cannot afford to face.
If that is the case, make sure to take precautionary measures to prevent this event from ever happening! If you don’t want any more pups, make sure to appoint a surgery when you buy a new dog or adopt one. If you do want quality pups, seek advice from a professional breeder for the right match.
In addition, try to keep in mind the general periods when your dog can go in heat, and make sure to keep a firm hand on that leash to prevent her from running away. If you do want financial assistance regarding this matter, signing up for a pet plan might be a way to go to avoid financial difficulties down the road.
