Post by sindsaint on Oct 14, 2005 14:55:48 GMT 8
Female dogs experience their first heat during adolescence, usually between the ages of 5 – 18 months. The heat cycles usually occur every 6 – 9 months throughout the life of the bitch. There are four stages to the female heat cycle but, because every dog is different, the time frame for each stage varies a lot – in fact, even within an individual female’s life the length of time in each stage may vary from cycle to cycle.
Females under two years of age should not be bred. She should have these years to develop physically and mentally, before the rigors of breeding and whelping.
The 4 stages to the female heat cycle:
First stage, Proestrus: The first stage of a heat cycle is the preparatory period and it lasts from 5 – 9 days. Male dogs will start hanging around the bitch at this time, reacting to the pheremones she is emitting, but she won't be interested in them. During this time an unspayed female dog may show physical signs that she has entered her heat cycle. The physical signs involve the swelling of the female’s vulva and there will also often be a blood-colored discharge – although some females lick the discharge up, removing any sign of it.
Second stage, Estrus: The second stage is the active breeding phase. This stage usually occurs about halfway into the heat cycle, at about 10 –14 days. During this stage the female’s discharge is no longer blood-colored but becomes a pale yellowish color. In this stage the bitch will be receptive to the stud dog, and she will show this by standing with her back end toward the male with her tail crooked to one side, known as “flagging”. At this time the female is usually happy to let the male mount her. It’s a good idea to breed the female 2 or 3 times over a 3-day span, in order to encourage a successful breeding
If the breeding was successful in this stage then the whelping date will usually be 58 – 68 days after breeding, but remember each dog is different. It's not possible to give an exact number of gestation days because it varies from dog to dog. Litter sizes also vary from dog to dog.
Third stage, Metestrus: The third stage can last for up to 80 days. The female will no longer be receptive to male dogs and she may again experience some blood-colored discharge. If the breeding was successful during stage 2 then stage 3 will last until whelping.
Fourth stage, Anestrus: The fourth stage is an inactive period between heat cycles.
Sometimes dogs experience "silent heats". During a silent heat the bitch may show no signs of being in heat, and even male dogs may be unable to tell. This happens most often in very young or very old dogs. Dogs do not experience menopause.
It is very difficult to hide the fact that there is a female dog in heat from male dogs in the area. The males will pick up the distinctive scent particular to the females at this time, which is why it is necessary to have an isolation or breeding room in your kennel. During the heat cycle the male dogs will attempt to reach the female by any means, and during the second stage of her heat cycle the female will do the same.
Females under two years of age should not be bred. She should have these years to develop physically and mentally, before the rigors of breeding and whelping.
The 4 stages to the female heat cycle:
First stage, Proestrus: The first stage of a heat cycle is the preparatory period and it lasts from 5 – 9 days. Male dogs will start hanging around the bitch at this time, reacting to the pheremones she is emitting, but she won't be interested in them. During this time an unspayed female dog may show physical signs that she has entered her heat cycle. The physical signs involve the swelling of the female’s vulva and there will also often be a blood-colored discharge – although some females lick the discharge up, removing any sign of it.
Second stage, Estrus: The second stage is the active breeding phase. This stage usually occurs about halfway into the heat cycle, at about 10 –14 days. During this stage the female’s discharge is no longer blood-colored but becomes a pale yellowish color. In this stage the bitch will be receptive to the stud dog, and she will show this by standing with her back end toward the male with her tail crooked to one side, known as “flagging”. At this time the female is usually happy to let the male mount her. It’s a good idea to breed the female 2 or 3 times over a 3-day span, in order to encourage a successful breeding
If the breeding was successful in this stage then the whelping date will usually be 58 – 68 days after breeding, but remember each dog is different. It's not possible to give an exact number of gestation days because it varies from dog to dog. Litter sizes also vary from dog to dog.
Third stage, Metestrus: The third stage can last for up to 80 days. The female will no longer be receptive to male dogs and she may again experience some blood-colored discharge. If the breeding was successful during stage 2 then stage 3 will last until whelping.
Fourth stage, Anestrus: The fourth stage is an inactive period between heat cycles.
Sometimes dogs experience "silent heats". During a silent heat the bitch may show no signs of being in heat, and even male dogs may be unable to tell. This happens most often in very young or very old dogs. Dogs do not experience menopause.
It is very difficult to hide the fact that there is a female dog in heat from male dogs in the area. The males will pick up the distinctive scent particular to the females at this time, which is why it is necessary to have an isolation or breeding room in your kennel. During the heat cycle the male dogs will attempt to reach the female by any means, and during the second stage of her heat cycle the female will do the same.