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The Heat Cycle
The Symptoms.A female dog usually comes into "heat" or is "in season" every 6 months.
The Humane
Societies, Animal Shelters, and 'Pounds' are always overloaded with unwanted dogs because too many owners are either careless
at this time, or think it would be educational or fun to have a litter of puppies.
This is bad thinking.
Although
it relates to the Atlanta Humane Society, all Humane Societies and shelters are struggling with the same devastating situation.
Unless you are prepared to be responsible for those puppies for the rest
of their lives and unless you are prepared to have your pregnant bitch possibly die giving birth, don't let her be bred!!
The
entire "Heat" period lasts an average of 21 days, but this may vary with some dogs.
The actual "breeding time" is about 7
days total in the 3 week period, but this time can be very difficult to determine.
The symptoms at the beginning
of the heat cycle usually starts with her paying a great deal of attention to and licking at her vulva frequently, and there
is some hard swelling around the vaginal area.
She will begin dark red bleeding from the vagina.
The flow may be fairly
heavy the first few days and usually decreases in amount over the next week.
The colour also changes from dark red to salmon
colour as the heat progresses.
The vulva, or area around the vagina, swells considerably and then begins to soften, as
her progesterone level rises and her body prepares to release the eggs from the ovaries.
She will curve her tail over
to the left or right side as she becomes closer to the actual mating time and will urinate frequently to spread her scent
for the males.
You can avoid blood spots in the house by putting little boy's jockey type underwear with a fly on her.
Place
a Light Days pad into the shorts and then put the pants on backwards, so that the tail comes out the fly.
A 30 lb. dog
uses a size 6 or 6x jockey underwear.
Disposable kiddie's 'pull-ups' can also be used, but they are quite expensive.
Change
the mini-pad regularly as needed through the day, and give her time to clean herself when she comes back into the house from
doing her 'chores' before you put the pants back on her.
Remember to remove the 'pants' when you let her outside to 'relieve
' herself!
I have forgotten to do this myself, occasionally and it causes the dog to become very confused!
If you
are planning to mate her, and don't want to risk a "miss". there are tests the Veterinarian can
do to pinpoint the day of ovulation or you can do it yourself by using a "Premate" Test.
As a long time
breeder, it is my experience that the external, or visible symptoms do not necessarily reflect what is really happening inside
her body.
I find the Premate test to be extremely reliable.
Some females are very determined to not be bred, and
will attack the male viciously.
Other females will breed with every dog in the neighbourhood if they are given the opportunity
to do so.
Always remember though that a pregnancy and delivery can pose a great risk to your dog.
Some dogs do die
as a result of a pregnancy and certainly puppies die.
If
you do not want to have puppies at this time, you must exercise great care and caution through this 3 week period.
Do
not take her for walks at all, but keep her confined to the fenced back yard for the whole time.
The reason for this is
that she will urinate frequently while on a walk, just to let the boys know she is available.
The males will pick up the
scent and follow her trail to your home.
You really don't want a motley collection of canine suitors hanging around your
house.
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