On average, puberty (or sexual maturity) is reached at about six months of age, but this can vary by breed. Smaller breeds tend to have their first estrous cycle at an earlier age, while large and giant breeds may not come into heat for the first time until they reach eighteen months to two years of age.
When Do Dogs Reach Sexual Maturity? Your dog won't go into heat until she reaches sexual maturity, which begins at six months. This can also depend on the dog and breed. Some smaller breeds can go into sexual maturity at four months, while larger breeds may need to wait until they are two years old.
It depends on the age of the male puppy and its breed. Some male puppies reach sexual maturity as early as five months, while larger breeds may take as long as 11 or 12 months. As an average, though, 6 to 9 months is a good estimate, although they are most fertile after about 12 months.
Estrus is the stage when the dog can become pregnant. Although this can vary with each individual, on average a dog will be in heat for 1 ½ to 2 weeks but this can be shorter or longer.
Most dogs reach puberty and become fertile when they are six months old, although they shouldn't have puppies until they are fully grown. Small breeds reach adulthood when they are one year old and can safely have puppies if they are done growing.
She will begin to put on a bit of a belly as she gains her baby weight around day 40. Some first-time moms and those with smaller litters may not gain much, making it harder still to identify her pregnancy. Most dogs ends up weighing about 50% more than normal. Her appetite will change, usually increasing.
A whopping 40% of female dogs will fall pregnant after just one mating session! That incredibly high number means you are at considerable risk of having a litter of unwanted puppies if you are not careful.
Although six months old is the average age of a dog's first heat, this can vary widely. Some dogs can go into heat as young as four months, while larger breeds may be as old as two years before their first heat. Responsible breeders never breed a dog on her first or even her second heat.
The traditional method of detecting pregnancy in the dog is careful abdominal palpation (gently pressing on the surface of the abdomen with the fingers) to detect swellings in the uterus that signal the presence of developing puppies.
In short, your dog cannot become pregnant when not in heat, but many dog-owners have a hard time identifying and keeping track of when their pet is fertile.
"Breeding and getting your dog pregnant on her first heat can also pose health risks for both your dog and her pups, like bad genes being passed on, and behavioral changes like aggression."
a) Dogs and cats are not like people when it comes to sex. They don't cycle the same way and there's no evidence, behaviorally or otherwise, that sexual activity brings them any specific pleasure akin to orgasm, for example.
Regular short walks and light play time as well as attention are all good exercises for pregnant dogs. Do not over-stimulate the pregnant dog, but also don't let her become lethargic. During the last three weeks of pregnancy in dogs, it is important that the pregnant dog be separated from other dogs and animals.
It is recommended to feed your pregnant dog a high-quality diet that has adequate levels of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Premium adult dog food made by Hills or Royal Canin, as an example are ideal. There is no need to supplement these diets.
The expectant mother will gradually require increasing amounts of food to nourish her developing litter. A food approved for growth (i.e. a puppy food or a performance diet) will certainly be necessary during the nursing period and pregnancy may be a good time to transition into this new diet.
Signs a Female Is in Heat
Swollen nipples - Sometimes, but not always, the nipples and breasts will swell slightly. This can also be a sign of a phantom pregnancy, when a female may begin to show signs of being pregnant even if she's not.
Human pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is a hormone only found in pregnant humans and will not be created in a pregnant dog. This means human pregnancy tests are not able to be used on dogs.
A: A dog is said to be in heat when they are in the proestrus and estrus stages of their reproductive cycle. During proestrus and estrus a dog will have bloody discharge from the vulva, and during estrus, a dog can get pregnant.
It's possible for a female dog to have a maximum of three litters a year. Female dogs can go into heat between the ages of six to 12 months and do not go into menopause. Assuming a dog lives to the average age of 11, this means a dog could have up to 30 litters.
After about 9-10 days, the bleeding will become more watery, or stop. It is at this time your female will, most likely, be at her most fertile. This proestrus stage can last as long as 20 days in some dogs. So the end of bleeding can be a more useful indicator of peak fertility.