Dogs need to be in heat to get pregnant because their bodies are ready to handle pregnancy at this time. Estrus is the stage where female dogs accept males and mate, while diestrus is when their bodies prepare for pregnancy.
Female dogs can't get pregnant when they aren't in heat. Not only are they not fertile, but their reproductive organs won't open for penetration unless they are in heat so they can't even engage in intercourse.
The question: Why is my male dog trying to mate with my bitch even though she's not in heat? He is most likely inexperienced or completely ignorant of mating. Just like humans, instinct provides the impetus to attempt having sex but there is also a learned component.
During the estrus is when you should breed a female dog to maximize her chances of pregnancy. Estrus is also the only time she will be able to impregnate. The oestrus cycle lasts roughly 9 days as well and marks the time in which the eggs are released and are ready to be fertilized.
There is also a phenomenon known as "silent heat". These are heats that do not show clear signs, with for example no bleeding or no swollen vulva, and are therefore difficult to notice. However, even females that have silent heats can become pregnant.
Some dogs experience a condition called silent heat, in which they do ovulate but the characteristic signs of being in heat, such as vulvar swelling and discharge, are not observed. Although rare, some dogs may also have an autoimmune disease that affects their ovaries and interferes with estrous cycling.
YES! If ejaculation has occurred, your female dog can become pregnant in spite of the male not remaining locked to her.
For most females, the best time for breeding is between the tenth and fourteenth day of estrus. However, some females ovulate as early as the third or fourth day or as late as the eighteenth day. It is normal to arrange for two matings (also called stud services) for your dog, often 24 to 48 hours apart.
Does Getting Stuck Mean the Female Dog Is Pregnant? The longer dogs are stuck together in a copulatory tie, the greater the chance that the semen will reach the eggs. But pregnancy in dogs is never guaranteed, Greer says, "Just like in people, not every mating is successful."
After a dog has started their first heat, they can breed anytime during heat, and the heat cycle occurs about every six months. However, the frequency may differ by breed. For example, small dogs go into heat more frequently than larger breeds.
If your normally calm and relaxed dog suddenly starts acting restless, pacing back and forth, and trying to escape your home or yard, it's a good indication that he's looking for a mate. Additionally, if your dog starts mounting other dogs, people, or objects, this is another sign that he's ready to mate.
While frequency varies according to breed and individual dogs, usually dogs go into heat about twice a year or every six months. Each estrus period lasts about 18 days. Male dogs will be attracted to a female dog for the full 18 days, but the female dog will only be receptive to males for about half that time.
To get to the heart of your question, male dogs have excellent senses of smell and can sense an intact female in heat up to 3 miles away. Dogs have geographic territories, and they can generally detect any intact females within those boundaries.
Silent Heat Cycle
This occurs when your female will have a heat cycle without the normal symptoms such as bleeding and swelling of the vulva. Females will still be receptive to males and can become pregnant. Your veterinarian can check for a silent heat cycle by performing vaginal cytology and progesterone assays.
Most dogs, given the opportunity, will end up mating when the female is in heat. 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.
In perfect situations, all of this occurs without any pain or discomfort for your female dog. However sometimes there can be variances in mating tendencies, and this can have a direct impact on how your dog behaves. She might try to pull away from the male during the tie.
The canid is generally fertile with about 80% successful matings ending in pregnancy by natural methods. With clinical procedures success rate is approximately 70 – 80%. The best method is to mate the dogs naturally wherever possible but clinical intervention is a useful adjunct to a successful breeding program.
It's called a “copulatory tie”. Don't do anything to try to separate the dogs, especially pull them apart by force, which could hurt them! Stay calm and wait for the dogs to unstick themselves. If they're still stuck together after an hour (which is unlikely to happen), call your vet to get advice.
Male dogs don't have a clear reproductive cycle like female dogs, so if your dog is intact, you may look for signs your male dog wants to mate. Most unneutered males can breed all the time, so how much they want to mate depends on whether they smell a female in heat nearby or their health.
One of the first signs that you may see immediately after a mating has occurred is a lot of moisture on the female dog. This is known as "wooing" because the male will lick the female prior to mating to entice her into the act. The male dog's saliva may also drip onto the female during mating.
Small dogs are known to start their estrus cycle earlier, whereas large or giant breeds may not have their first heat until they are 18 – 24 months1. Heat and breeding in domesticated dogs can happen any time of year – they're not associated with any particular season.
False pregnancies begin around 45 to 60 days after your dog's last estrus cycle — also known as heat — and mimic many of the symptoms of a true pregnancy. False pregnancies can last anywhere from one week to one month. The symptoms can begin at any age or after any given estrus cycle.
This depends on your dog's size. Smaller dogs can go into heat as soon as they are 4-months old. Larger breeds may not first go into heat until they are 18 to 24 months old. On average, the first heat begins at around 6 months of age.