Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a female tiny toy poodle that is a year and a half old, and I have a few questions about breeding her. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer my questions, so here goes:

1. What are signs that your dog is about to go into heat?

2. When does a dog actually need to mate in order to become pregnant? Is it before she starts bleeding? after she starts bleeding? while she is bleeding? after she is finished bleeding?etc... If it is before she starts bleeding, how long before? If it is after she has started, how long after? If it is after she is finished, how long after?

3. How many days does a dog have in her heat cycle in which she can mate with the possibility of becoming pregnant?

I think those are all the questions I have, at least for now. If there is anything else I should know, feel free to tell me. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to your respones.

Steven

>>Hi,
>>
>>I have a female tiny toy poodle that is a year and a half old, and I have a few questions about breeding her. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer my questions, so here goes:
>>
>>1. What are signs that your dog is about to go into heat?
>>
>>2. When does a dog actually need to mate in order to become pregnant? Is it before she starts bleeding? after she starts bleeding? while she is bleeding? after she is finished bleeding?etc... If it is before she starts bleeding, how long before? If it is after she has started, how long after? If it is after she is finished, how long after?
>>
>>3. How many days does a dog have in her heat cycle in which she can mate with the possibility of becoming pregnant?
>>
>>I think those are all the questions I have, at least for now. If there is anything else I should know, feel free to tell me. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to your respones.
>>
>>Steven

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Steven, are you aware that a tiny female dog is at fairly high risk of death from giving birth? Are you sure you're willing to take this chance?
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Yes, I am aware that there is always a risk of death in pregnancy and that it is higher in smaller dogs. I am still not sure whether or not I will breed her. I am doing research right now so I can make an educated descion. If I do decide to breed her, I found a male teacup poodle that is almost three pounds lighter than she is, which will hopefully produce smaller puppies, making it easier for her to deliver. Anyway, if anybody knows the answers to my questions, I would appreciate hearing them.

Steven

Steven, hi. Have you thoroughly looked into her pedigree and the males that you have chosen? If the ancestry is of larger dogs your stand a high chance of a c- section. And yes, death especially since you have never done this before and won't know the early signs of labor which could be something as simple as a temp. change. If you are determined please check the pedigree, start looking for homes for puppies now it will take quite a while to find good homes to check out well. Go to your breed club, find a mentor, talk with them, find out how your bitch stands up to her breed standard, you need alot of healt testing before you breed her too, so that you don't breed a future generation of health problems. Remeber there are alot of puppies in the pound waiting for a home already, so if you are not breeding to better the breed that you love, ask yourself why you have chosen to do this. It will not make your dog a better pet, that is a common misconception, often you will find that if she was housetrained before you bred her she will not be any longer and she will be very protective of her pups or she may not want anything to do with them at all, do you have time to feed every 2 hours night and day for these pups? I can give you the answers to the questions you have asked so far, but I need to know that you are prepared to be responsible for her and her puppies and that you are doing this for the right reason and that she stacks up to other dogs of her breed. The very best thing that you could do is take her to a few shows were they allow pets (call and make sure she can go first some shows will not allow pets) talk to breeders of your breed there. Call the breeder that you got your dog from if she/he is a good breeder they can help. If they are not a good breeder I personally would stop there and have her spay. Before you breed you need to know the health of the past several generations. This is just a very small window into what you are concidering doing. If your intentions are good and true to your breed and she stacks up to others of her breed in competition than I and anyone else would be glad to help. When you begin shows or begin attending shows or contact the breeder that you got her from you will find that you will have all the help you need. But any farther questions that you feel you need more insight to at that point I would be glad to help. I am a "Min Pin person" but I can answer some of your questions again if I knew that you had the very best of intentions and where not going into this irresponcibley.

Hi,

I do not know her pedigree. I was planning on getting it, not for breedig purposes but just because I was interested in knowing her ancestry. I do know that the dog I was thinking about breeding her with has teacup size ancestors on both sides. I guess I didn't make this clear enough, but I am not planning on breeding my dog right now. I am interested in breeding her, but I like to do as much research as possible before I decide anything. I'd be more than willing to talk to breeders and attend shows to make sure she stands up to her breed standard. She will be in heat soon, and I know for a fact that I will not breed her this time around. So that means the next time I can possibly breed her is six months from now, and, if after much research and answers to all my questions, I still want to breed her, I don't know if I would be ready by then. If I do decide to breed her, I can promise you that I will be ready to take any and all responsibilites needed to ensure that my dog and her puppies remain healthy, whether that be feeding the puppies every two hours or whatever else needs to be done. The reason I want to breed her is because I love animals and think this would be a good experience, and, more importantly, because I have friends and family who want puppies, and with them, I know I will never have to worry about if the puppies are in a good home or not. I don't know what you want me to tell you in order for you to believe I have good intentions and will be more than responsible through the whole process, but I really would appreciate it if you could answer my questions. I will continue to talk to my vet about breeding her. I will also get in touch with the breeder whom I purchased my dog from, and also the breeder who owns the male dog I want to breed mine with. Thanks for your comments and opinions, and especially for your concern. I look forward to your response.

Steven