First signs
A dog's first heat appears after the change of milk teeth. Shedding with the growth of coarser fur also indicates the end of puppyhood. During this period, owners must carefully monitor the behavior of the bitch and prevent accidental mating.
An early sign of hormonal maturation is anxiety, inattention, increased activity. It seems that the dog cannot find a place for itself.
She eats and sleeps poorly and does not follow her owner's commands. At the same time, the female begins to have discharge, urination becomes more frequent, and the urine acquires a pungent odor of pheromones.
Shih Tzu mating
Hello my dear!
I would like to share my, not yet extensive, experience in breeding Shih Tzu dogs.
My dog is fully 3 years old. On April 10, we went for the second mating (the first mating was on June 10, 2015, when my dog was 2 years and 2 months old) in Kovrov. The male was the same as last time, because... the puppy turned out just wonderful: large, beautiful, smart; On April 3 he was at the show and received the title of BEST PUPPY (BOB) and GREAT PROSPECT (BP).
So, the most important thing after breeding your dog is not to look at anything bad about childbirth on the Internet! It's full of terrible pictures and stories of dog births! After what I saw and watched, it’s not just that the dog is scared to wait for birth, there are no thoughts about her pregnancy!
It is also necessary to understand that this is a natural process and the dog itself knows and can do everything, even if it is doing it for the first time. Although we were very worried and did a lot of things instead of the dog, we didn’t trust it, but it was in vain, my Viva turned out to be a wonderful, caring mother! The first two nights I spent the night with the dogs only because Viva didn’t know what to do with the puppy: I kneaded his tummy myself, wiped him with water, and Viva regularly fed him. After two nights together, everything became completely fine and without my participation)
Now the action plan:
1. You found out that your baby is ovulating and went to breeding. Remember this day and count 60 days of pregnancy in order to know from what day to expect childbirth.
2. If you feed your dog dry food, then the necessary vitamins and minerals are present in its diet. If it is natural food, then it is necessary to add vitamins. Consult your veterinarian regarding this matter.
3. On the 35th day of the expected pregnancy, you can do an ultrasound on the dog and find out for sure whether she is pregnant. There is an opinion that after an ultrasound, puppies begin to “dissolve.” It's all nonsense. It’s just that next to each puppy there is another bubble, which is very close. And it is this bubble that is mistaken for that very “resolved” puppy. Here's an x-ray, yes, it's not worth doing it to determine the number of puppies. This is radiation, which means the likelihood of giving birth to puppies with pathologies increases.
4. After the ultrasound, you just have to wait for the birth and watch the dog’s behavior starting from the 58-60th day of pregnancy. In general, veterinarians advise doing another ultrasound on these days in order to find out the exact number of puppies and find out the position of the puppy. If it sinks in the tummy, then labor will be coming soon.
As for me, I didn’t do a second ultrasound, and we were waiting for the birth of two puppies, but one big one was born =) this time, perhaps, we’ll do a second one, because it’s really calmer, you know exactly how many babies need to be delivered)
Watch the film, very interesting and educational!
I’m also including a link for a more detailed study of a dog’s pregnancy =)
Ask questions - I’ll be happy to tell you about Viv and me and share my opinion!
See you
Stages of heat
Estrus has several stages. For the first time, all the symptoms may be blurry or, conversely, too bright.
Proestrus
Hormonal changes in the body last 7-10 days. At this time, the egg matures and a layer of mucus appears on the uterus.
Externally, proestrus is manifested by frequent urge to go to the toilet, redness of the loop, and the appearance of blood discharge. During walks, the dog marks its territory, shows interest in male dogs, but does not allow them to approach itself.
Estrus
Sexual heat or estrus occurs 9-10 days after the first discharge appears. The stage is characterized by the release of the egg from the ovaries and the movement of the cell to the uterus through the fallopian tube. Now the dog is allowed to approach the male dogs, and stands in a characteristic pose with a raised pelvis and a tail set to the side.
Metaestrus
At the third stage, the discharge stops and the loop decreases to its normal size.
Even without mating, hormones partially enter the dog’s blood to preserve the fetus. Because of this, the bitch’s mammary glands swell, her appetite increases, and her movements become slow.
This condition lasts 10-12 days. Then the pet’s behavior and well-being return to normal.
Anestrus
The resting stage lasts 4-5 months. At this time, the dog’s reproductive system rests and gains strength for a new heat. Bitches again obey their owner and show indifference or friendliness towards male dogs.
Warning symptoms include:
- increased body temperature;
- diarrhea, vomiting;
- refusal of food;
- change in the color of urine and feces;
- sluggish, apathetic state.
Signs of estrus in dogs, how long it lasts, what day to breed on
Estrus usually begins with weak pinkish discharge, which gradually becomes more abundant and by the 7-10th day changes color to red-brown. In females of large breeds, heat is especially abundant, which, of course, causes a lot of trouble for the owners. In bitches of dwarf breeds, estrus is less abundant and, if the bitch is licked thoroughly, sometimes it is even difficult to notice the onset of estrus.
Nature made sure that mating did not occur until the eggs matured. Therefore, at this stage of heat, the bitch does not allow the male to approach her.
The bitch's loop gradually swells and by the 10th-11th day it becomes loose and soft. At this point, the bitch is already ready to accept a male. And if until this time she rejected all advances, snapping and even biting, then by the middle of the heat her behavior changes dramatically. The bitch responds to advances and even shows increased attention to the males.
It is this period (from the 11th to the 13th day) that is most favorable for mating. At this time, the loop is most loose, and the discharge takes on a straw color. The second phase of estrus can last from 4 to 12 days, since not all eggs mature at the same time, and even for the same bitch in different estrus, its duration may vary.
And yet, readiness for mating is ultimately determined by the behavior of the bitch, and not by the specified time frame. Indeed, sometimes, due to the scarcity of the initial discharge, it is very difficult to determine on what day the heat began, especially if the bitch is very clean and carefully licks herself.
The main indicator of a bitch's readiness to accept a male dog is a state of stupor, that is, a state in which she, having felt any touch to her croup, freezes immobile, moving her tail at a right angle from her back.
On the 18th-20th day of estrus, the readiness for mating disappears, regardless of whether the bitch was mated or not. Then, by the 27th-28th day, the discharge completely stops, which means the end of estrus. Thus, estrus lasts about 28 days, of which only a few days (from the 11th to the 16th) there is an opportunity to mate with the aim of producing offspring.
Frequency and possible violations
When the dog begins her first heat, the owner must monitor the condition of the bitch and record the timing of the stages, especially the manifestations of sexual activity. Such observations will help organize mating in time and see the symptoms of diseases of the reproductive system.
Hormonal disorders are indicated by a first estrus that is too early (before 6 months) or too late (after 15 months). Sexual heat (estrus), which lasts more than two weeks, requires special attention. Subsequently, it is necessary to calculate the frequency of estrus and monitor deviations from the schedule.
Reasons for delayed first heat:
- unfavorable living conditions;
- congenital anomalies of the reproductive system;
- disruptions in the hormonal regulation of sex hormones;
- diseases of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland;
- inflammatory processes in the uterus;
- benign and malignant tumors.
Sometimes the dog's body itself delays the onset of estrus. This phenomenon is one-time in nature. It occurs under stress, increased workload, or prolonged illness.
Estrus does not occur, reasons, hidden heat
All processes occurring during estrus itself, as well as those that precede and follow it, are regulated by special hormones. Any disturbance in the physiological cycle indicates that the hormonal balance in the dog’s body is somehow disturbed. If the next heat does not occur after 9 months after the previous one, then you should consult a veterinarian. Although there are dogs that go into heat only once a year, just like their wild relatives in nature.
In some cases, especially if estrus occurs for the first time, there is practically no bloody discharge from the loop. In such a situation, the owner may not even realize what is happening to his dog. And if, in the end, weak discharge appears, then there is no chance of correctly determining on what day of estrus this happened. This phenomenon is called latent estrus and requires contacting a doctor for hormonal treatment, which, as a rule, brings a positive result.
If the period of estrus has approached, there is no discharge, but the loop is swelling, then the introduction of a strictly dosed amount of certain hormones may well normalize its further course, and after mating the bitch will be able to give birth.
An excess or deficiency of hormones also explains the abnormal duration of estrus. The fact is that it is the ovulation of eggs that contributes to its gradual cessation. If ovulation does not occur, then estrus can last much longer than 26-28 days, which exhausts the dog and, of course, requires special treatment.
How the process works in dogs of different breeds
Small dog breeds include Maltese, Shih Tzu, Jack Russell Terrier, Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Pinscher, Lapdog, Spitz. Such pets quickly reach maximum growth. Already at 7-8 months they look like adult dogs.
Their first heat appears immediately after the change of milk teeth. But the rapidly growing organism at this time is not yet ready for pregnancy. The owners should save the bitch until 3-4 sexual heats.
After giving birth, small dogs recover quickly, and after 6-7 months the egg is released from the ovaries again.
Representatives of medium-sized dog breeds - pinscher, basenji, basset hound, stafford, amstaff, beagle, cocker spaniel, sharpei, labrador, pug, dachshund. Their puberty does not have a common characteristic feature. Accurate information about the first heat, pregnancy, and childbirth must be obtained from breeders, since such developmental features are transmitted genetically.
Large breed dogs include Akita Inu, American Bulldog, Alabai, Doberman, Laika, Shepherd, Boxer, and Husky. Despite their large size, such pets remain puppies for a long time. Their puberty occurs after a year. Animals often experience a long period of anestrus. After all, their wild ancestors mated once a year due to difficult weather conditions.
We invite you to breed with Shih Tzu males from our kennel
When you are planning to breed your Shih Tzu, there are many important factors to consider for the health of the dog and the future puppies.Is your Shih Tzu ready for breeding? If you have a female Shih Tzu, how can you tell if she is ready to breed? At what point can you safely breed your Shih Tzu? important for quality mating of a Shih Tzu .
The best breeding time for a Shih Tzu is between the second heat and the age of 7 years. A dog must be bred from the moment it has sufficiently developed, formed and become physically strong. It should be remembered that the very first mating of a Shih Tzu stops the physiological processes of growth and development of the bitch. It is not recommended to breed a Shih Tzu after the age of 7 years, due to health problems. Dogs of this breed experience severe physiological stress if they give birth after this age. Periods of heat in a Shih Tzu can occur throughout the entire period of life. Therefore, it is a common practice to spay female dogs as soon as the owner realizes that he no longer plans to breed the Shih Tzu.
This is done in order to significantly reduce the risk of developing breast disease and ovarian cancer, to which Shih Tzus are very susceptible. How many Shih Tzu matings are allowed?
If you are not a professional breeder, then, ideally, no more than 3 Shih Tzu matings are recommended. Every time this dog gives birth to puppies, it puts a huge strain on the dog's physiology. Professional Shih Tzu breeders can breed more times because they have sufficient knowledge and experience to evaluate the condition of each dog. Dog weight. Its meaning during mating of a Shih Tzu.
For quality Shih Tzu breeding, 2 important elements must be taken into account.
The weight of a male Shih Tzu should not be more than 1.5 kg. more than the bitch's weight.
Never allow a Shih Tzu male and a small female to be mated to produce mini puppies. This is very dangerous for the health of puppies. Before breeding a Shih Tzu, make sure that your dog is healthy. It is highly desirable that both the female and the male undergo the test for healthy genes. A dog may carry genes that are passed on to puppies. If one of the dogs has serious hereditary diseases, you should refrain from mating with such a Shih Tzu.
How to determine the optimal time to breed a Shih Tzu?
Many people believe that as soon as they notice signs of heat, the dog is ready to breed. This is not entirely correct. Males are ready for breeding at any time. For bitches the situation is more complicated. Shih Tzus usually go into heat twice a year. Most bitches do not want to breed during the first few days of their heat. Some Shih Tzu bitches are ready to breed up to 2 weeks after detecting signs of estrus.
The average time a Shih Tzu is ready to breed is between 2 and 16 days after the first signs of heat. What day is best to breed a Shih Tzu?
Your bitch will let you know. When she is ready, she will not run away or try to avoid the male dog. She will move her tail to the side and look relaxed, ready for mating. Can a Shih Tzu get pregnant after the first mating? Yes. If the Shih Tzu is mated at the optimal time, and the male is active enough, the female can certainly become pregnant on the first try.
Teenage pregnancy
Mating during the first heat can lead to pregnancy, but healthy puppies are extremely rarely born to teenage bitches. The body of a young mother is not yet able to bear offspring and adapt to lactation. Therefore, miscarriages occur, and childbirth is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. Surviving puppies are often developmentally delayed and have congenital organ abnormalities.
Another pathological condition is false pregnancy. It occurs due to a failure during metaestrus, which is characterized by the production of hormones to preserve the fetus (in high concentrations).
The condition itself is not considered a disease, but it can lead to unpleasant consequences: mastopathy, endometritis, pyometra.
Sterilization during heat
Sterilization is the surgical removal of the ovaries. After it is carried out, dogs not only do not become pregnant, but also do not go into estrus. This operation is a preventive measure against diseases of the genitourinary system that develop due to hormonal imbalances. In addition, it can be difficult for an owner to keep a large Staffordshire Terrier or Alabai on a leash during restless or aggressive behavior characteristic of proestrus.
Castration is best done at a young age during anestrus. During heat, dogs tolerate anesthesia worse and have a harder time recovering from surgery. And doctors note difficulties in stopping internal bleeding.
