Pet Forum

Let's discuss canine reproduction (dog reproduction) as it relates to canine mating, copulation, litters, and dog breeding. If I leave anything out that should be included in this post about canine reproduction, please let me know.

A female dog is known as a "bitch", and the male canine is known as a "stud". Both the male and female canine will reach sexual maturity (puberty) between the ages of 6 and 12 months. On some large dog breeds, they will not reach sexual maturity until they are two years old. It is possible for a dog to become pregnant on the very first estrus cycle, but most breeders do not attempt this until at least the third estrus cycle. Most female dogs will come into estrus twice a year, but some breeds have higher frequencies. Studs are actually capable of mating at any time, regardless if the bitch is undergoing her estrus cycle.

The male dog will usually attempt to mount the female from behind. This position is referred to as doggy style. If the female dog is receptive to the advance, she will let the male know by moving her tail to one side so that she can easily be mounted. If the female canine is not receptive to the mounting by the make, she will sit down, run away, bite at the male, or do anything else to block his advancements.

Most canines will have their puppies about nine weeks after fertilization. The size of the litters can vary greatly, depending largely upon the breed of dog. For instance, toy dogs usually have a litter of between one to fours puppies, while some large breeds of dogs will have litters of as many as 14 pups. The average litter size in canines is 6 puppies. Other factors that can effect the size of the litter includes the age of the canine mother, the mother's health, the father's sperm count, and even the timing of the breeding. Some vets claim that breeding should be attempted every day, while other canine breeders claim that breeding every other day is best for the maximum litter size.

Figuring out when to breed a female dog is a bit of a science. Canine breeders can determine when to breed their dogs by looking for physical signs of the canine being in heat, along with modern tests. Signs that your dog is in heat includes vaginal bleeding, swelling of the vulvar, and of course the girl dog allowing the male dog to mount her (this is often called "freezing" as the female freezes to allow the male to mount her). The modern tests used to determine if the dog is in heat and ready for breeding includes blood progesterone, blood luetinizing hormone(LH), and a vaginal smear. Dogs may be bred naturally by allowing them to copulate, or by artificial insemination.