Your Bitch is in Heat ready to be Bred

By Paul Jensen

Breeding a bitch in her first heat robs her of the nutrients needed to build her own body.  Since your bitch will have been in heat one to three times before you breed her, you'll know what to look for.  She will be about 10 months old when her genitals first become enlarged, and she begins to pass a discharge.  The discharge will change in color from clear to pink to red, and back to light red again.  It is noticeable for about three weeks, and it will generally reoccur at 6 to 9 months' intervals.
Now, when you want to breed her, you must watch her carefully, for the best time for the mating is when the discharge, having become red, starts changing to a lighter color.  This is often the 9th or 14th day after the onset of the heat.  The bitch's behavior will also help you determine the best time for mating.  She will want to play, going down on her front legs and jumping back and forth with her tail placed high.  If you scratch her on her back, just above the tail, she may show that she is ready by moving her tail to the side.
If you are not sure of the date on which the heat started -- and it isn't always easy, because the early discharge is colorless -- breed her early if she wants to.  You can always try breeding her again in a day or two.  Contact the owner of the stud dog immediately at the onset of the heat and inform him of the possible breeding date or dates.
Even if you have an exceptionally strong bitch don't breed her in consecutive heats. Let her recuperate from the last litter and only breed her once a year.  Bitches can be bred every other season until they are 6 to 8 years of age.
The Mating
Neither the dog nor the bitch should have eaten on the day of mating.  Both should be well rested and well aired beforehand.  The place for the mating should be a quiet location with a floor that isn't smooth.  Only the owners of the dogs should be present; there should be no unusual noise or other disturbing elements.
The dogs should be introduced on leads attached to leather collars.  After you observe a friendly greeting both dogs should be allowed to run free, so that they can become used to each other. The bitch will often engage the stud in a play chase, perhaps as a way to judge his fitness before standing to mate. When the dog has mounted the bitch, her owner should support the bitch's stomach and hold her collar. 
She may try to bite the dog during the initial stages.  If so, bind the muzzle lightly with a wide strip of bandage, hold her collar, and talk soothingly to her.  The moment of penetration may be painful to the maiden bitch, and she may give a sharp cry and try to move away from the dog.  Again, hold her collar firmly and talk to her.
During the initial stage of mating, the dog will mount and clasp the bitch with his front legs.  When the tie is established, he will get off the bitch sideways, first placing two front legs on the ground besides the bitch.  Then he may swing one of his hind legs over her back, so that they are standing tail-to-tail.  At this time, the owners should steady and hold the animals by their collars, so that they do not wander about, with one dragging the other.  Camping stools may be a great comfort to the owners at this stage, since mating may take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes or even longer in some cases.
The bitch should have a couple of hours' rest after the mating.  If you have taken your bitch by car to the dog, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee with the Sire's owners before your return trip starts.  Also if you have air shipped your bitch to the dog's abode, it is a good idea to have arranged for your bitch to stay with the Sire's owners for about a week before the return flight.  Several of my friends have had situations with no litters when the bitch was returned to them the day after the mating.  I speculate that the bitch absorbs the eggs due to the anxiety that is connected with air travel.

About the author:
Paul Jensen has been involved in raising, training, showing, judging, and breeding dogs for more than 30 years. To learn more about breeding dogs please go to The JOY of Having PUPPIES web site.