At What Age Can a Dog Get Pregnant
Everybody likes puppies…but not everyone wants the responsibility of raising 8 - 12 of them. Due to this, most people spay their female dogs, especially since it can be dangerous for a dog to get pregnant too young. What if you do want to breed your dog, when is it safe to do so? But at what age is it possible for a dog to get pregnant? Is this the same for all dogs? How can you tell?
Disclaimer: The decision to purposely breed dogs is a massive responsibility. If you have decided to breed your dogs, please do careful research and some thought into the risks involved.
Dog Reproduction
Without going into too much detail, dog reproduction starts when female dogs reach sexual maturity. This means that they are ovulating for the first time in their life.
They will enter their ‘Estrus’ cycle, also known as going into ‘heat’. At this time they will be more attractive to male dogs and may allow male dogs to mate with them. This cycle normally lasts between 6 days to 2 weeks and occurs every 6 months or so, depending on your dog’s breed.[1]
Afterward, if no puppies are conceived, they will return to normal hormone levels. If puppies have been conceived, then the dog will be pregnant for the next 57 - 65 days. The length of gestation can depend on how many puppies she is having. After the birth of the puppies, it may be a while before she is able to go into heat again.
Female dogs can get pregnant for almost all of their adult lives, but they may have fewer and shorter heat cycles as they get older. However, once they hit sexual maturity they will be able to fall pregnant until they are spayed, even if they are seniors.
So When Do Dogs Hit Sexual Maturity?
Dogs can go into heat for the first time as early as 6 months old, or as late as 24 months old. However, your dog’s breed can have a big impact on when this happens, as well as how often this happens.
Smaller breeds may start earlier than larger breeds and have more frequent heat cycles. Some small breeds can start their heat cycle as young as 4 months, while larger and giant breeds may begin later, sometimes around 9 - 12 months.
Giant breeds also tend to have fewer heat cycles in their lives or may go longer between cycles. Great Danes and St. Bernards typically have the longest cycles.
Signs Your Female Dog is in Heat
Before the estrus cycle, you may notice that your female dog is attracting more male dogs and being friendlier to them. Some dogs may also have swelling or bleed from their genitals during this time.
During estrus, your female dog may seek out males, become fidgety, hump things, or ‘offer herself’ to be mated by raising her hindquarters and moving her tail. She may also need to go out to urinate more often.
Not all female dogs will go into estrus at the same time, and females that are in heat may be more aggressive towards other female dogs. In turn, other female dogs may also shun or be aggressive to the dog that is in heat.
While female dogs don’t wander as much as males, she may still try to escape or go looking for male partners. Make sure she is microchipped or wearing a collar, and consider walking her with a harness that is more difficult to escape from.
For a number of durable and trusted harnesses, consider Sparkpaws’ Comfort Control No-Pull Dog Harness Collection.
If You Decide to Breed…
While dogs can get pregnant at their first heat cycle, it is recommended to try to avoid it on the first go. Your dog is still an adolescent at 6 months, and dog pregnancy can be very hard on a young dog who is still growing. There is no guarantee of complications, but it can happen.
Not all of her eggs will be viable on the first go, which is another reason why it would be better to let her mate during her next cycle.
Remember, breeding instinct is strong, and male dogs can smell a female in heat from miles away. Keep a careful eye on your dog if you do not want to breed her at this time. Dogs also do not care about incest, so do not leave her with any unneutered males, as this could lead to inbreeding.
It is also recommended you have a vet look at them first. A vet can determine if they are old enough and healthy enough to produce a healthy litter, as well as perform a blood test to tell if they are ovulating yet.
If You Don't Want Puppies…
The best way to prevent your dog from having puppies is to spay her. This is an operation where a vet ties up your dog’s ovarian tubes under general anesthesia, this will allow them the benefit of regulating hormones without allowing them to get pregnant.
Spayed dogs don’t have a heat cycle.
Spaying your dog also comes with other benefits, such as reduced aggressive behaviors towards you or other dogs, fewer unwanted dogs hanging around to sniff her out, and a reduced risk of certain cancers.
Some owners worry about any negative outcomes to spaying, but many vets, such as those at the Ross University of Veterinary Medicine, can assure that most of those negatives are old wives' tales. Animals do not necessarily become fat after spaying, and dogs do not have any conscious desire to get pregnant or have children.[2]
Taking care of a pregnant dog or puppies can be very challenging, even if your dog is a purebred.
What Age Should I Spay At?
Spaying your dog too young can lead to some health and behavioral issues towards other dogs, so most vets recommend you spay your dog shortly before their first estrus at around 6 months.
Some pet parents may suggest waiting until after your dog’s first estrus to spay, but there is no real scientific backing that this is beneficial[3], and waiting too long can expose your puppy to the chance that they get pregnant by accident.
However, if your dog is already in a heat cycle, then it may be beneficial to wait for it to end before scheduling an appointment. Getting spayed during her estrus won’t affect her health, but can increase the risk of complications in surgery.
How Can I Tell If My Dog is Pregnant?
There are a few obvious signs that a dog is pregnant in the beginning. If your dog has been mated with, look for signs such as lethargy, an increase, or decrease in appetite, weight gain, and any swelling around the stomach area.
The best way to tell is to take your dog to the vet within a week or two of mating. They can normally perform a test, an ultrasound, or take a sample of the dog’s urine to determine pregnancy. They can also make sure your dog and her puppies are healthy.
In Summary…
Your dog will normally reach sexual maturity at around 6 months, and go into their first estrus. This can be later for larger breeds, and sooner for small and teacup breeds.
During this time, your female dog may become more affectionate or more aggressive, urinate more frequently, bleed a small amount from her hindquarters, and seek out male partners. This lasts for around 6 - 10 days.
Be careful that your dog does not try to run off during this time, and keep her away from ALL unneutered males if you don't want to breed her.
Adult females can get pregnant throughout their whole adult life and will go into heat roughly every 6 months or so. It is not recommended to breed on the first estrus cycle.
If you don’t want puppies, consider spaying your dog.
Remember, caring for a pregnant dog and puppies is a big responsibility. Always do careful research and make sure to breed responsibly.
Happy Walking!
Ext Links
[1] https://www.vet.cornell.edu
[2] https://veterinary.rossu.edu