Breeding Features Of Dogs

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Most dog breeds reach puberty between 7 and 8 months of age. However, at this age, it is impractical to use animals as producers from a biological point of view. First, the female's musculoskeletal system is not yet fully developed. Pregnancy inhibits its further development. Incomplete ossification of the pelvic bones can cause difficult labor, especially if large fetuses develop in the womb. The latter is quite possible if the father of the puppies is larger than the mother. Secondly, the central nervous system remains functionally immature by the age of 7-8 months.

In other words, the appearance of signs of puberty (estrus in bitches, readiness to mate in males) cannot serve as a sufficient argument for using dogs as producers. Physiological maturity occurs at about 15 months in males and by two years in bitches; these times can vary significantly from breed to breed. Sexual activity in bitches is manifested cyclically, more often twice a year. In some individuals, less often - with an interval of 12 months. It is controlled neuro-humoral. Therefore, environmental factors, as well as internal factors (trauma, nervous shocks and other severe pathologies), can disrupt the cycle of the sexual function of bitches. The male has no cyclical changes in sexual activity. Usually, in an adult male, sexual instinct is manifested only when the bitch is in heat. If a hot bitch lives nearbythe dog can become restless, disobedient, always ready to run away. This behavior does not depend on whether the dog is mating or not: within a few hours after mating, the dog can run away after another bitch in heat.

The bitch's sexual cycle is divided into four periods:

1. Proestrus (forerunner) - lasts an average of 9 days. This stage represents the onset of estrus. The external genitals of the bitch swell and there is a blood-stained discharge. These secretions contain attractants, substances that excite members of the opposite sex. Despite the fact that the female becomes attractive to males, she does not allow them to come near her.

2. Estrus ("hunting") - lasts an average of 9 days. This stage is characterized by the fact that the bitch admits the dog to her. The vulva is even more enlarged. The discharge is colored yellowish rather than reddish. Ovulation occurs approximately two days after the onset of estrus. The bitch lets the males in for 4-5 days. This is due to the fact that the eggs remain capable of fertilization for several days, and the sperm remain viable in the genital tract for about a day. Therefore, fertilization of one bitch by several males is possible: one egg is fertilized with sperm from one male, the other from another.

3. Metaestrus (the period after estrus ("hunting") - lasts an average of 90 days. This stage occurs in females who have not happened to a dog, while hormonal changes are similar to those that occur during pregnancy. At the end of this stage, the bitch can show signs of false pregnancy The beginning of this stage and its end are not marked by obvious external signs.

4. Anestrus (period of sexual rest) - varies, but on average lasts 2.5 months. The duration of anestrus is mainly determined by how often the bitch will go into the mating season. This is the period of sexual passivity between cycles.

Thus, behavioral changes (the bitch becomes more excitable, sniffs the ground carefully during a walk, "marks" with urine (often urinates a little), scratches and scatters the ground) and a visible increase in the bitch's external genitalia (loops) are the first signs of heat. To accurately determine the first day of heat, inspect the loop daily. Most bitches are very neat, they lick the spotting thoroughly. Productive mating is possible from the 7th to the 17th day. However, there are individuals in whom ovulation goes beyond the named time frame. But these dogs are few.

In order to get good offspring, producers must not only be in excellent shape, but also reach a certain age, as mentioned above. It is impractical to untie males later than four years old and bitches later than five years old. Of course, each dog breed has its own age characteristics that should be considered. I would also like to dispel the myth of many dog owners that their pets allegedly suffer without mating. Moreover, perhaps many will disagree with me, but I am convinced that only the best healthy pedigree dogs should be allowed into breeding with strict culling of the sick, weak, not meeting the breed standard, but this is a topic for another article.

Used literature: Blokhin G. I. and others "Cynology". Textbook for universities. M.: OOO "Scriptorium Publishing House 2000", 2001. Fateeva. "All about the dog". Directory. M.: OOO "Gamma Press", 2000. Evans JM, White K. "A complete guide to the care of dogs." M.: "Aquarium Ltd", 2000.