The vulva will be puffy and will appear red in color. By the time she is in full heat, the vulva will swell to about three times its normal size.
Vaginal bleeding usually starts a week or so before the dog actually ovulates. Sometimes it is hard to spot the vaginal bleeding because the dog cleans herself quickly and does not allow it to become evident. In cases such as this, you should look for increased licking.
The urine passed by a female dog in heat contains pheromones that signals to male dogs that she is in heat.
One test is a vaginal cytology test. This is a non-invasive vaginal smear test that examines vaginal cells to look for changes associated with ovulation. To assess when your dog is fertile it may take several tries. The other test is a serum progesterone test. This is a blood test that looks at progesterone levels. It is very accurate and popular but does require that your dog’s blood be drawn. [9] X Expert Source Tom RobertsonDog Breeding Specialist Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
The age of sexual maturity will vary a lot depending on the specific dog and what breed she is. In general, smaller dogs tend to reach sexual maturity sooner than larger dogs.
Proestrus: In this phase the female dog attracts males, has bloody vaginal discharge, and her vulva is swollen. She will not allow breeding during this phase, which lasts approximately nine days. Estrus: During this period the dog is fertile and she will allow mating. It usually lasts for about nine days but ovulation usually occurs in the first 48 hours. Diestrus: Diestrus is the sixty to ninety day period when the dog is no longer fertile but discharge may continue. This occurs whether or not the dog becomes pregnant. Anestrus: Anestrus usually lasts three to four months and no sexual activity takes place during this phase.
In order to assess your dog’s physical ability to copulate, you may need to talk it to a veterinarian or an expert in dog breeding. They should be able to assess your dog’s physical reproductive issues. If the dogs you are trying to mate are having a hard time completing the act, then you may need to step in and help. In extreme cases, you may even need to have your female dog artificially inseminated if she and the male dog cannot physically fit together. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
Try taking your female dog out of its normal area and having it mate at the male dog’s location. This could help her to become less inhibited.
Problems impacting fertility could include a wide variety of issues, including hormonal imbalances, physical abnormalities, or reproductive tumors or infections.
