Breeding My Jack

Question
Hi Carol,
I have a 10 month old Female Jack Russell and she has just finished her 1st season. I would like her to have at least 1 litter of pups....
How will I know when she is due her next season? Also when is the best time for her to get pregnant?

Answer
Hi Jodie,

Every dogs heat (estrus) cycle is different. "Usually" the cycle starts at over one year old and then every 6 months from then on.
Without sounding like a broken record, WHY do you want to breed her?
You are not doing the dog any favors by breeding her and you increase her risk of many dangers if you decide to do it. Also, Jack Russells are one of the most popular dogs in "rescue" (puppies that couldn't be placed or returned because of their commanding nature). The shelters are overloaded with Jack Russells. People think they're so cute as puppies but forget they grow up!!
You need to do MAJOR research if you are going to breed your dog. It is scary and it is very expensive to do. You won't be making any money whatsoever. In a nutshell:
First your dog should be a pedigreed thoroughbred with Confirmation.
Second, you need to find a pedigreed thoroughbred male and pay a stud fee ranging from 800 - $1500.
Plus  you need to make sure she is in excellent health, vaccinations up to date; prenatal vitamins, prenatal food, veterinary health checks (at least 2 office visit$), canine ultrasound, whelping box, whelping supplies, emergency office visit fee in case something goes wrong in delivery. Make sure you are prepared to help with the birth and know how to deliver a stuck or dead puppy. Make sure you know how to suction fluids from the puppies lungs and do vigorous stimulation to the pup if it isn't breathing. Make sure you know where the nearest emergency vet is in case your mother dog is in distress or starts to hemorrhage.
After the puppies are born you will need to make sure you know how to tie off the umbilical cord (they can bleed out if you do it wrong); also make sure the whelping box stays warm at 80 degrees constantly; they die if it gets too cold and dehydrate if it gets too hot. You'll need to change the whelping box blankets every day as it gets bloody and messy in there from the mom's discharge and the puppies excrement. Every puppy will need to go the vet at 3 days old to be checked out and have their tails docked ($$). You'll need to find or set up an area where the puppies can play during the last two weeks because they don't stay in the whelping box anymore, and pee/poop constantly.  You will have to introduce hard food to them($). You need to buy puppy milk($) at a specialty store to mix in with puppy food and make it mushy for them in the beginning.  They have to go back to the vet again at 6 or 7 weeks for their deworming and 1st set of vaccinations before they go to new homes ($$).   If you can not find homes for the puppies you have to be prepared to keep them, or put them in a rescue center and hope they are adopted.
This is the REALITY of breeding.
Think about it before you make this huge commitment.