miniature poodles

Question
how long does a female remain in heat and how long is the gestation period?

Answer
Hello Jake,
A female is usually in Breeding heat for about 2-3 weeks.  During the first 9 days or so you will see her bleed, then around the 9-11th day, she will be ready to Breed, or in her "Standing Heat".  She can be bred for about a week; skipping a day in-between each breeding, until the male refuses her.  
Once she is bred, it takes 63 days from the first breeding, give or take.  There are some signs to look for when the female is getting ready to whelp.  You might see her make a nest or gather her toys around her like puppies.  She may also get a waxy substance on her nipples when she is within 2-3 days of delivering.  If you are comfortable taking her tempature, you can take it rectally when she is within a couple days of delivering.  A dogs normal temp is around 101.5 but when a female is ready to deliver it will drop to 98.0  When it does this, she will have puppies within 24 hours.  

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim