Toy Fox Terrier in Season

Question
We have "Nibs", a ten month old Toy Fox Terrier. We have had her since she was nine weeks old. When can we expect her to come into season. We only want to breed her once and  also want to know when is her optimum age for breeding?  

Answer
Hi Terry,
 She may take up to 18 months to come into season.  I have something to say about breeding though.  Unless you have puppy buyers lined up before you breed her I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't put the puppies up for sell in the newspaper.  You get a bunch of weird people calling at all hours of the night and day.  Do you belong to a breed club?  Breeders have one thing as a goal and that is to better the breed.  So breeding just to breed because you want a puppy from her is no reason to breed.  Have her evaluated by some breeders who know the breed and they can point you in the right direction. Don't just grab the dog down the street.  Genetics.....inherited diseases, genetic problems may be in your line that you may not be aware of or the potential dog you want to breed to.  Breeders who know pedigrees know who carries what problem. You don't want to have to call all the puppy buyers and let them know that their beloved little dog is going to die of something horrible.  Its not a call you want to have to make.
If you think its going to settle her down, it won't. For every female puppy she has it is a potential for the wrong people to breed and breed.  Then you find dogs in the shelters that look like your dog.  The shelters are full of dogs that their owners "just wanted to breed once".  Seriously think about why you want to breed her.
 If after you have asked yourself why you want to breed her and you have done all all your homework I would wait till her second season to breed her.

 Sorry for preaching, but for just one person I educate about breeding its millions of dogs that have the potential for ending up in the shelters.  Spay and Neuter.

Sincerely,
Tammy