My 10 month old female akita is showing signs of pregnan

Question
Hello
I would like to know if my 10 month old female akita could get pregnant by a 14 week old male akita. My female is showing signs of pregnancy and the only dog she has had contact with is our 14 week old male akita. Could this be possible as i know she has not been near any other dogs
thankyou

Answer
Dear Lorrain,

Thank you for writing to me at all experts for advice on your puppies.

Here is information about the female heat cycle:

The average heat cycle for a dog is approximately 3 weeks and since this an an average, some heats are shorter (as little as 7-10 days), others are longer (4 weeks or more).

Average times between heat periods is seven months but some dogs can cycle as early as every 4 months, some once a year.

Lengths of heat cycles and intervals between cycles are different for each dog but most dogs hit somewhere close to the averages.

The first part of heat you will notice bleeding from the vulva, swelling of the vulva, possible increase in urination and the most noticeable, male dogs hanging around the house. During this period (proestrus), females will not allow the males to breed with them although the males will be very persistent.

The second part or estrus is the time in which the female will allow the male to breed her and this can last anywhere from 4-21 days. A female, most of the time, will allow most any male to breed during this time. As the female starts to go out of heat or enter diestrus, she will be less willing to breed.

Again this stage can last 4-14 days but averages approximately 7 days. The next cycle usually begins about 7 months from the start of the last heat cycle, not the end of that cycle but again this varies from dog to dog.

Your male puppy is technically too young to have testesterone and thus able to breed. Usually a male dog isn't ready to breed until he is 6-8 months old, so you still have time to get him neutered in order to avoid impregnating your female.  

Your female should be spayed quickly to avoid pregnancy as well as various forms as cancer.  Certain cancer can also be avoided if you get your male pup fixed.

With all the information about the suffering surrounding overpopulation, it is best to spay/neuter your dogs.  For every new puppy born there is one less home available for a dog on death row and until this horrific situation is brought under control I urge everyone to spay/neuter their dogs.

Neutering also cuts down on the desire to wander, to fight, to mark territory, to mount other dogs and it lessens the chances of your dog being attacked by other dogs.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis