staffy puppy

Question
Hay
I have two staffy dogs and I want to bread with them. They are both thurrer bread. I am worried that my male will get hold of the female before she has gone past her first heat cycle. If he does what will happen to her? She is five and a half months now and should start February.

Answer
Hi David.  The heat cycle in most dogs runs for approximately 21 days as follows:

Days 1 - 7:  The vaginal area swells noticeably and within a couple of days bleeding begins.  During this stage the female usually will not allow the male to mate with her, and she will actually growl and possibly bite him if he tries.

Days 7 - 14:  It is during this stage, the female is in what is called Estrus, and will now allow the male to mate with her.  She will normally stand still and move her tail out of the way.

Days 14 - 21:  If successful mating occurred during days 7 - 14, this is the stage where the embryos are forming.  No external signs are present.

Based upon the above information, you should have plenty of time to notice your female is in heat, and ahould take the appropriate action of keeping her and your male separated.

In your question, you wrote, " If (your male) gets ahold of her (your female) what will happen to her?"  There is a good chance, if your two dogs mate while your female is in Estrus, she will become pregnant.  Most breeders wait and do not breed their females until the second heat, other breeders breed them during their first heat.  I recommend waiting until the second heat.

Good luck, and please do  not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com