Bringing female dogs into heat

Question
Hi. I show and occasionally breed my dogs and while I dont plan to breed again for 2 years; I need to be able to regulate when my dogs breed the next time I breed. They are Dachshunds (miniature; longhaired) and I was reading on hormones and full spectrum lighting to bring a bitch into heat. My questions are: (a) What hormones are available to bring a bitch into heat that you can get without consent of a vet? (b) How well does full spectrum lighting work to bring females in heat and (c) How long does it usually take?
~Kate

Answer
Hi Kate

The problem with messing around with Mother Nature are the side effects.

Hormone therapy should only be undertaken with the assistance of a vet.  I don't recommend doing them without one.

Full spectrum lighting is the safest and easiest.  It's a simple light bulb turned on where every your female lives.  We have a huge success rate with it, and it usually takes 1-2 weeks for a female to come into heat.  But you have to remember, your female has to be close (within a month).  For example if you female had her heat 2 months ago, it won't bring them in again.  

Good luck