Mating Time

Question
When is a dog 2 years old ready to mate on her menstrual cycle?

Answer
Hi Laura:

If you're planning to breed your dog on her next heat cycle the best way to distinguish when to breed can be tricky. Once you see the initial signs of the cycle beginning, such as swelling of the vulva & a bloody vaginal discharge, you can usually expect for her to enter into the fertile portion of the cycle, known as estrus, around day 9-10. All dogs vary so this is only an average. Usually at this point the vaginal discharge will have lessened in both flow & color, becoming more of a pale pink to straw color. The best indication of estrus is her response to the male. She will only allow mating to occur when she's in estrus. Often a female will flirt, entice & tease the male to get his attention. Also this is when flagging happens, which is when the female will slowly wag her tail from one side to another, allowing the male access to mount & penetrate. Usually a "tie" occurs once the male penetrates, as his penis will swell, locking them together as he ejects his semen into her. On average estrus will last from 5 to 7 days & usually 2 to 3 successful matings will result in a positive pregnancy. It's always wise to have both dogs undergo pre-breeding health screening to help ensure they have no health issues which could be passed onto any offspring produced.