German Shepherd Mating And Breeding All You Need To Know
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When German Shepherd is ready for mating? A Guide to GSD Breeding
The Idea of Mating and Breeding a German Shepherd may confuse several individuals. Responsible breeding is definitely a daunting task, especially when it is about Shepherd, the most recognizable breeds.
When an individual steps forward to take responsibility for breeding, it also brings the pressure of producing healthy puppies.
With immense popularity and growing demand, German Shepherd owners often think of breeding them. The idea may seem fascinating at first, but behind the cause, there goes a lot of effort and patience.
Breeding a German Shepherd, from their health considerations to the right age and times, there are several aspects to look upon. Lets learn about them.
In this detailed article, we will take a look at German Shepherds mating and breeding. What is the right age for GSDs to mate? How do you get GSDs to mate? What if the male Shepherd is not interested in mating? What to do if female GSD refuses to mate? Without any further ado, lets get right to it.
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German Shepherd Hip Dysplasia Outlook
Although it may seem scary, theres no need to panic if your GSD is diagnosed with this condition. The prognosis for hip dysplasia is generally good, especially if its caught early. If youre willing to put in some effort, your dog has an excellent chance at living a long and comfortable life after diagnosis.
Hopefully, this post gave you everything you need to know about German Shepherds and hip dysplasia. The most important thing to remember is that its not a death sentence. With proper management through surgery, use of a dog wheelchair, or supplements, your best friend can still live life to the fullest.
Please below if you have any more questions for me or if you have your own story to share. I always love to hear other peoples stories, especially about my favorite breed!
About Alexandra Animalso
I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love.
Can You Touch A Newborn Puppy
Once the puppies are about three weeks old, they will begin to move around on their own. This is when you can begin to pet them and interact with them more. You should only touch or pick up a newborn puppy if you observe that it is sick, if the mother abandons it, or in the case of orphaned puppies.
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When Will My Female German Shepherd Give Birth
Typically, a female dog’s pregnancy will last about 63 days. At some point, you will need to ensure your female German shepherd is eating an ideal diet for canine pregnancy. This is very important to ensure she is getting all the nutrients she can get to whelp and provide milk for her pups.
A good way to tell when the dog is about to give birth is to take the temperature by inserting a lubricated thermometer in the dog’s bum. A dogs normal temperature is between 101-102.5F degrees.
As the birthing day comes near though the temperature will fall below 99 degrees. When this happens, it means that labor will likely happen in the next 24 hours.
This temperature drop is due to a reduction of the dog’s serum progesterone levels.
When To Breed German Shepherd
The ideal age for breeding German Shepherd dogs is after two years, whether female or male. Why? After two years, German Shepherds attain a whole maturity level, and their genital organs mature fully.
Due to genital maturation, German Shepherds can now successfully mate and produce offspring. But wait, there is more to that.
Now that you have understood the perfect time and age for breeding your German Shepherd keep reading as we delve deeper into the topic.
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How Many Litters Can A German Shepherd Have
For licensed breeders, there are terms and conditions that one must be following concerning the number of litters a dog can have.
A titled female German Shepherd is not allowed to have more than four litters of puppies and not give more than one litter within a period of twelve months at a time.
Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet.
What Age Do German Shepherds Stop Growing
Have you just got a German Shepherd Puppy? Do you want to know what age theyll reach their full adult size and stop growing? Heres everything you need to know about what age German Shepherds stop growing.
What Age Do German Shepherds Stop Growing? German Shepherds stop growing when they reach around 18 months old. At this age, your GSD is unlikely to grow any taller but will carry on filling out for longer than this. Males reach full adult size at around 2.5 years old, and females at about 2 years old.
Read on to find out how to tell if your German Shepherd has reached full size, how much more your puppy will grow, and what other physical and mental changes youll notice as they grow .
Never use the advice in this article as a substitute for professional veterinary advice or treatment. I am NOT a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist. This article is based on research, personal opinion and experience of owning dogs over the last 12+ years.
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Ways To Tell A Dogs Age
You can easily monitor a young puppys age as they grow. However, it can be tricky for a shelter dog with limited to no information about their history. Nevertheless, you can guess a dogs age by looking at three things.
1.Teeth: Puppies develop baby teeth between three to six weeks of age. Their adult teeth begin to appear once they reach five months and seven months . Senior and geriatric dogs have yellowish, worn-out teeth with flat tips.
2. Food consumption: A dogs food consumption reduces as it enters its senior years. A lot of dogs begin to lose their appetite once they reach their senior years.
3.Mobility: Apart from health conditions, a dog that consumes less food has less energy to run around. As this continues, they slowly lose their appetite since they require less energy. This degenerates into a cycle of eating less and moving less until they enter their last years.
In conclusion, while the simple theory that correlates dog years to human years exists, it is not entirely accurate as several factors influence aging in dogs.
Nonetheless, maintaining your dogs health will increase the odds of them being around to a ripe old age.
How Long Do German Shepherds Reproduce
Perhaps you are new to the German Shepherd breed or maybe your dog slipped out one day and you have found out she is expecting puppies. Whatever the case may be, you may be starting to think it may be fun to breed your German Shepherd, but want to know how to do it properly. As a German Shepherd owner myself, I have often wondered about some of these questions myself.
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Can German Shepherds Get Growing Pains
Yes, German Shepherds are a large dog breed that grow rapidly so are prone to a condition called Panosteitis which is more commonly known as growing pains.
Panosteitis affects the long bones of a GSDs legs and can cause pain and inflammation, leading to limping or lameness.
Most episodes go on for about 3 weeks, but some can sadly last many months longer than this. You may also find that the pain moves from one leg to the other.
Even though it should resolve over time as your GSD stops growing, your vet may be able to prescribe some anti-inflammatories to help with pain while the episode persists.
History Of German Shepherd Breeding
German Shepherds or the German Shepherd Dog came into being as a breed in the late 1800s. Max von Stephanitz of Germany had an interest in the working dogs in his native Germany. Here they were selectively bred to have those qualities that could do the job of herding and protecting a flock from predation. At the time, there was a disagreement among dog enthusiasts about whether a dog should be judged on its looks or on its ability to work.
Max von Stephanitz began looking for a working dog that had it all. At a dog show in 1899, von Stephanitz finally came upon what he considered to be the perfect specimen. He purchased him and named him Horand von Grafrath . This dog was the first dog registered in von Stephanitzs new breed club, The Society of German Shepherds. Horand von Grafrath sired many puppies including Hector von Schwaben.
One direct descendant of Horand von Grafrath, Beowulf, was the sire of over eighty puppies. The first German Shepherd dogs were the result of many inbreedings from Horand and his offspring. Several have stated that wolf crosses were among the dogs bred into this early closed gene pool. However, recent genetic testing would belie immediate wolf ancestry. While German Shepherds may appear more wolf-like than some other breeds, they do not appear to have the DNA to match.
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When To Breed Germans Shepherd Dogs
Knowing exactly when to breed is crucial. The average heat cycle in a dog is about 3 weeks long, but there are many individual variances
A heat cycle in general takes place on average every 6 to 7 months. As mentioned, a German shepherd female dog should not be bred at least until 2 years old.
During the first part of the heat cycle , the female dog may urine mark more and there will be visible swelling and a pinkish discharge.
Male dogs may start being interested, although females will be reluctant to allow them to mount. This part of the heat cycle usually lasts for around a week.
The second part of the heat cycle lasts on average 7 days. The discharge at this point will typically change from pink to a straw color. This is the fertile stage of the heat cycle when the female is more willing. She may flirt and play and then will lift the tail out of the way and will eventually allow the stud to mount.
Allowing the dogs to mate every other day may be optimal during this stage until the female no longer stands for him.
Due to female dogs being less inhibited by new environments, they are typically taken to the chosen stud. Sometimes, breedings will require assistance to help the dogs attain a tieand then stay calm afterwards.
Safe Breeding Age For Male Gsd
- Not open for further replies.
CranberryGSD said:I’m asking because last year when looking for a puppy, the dad to one of the litters was 8 months old, and if I remeber right, it was his second litter. To me, that is wayyy too young, but is it really?The mama was just retiring, about 8 years old.
selzer said:For AKC paperwork the dog has to be at least 9 months old on the date of mating. I don’t see it as unethical. If no one is lying about it, they are not being unethical. Breeders will often do a trial litter with a young stud dog to ensure that he does produce, before putting more time and energy into him. If he does not produce, they can sell him as a pet and he will have a fine life and people will have a great pet — win-win.
voodoolamb said:There is no excuse to breed an unproven dog in 2017. A young stud can be collected and his sperm count tested by any reproductive vet across the country. No need to make real, live puppies in order to see if the dog can produce BEFORE putting the time and energy into him to prove his merit to the breed. .
CranberryGSD said:I’m asking because last year when looking for a puppy, the dad to one of the litters was 8 months old, and if I remeber right, it was his second litter. To me, that is wayyy too young, but is it really?The mama was just retiring, about 8 years old.
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Is It Time To Spay Or Neuter Your Dog
A 1 year old female German Shepherd is likely to have had her first heat already. Many vets prefer to arrange spay surgery promptly after a heat cycle, in order to avoid performing it just as a new heat cycle is beginning. If spay surgery isnt something youve considered yet, you can talk over the pros and cons at her next vet check, and when the optimal time for surgery would be.
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What Size Should A Fully Grown Adult German Shepherd Be
Male German Shepherds will be between 24 and 26 inches tall to their shoulders and weigh 65-90lbs when theyre fully grown. Whereas female German Shepherds will be 22-24 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weigh between 50 and 70lbs.
Females are notably smaller than male GSDs, who are generally bigger and sturdier-looking when theyre fully grown.
When theyve stopped growing, German Shepherds should be longer than they are tall.
The American Kennel Club breed standard guidelines suggest their length to height ratio is 10:8.5. And for info, their length is measured from a GSDs breastbone to the base of their tail.
These size and weight guidelines are what the AKC uses when German Shepherds are being shown in competition, or used as good examples for breeding purposes.
However, theres often some natural variation, meaning its not a problem if your GSDs bigger or smaller than these measurements.
Provided theyre a healthy weight, it doesnt matter too much if they dont fit exactly into these breed standard guidelines.
In fact, its essential you dont look at their weight alone to determine if your German Shepherd has stopped growing and is fully grown.
Just because theyve reached an adult weight, doesnt mean their body is completely developed.
GSDs should be well-muscled, lean and powerful with a deep chest and full body.
They should be able to move freely without awkwardness or clumsiness, as this can suggest theyve still got some growing left to do.
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Provide A Special Room
If doggie diapers arent your idea of fun, your house can still stay relatively clean. This involves keeping your in-heat GSD in a room with a tile or linoleum floor.
Shell leave a bit of a mess that youll want to clean frequently, but at least you wont have to change diapers for three weeks.
Keep in mind that estrus discharge can smell quite strongly. If you have a sensitive nose, must leave your dog alone for eight or more hours, or get queasy at the sight of blood, you wont want to skip the diapers.
Trust us on this one. Most dogs will clean up after themselves, but only their own bodies.
Theyll leave the floor, bedding, toys, and furniture to you.
Foster A Healthy Environment
One of the keys to successful German Shepherd breeding is that your Dam is as healthy as can be. Is your German Shepherd eating a quality diet? Are you keeping up with veterinary health checks and vaccinations? Are they getting enough exercise? A high-quality diet and daily exercise are crucial to ensure she is in good condition to whelp.
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Watch For Signs Of Pregnancy
Canine gestation lasts approximately 63 days. Signs of pregnancy include an increase in appetite, weight, and nipple size. However, a bitch with false pregnancy may also show these signs. A veterinarian can usually confirm a pregnancy through abdominal palpitation at 28 days or by using ultrasound or X-rays.
Once pregnancy is confirmed, you should talk to your vet about special feeding requirements and about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. You should also be briefed on how to recognize and respond to an emergency.
Dogs Years And Growing Old
The concept of growing old or aging revolves around the decline in physiological functions because of an increase in age.
Generally, dogs fall under the senior class category anywhere from five years to ten years.
A majority of breeds become classed as seniors once they are over seven years of age.
Dogs over the age of seven become physically slower. They also become more susceptible to weight gain, which can cause several health issues and other health conditions such as arthritis, lumps, bumps, and kidney problems.
As your dog ages, cells begin to collapse. Cells are unable to divide and multiply, slowing down all forms of body repair. This causes tissues, bones, and even brain cells to degenerate.
Essentially, several key factors play large roles, influencing the entire aging process in dogs. These factors include:
Genetics: The gene that passes down from parent to offspring determines how long the offspring will live.
Therefore, your puppys lifespan depends on the genes it inherits from its parents.
If the parents were healthy, the puppy might live for a long time.
Nutrition and Deficiencies: Your dogs diet plays a vital role in determining their overall life expectancy.
A dog on a healthy diet is bound to live a longer life than one that is not. Thats because an unhealthy diet can cause cell damage, which will ultimately result in premature aging.
Environment: The environment your puppy grows up in will dictate how long it will live.
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