Keep Her Away From Male German Shepherds
This is essential if you do not want your dog to get pregnant. When a female dog comes in heat, it gets very exciting, and the female will try to do everything it can to find a male dog.
It is a very natural behavior. It is an instinct of a dog to reach a mate when in heat.
For the female dog does not matter that you do not want her to breed.
When the female dog is in heat, the only thing that matters for her is finding a male dog.
Signs Of Heat In German Shepherds
More frequent urination often signals the start of the heat cycle in GSDs.
There are many physiological changes taking place inside her, so her systems may seem out of whack.
But frequent urination is also Mother Natures way of ensuring your female dogs scent is spread around, announcing her receptiveness to breeding.
A blood-tinged discharge may be present during estrus, and it happens to be the sign that most people notice first.
Many dogs clean themselves very well during this time so there is nothing to worry about, but not all are able to keep up with this.
Its best to provide protective garments to keep this discharge off your furniture.
A swollen vulva is a frequent occurrence during heat. Your dog may spend more time licking herself and cleaning this area. Its best not to disturb her she wont hurt herself, and the swelling is not from irritation.
Nervousness or distraction are two behavioral signs of heat in German Shepherds. This is due to the surge in hormones.
She may be confused about whats happening during her first heat cycle, which can increase nervousness. However, not all dogs go through this phase. Many simply take it in stride.
Flagging is the act of flipping her tail to one side and presenting her vulva to male dogs in the vicinity. While generally harmless, some dogs even flag their owners.
It may become a bit annoying if your dog is particularly insistent about it, but try not to punish her for this behavior. She honestly cant help herself.
When Should I Spay Or Neuter
When is the Best Time to Spay or Neuter My German Shepherd?……
as a Breeder…….
I generally make it a rule to tell everyone NOT to spay or neuter their German Shepherd until they reach at least a year of age, preferrably at 14 months of age. We know that the hormones that regulate sexual activity also interact with the growth hormones and promote the closure of the growth plates ON TIME. We know that males or females that are spayed or neutered at an early age will grow SIGNIFICANTLY taller than those that are spayed later in life. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered early are typically longer limbed, lighter boned, have narrower chests and smaller skulls.
The arguments that you will hear in favor of early spay or neuter include:
The previous information was provided by Sheryle Thompson, DVM, Sequoyah Shepherds
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS VIDEO – THE TRUTH ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER, a video by Dr. Karen BeckerÂ;
Von Rothhaus German Shepherds 2013 | Contract
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Keep On Leash The German Shepherd While Out Walking
When a dog is in heat, keep her close to you. Do not allow her to go far from you.
If you are taking your dog outside, always keep her on a leash.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that you have trained your dog to walk off-leash.
When a German Shepherd is in heat, its behavior can change a lot, and it may not respond to your commands.
Your dog can run away to find a dog male. So it is always recommended to use caution and attention.
Some breeders recommend to lock up the dog in the house when in heat to avoid any problem.
In my opinion, if you use some caution and stay careful, there is no problem to outwalk your dog while in heat.
Exercise Your German Shepherd If Very Active
Some dogs, when in heat, can become very active and difficult to contain.
It can become difficult to calm them down because they are extra excited.
In this case, you should give them some exercise. Exercising will burn their extra energy and help to calm them down.
If you are exercising Your German Shepherd outside, it is essential to keep her on a leash.
Never exercise your dog off-leash for the reasons I already told you.
Mental stimulation can be a good exercise if you think you cant get your dog enough exercise while on a leash.
You can play some mental stimulation games with your dog. Stimulating the mind of a dog is also very good for its body and health.
You can take her around in the car. In this way, she can see a lot of people and things while you are traveling in the car.
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Never Leave The German Shepherd Outside Alone
Never make this mistake. If you leave your German Shepherd outside in the garden, you are making a mistake.
Even if you have fences and think your dog could not get out, you are wrong.
When in the heat, a lot of hormonal changes are going inside a dogs body.
If your German Shepherd is usually calm, you can expect now that she can do it.
A dog in heat will try to jump the fences or dig under them to get out and meet a male dog.
Male dogs can smell a female dog in heat from a distance of 5 miles.
Male dogs will try to escape to go and meet with the female in heat. It is a very natural behavior.
For dogs in this period, nothing is more important.
If you are leaving your German Shepherd in the garden or yard outside, make sure to supervise her.
Never leave her there alone if you want to avoid trouble.
Even the calmest and the excellent dog will behave differently in the heating period.
What Are The Signs Of A German Shepherd Heat Cycle
One of the problems that many female German Shepherd owners will deal with is preventing unwanted puppies. If you have an intact male , along with a female that has not been spayed you must be very careful or prepare to find a surprise of puppies hiding under their moms coat. The main responsibility to prevent unwanted pregnancy lies with owners of all German Shepherds. However, the majority of the effort is on the part of the bitchs owners.
In order to prevent or prepare for pregnancy, it is important to know when your German Shepherd can become pregnant. Your Shepherd can get pregnant during her heat cycle . German Shepherds DO NOT go through menopause the way people do. As German Shepherds grow older they become less fertile, however, it is possible for your older German Shepherd to become pregnant.
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Why Is My German Shepherd Puppy Hot
If he does have a fever, take him to the vet asap. Puppies fall between 99 to 100 degrees. If it is due to his enviroment that he is hot, I would make sure he has plenty of water and an area, like your hard wood floors, he can lay on and cool down. With time, he should be able to adjust to the weather.
Every Strange Change In Behavior Is Not Heat
For the untrained or misinformed guys, this can be awful a lot like a heat cycle in male dogs. If there is a behavior issue, it may be a simple response to any other female dog. It is not a heat cycle.
For example, your GSD has shown a female dog and he wants to advance towards her but you dont allow him to do this or he cant get to her due to any other reason, he may be frustrated or become violent. The source of his frustration is the smell of the female dog that is in heat. As you remove your dog from the heat source, he will be returning to his normal behavior.
If he returns to normal behavior quickly, it means that he is not in a heat cycle. Your German Shepherd was just responding to an object or the female with a heat cycle.
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How Long Do Female German Shepherds Stay In Heat The Survival Guide Through Your Gsds Grumpiest Days
Here is an opening sentence for you: Female German shepherds go through their heat cycles, the time when they are at their fertile best.
Not to sound sexist, but our female readers have probably clued into the situation already. A mini synopsis for our male readers might help them get a better hang of things.
When Should I Get My Female Puppy Spayed
There are some myths when it comes to spaying your female dog.
- You shouldnt spay your dog until she has had a litter of pups because this will make her a better pet.;
This is not true. A good pet is a result of temperament and upbringing.
- My females temperament or protection instincts will decrease after being spayed.
This is not true. A dogs temperament or primal protection instincts stem from genetics, not the capability to reproduce.
The average age to spay tends to be between four and six months of age. This will vary from Veterinary to;Veterinary, so check with yours for more info.
For years it has been recommended by experts to spay your female puppy before her first heat cycle for health reasons.
However, new data and research are discovering more significant long-term health benefits in waiting for your dog to develop and mature before spaying or neutering.
Spaying and neutering early are being linked to a higher risk of cancer .
Dogs spayed or neutered at six months have a greater risk of hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament injuries.
Urinary incontinence in females spayed early is also common.
Spaying and neutering is a very common procedure.
The cost for the procedure varies, but to find discounted services by a licensed veterinarian in your area.
If you purchased your female puppy for breeding, you should take this endeavor very seriously.
Dog breeding takes a lot of hard work, so you need to be sure that this is something you are willing to commit to.
Also Check: How To Train A German Shepherd To Protect
How Long Does It Take For German Shepherd To Recover After Spaying
Normally, a successful spay takes less than a day for your German Shepherd to recover. However, complicated ones can take a longer period. Upon recovery, you will have to reduce your dogs activity for 10-14 days. Within this period, you are expected to monitor and watch out for swelling, bleeding, bruising, or discharge. Your vet should offer you antibiotics and pain management and possibly a discharge summary.
How Often Does A German Shepherd Come In Heat
A Female German Shepherd comes in heat every 6 months. But sometimes dogs can have irregular cycles.;
It can take up to 2 years to the cycles to become regular. During the heating cycle, many hormonal changes are going on inside a dogs body.
Its behavior can change, and it can act differently than usual. When a female is in heat, she will desperately look for another dog to mate.
During this time, a German shepherd will bleed, and if you do not know how to care for her, you can get in trouble.
Here is an article on;how to take care of a german shepherd in heat
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In Summation: When Does A German Shepherd Go Into Heat
Remember to observe your Shepherd. Figure out what her heat signs are and her behaviors mean. Identifying where she is at all hours during their fertile times will support you preventing an unwanted dad from mating with her.
Make sure your vet checks it out and make sure that you will go through all the activity necessary to raise Shepherd puppies carefully BEFORE you ever breed them. When you have a male and are you not interested in employing him as a stud consider having him neutered.
How Long Does A Female German Shepherd Stay In Heat
Heres what I learned from breeding my black female German Shepherd. When I decided to breed my female German Shepherd Val. Being a new GSD owner, I was curious too how long she will be in heat, and how long the full heat cycle would last. This is what I learned. The average heat cycle stages about 21 days and total, depending on each individual German Shepherd it could be different.
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Stages Of A Female Canines Reproductive Cycle
Now that When do german shepherds go into heat is answered, lets take a more in-depth look. If you are interested in breeding, heres what you need to know about dogs and their reproductive cycles:
Pro Estrus: At this stage, estrogen levels peak. Your dog will not be receptive to male dogs. However, this wont prevent them from giving unwanted attention! This stage is also accompanied by bloody vaginal discharge. 9 days is a standard for this stage. It is like other standards, quite flexible, and can be for more or less. It may even go up to 27 days or so.
Estrus: In this stage, your dog will be ready to mate. Their vulvar discharge will become less red. 9 days is also a non-rigid standard for this period. Again it could take a few less and quite a few more days.
Ditestrus: In this phase, successful fertilization results in pregnancy. It lasts for two months.;
Anestrus: If no successful fertilization occurs, your dog reverts to Anestrus. The cycle begins again in about four months after this phase.
To prevent fertilization, you will have to keep your dog inside at all times. Going outside will attract some neutered and intact GSD crowd. Speaking of Male GSD attention, does a male GSD need to be in the heat too?;
When My German Shepherd Is In Heat How Do I Console Her
When a female German shepherd is in heat, she is likely to change her personality. As a result, we should always be aware of our pets movements.
For your girl, while in the heat for the very first instance can be a frightening experience. Shell need more time and support.
Set down some additional space for loads of snuggles because puppies appear to get very cuddly throughout that period.
- Try getting a lap desk because then you can function and cuddle at the same time.
- Provide a healthy, chew-resistant toy for her to nudge. This, too, will give you a sense of safety.
- When your dog makes a bloody mess, never scold her; instead, gently comfort her as you clean this up.
- Make sure shes getting more than enough food and water.
- Prepare yourself for more potty trips because a bunch is happening down there now, and she will need to release herself very often.
If shes agitated, you can get her calm by playing with her, brushing her hair, or the fun things she usually enjoys that involve movement.
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How Often Does A German Shepherd Go Into Heat
So once your German Shepherd has their first heat cycle, how often should you expect them to go into heat?
While this can vary from breed to breed, most German Shepherds will go into heat twice a year .
Heat cycles can be irregular in young dogs, and may take a couple of years for their cycles to regulate. Additionally, German Shepherds like all canines do not have a strict time of the year in which they must breed, so this only adds to the irregularity in the beginning stages.
As long as you are prepared for at least 2 heat cycles a year, you are well equipped!
No More Stress After Spaying
After spaying your dog, you wont struggle with issues that come when your German shepherd is in heat.
No cleaning up of the discharge on your sofas or floors, since your dog will not be undergoing the heat cycles.
Spaying is beneficial to your dog in many ways. However, consult your vet to help you decide whether or when to spay your pet.
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Stop Your Gsd From Mixing With Other Dogs
During their heat cycles, female GSDs can get in trouble with other intact female GSDs. This is because they are prone to show excessive aggression during this period. It is best to stop your German Shepherd from mixing with other female dogs at the moment.
On the questions of male dogs, unless you want a bucket of German Shepherd pups, you need to keep male GSDs away from your girl as well. This is easier said than done. You cannot imagine the extent to which males will go if they sniff out a female who is ready to mate. So lock that door and take your dog out on a walk only in the wee hours of the morning, when the possibility of a lurking male German Shepherd is less.
And they say females go crazy on their heat cycle!!
Can German Shepherds Live In California
Yes, German shepherds can live in California.
Californias average temperature in summer is 78.8-degrees Fahrenheit, which is relatively friendly and should let the German Shepherd enjoy it with a little care.
While in the winter season, Californias average temperature varies between 9-degree Celsius to 68-degrees Fahrenheit, and it rarely snows there, meaning that Californias weather stays friendly throughout the year.
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