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When Do German Shepherds Get Their First Period

When Does A German Shepherd Start Coming In The Heat

At What Age Will Your German Shepherd First Get Aggressive

German shepherds are large dogs, which means they exhibit their first heat after a year or wait for two years. Knowing this fact, you still have to watch your German shepherd dog to closely observe these signs of heat at four months of age.

All female dogs exhibit the heat cycle once they become sexually mature at a certain age. The age of sexual maturity largely depends upon the breed and size of the dog.

Generally, most female dogs enter the estrus cycle at six months of age, but some wait until a year or even longer to begin.

The exception of the above discussed general rule occurs with the spayed females. A spayed dog will have reproductive organs removed, so she will no longer enter the estrous cycle.

Helpful fact: For a healthy German Shepherd in heat, you dont have to intervene much. Her body knows it all; whats going on.

When Should I Get My German Shepherd Spayed

Spay or Neuter German Shepherds:;There are many different opinions on this topic.

As a new German Shepherd owner, we all have some questions. After talking to different German Shepherd owners, Some veterinarian says 6 months to 12 months, and others will say wait until they are two years. When I, ask my breed this question? My professional breeder told me not to spay or neuter at all. Heres Why,

Whether you own a female German Shepherd or a male German Shepherd you should never spay your female German Shepherd, or neuter your male German Shepherd because youre taking a risk of cause development and growth problems with the dog.; If you do decide wait until after 24 months because all German Shepherds Will fully start to develop at 24 months of age and up to 36 months before they are fully mature.

Now I know different German Shepherd owners that have male German Shepherds that did neuter them after 2 years old, and they do not have any problems with them at all, and the same for females owners I have talked with too.; My female dogs are not spayed, and my male dog is not neutered.;

How long does;it take for a German Shepherd dog to recover from being neutered?

My Male Buddy

How much does it cost to spay a female German Shepherd dog?

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck!

How Do You Tell If A Female Gsd In Heat

There are four stages in the heat cycle, and the signs that a female German shepherd is in heat depends on which stage shes currently in.

  • Proestrus: This is the stage where males are attracted to female GSDs, while the female isnt. This lasts for an average of 9 days.The most obvious sign of this stage is when male dogs start to crowd outside of your house. This is because its how male dogs react to a female in heat. They become attracted.However, your pet is likely to reject them since she still isnt susceptive to mating. Plus, fertilization isnt possible at this point.Regardless, your female dog will start to show vaginal bleeding at this stage, although the blood becomes lighter as the period progresses.
  • Estrus: The female GSD will be susceptive to mating at this stage and it can last anywhere from 4 to 21 days. This can be called the flagging stage.During the flagging stage, the dark red vaginal discharge will turn lighter. You may also notice your pet rubbing their rear end against furniture or other objects. These are indications that your female German shepherd is ready to mate. This is also the stage where mature eggs are released from the ovary.
  • Anestrus: Anestrus is the period between each heat cycle and as previously said, it lasts for about 6 months. While we mentioned this as the fourth stage, its not exactly a part of the heat cycle.Regardless, at this stage, there will be no growth and development in the female German shepherds reproductive organs.

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Why Wait To Breed A New Gsd

The reason breeders are given certain guidelines for breeding their GSD stems from a need to protect the dogs health in every way. Breeding too early can cause confusion in some dogs, as well as affect the puppies because a parent is not quite sexually mature enough to be bred.

For Female German Shepherds

Female German Shepherds are a bit more complicated than Males as it is with a majority of dogs.

Your female GSD may start experiencing what is referred to as her Heat Cycle at as early as six months old. Although, this in no way implies that she is ready to be bred .

For the safest results, one should begin to breed their female GSD at about two years of age and stop once she reaches eight years of age.

Breeding as early as a dogs first or even second heat cycle may cause confusion for the mother, and cause serious mental drawbacks as she could neglect her pups.

However, breeding her for too long or without ceasing for even one season can cause serious damage to your GSD and her pups.

When she begins to age, the quality of your female German Shepherds eggs will begin to deteriorate, making it harder for her to carry out her pregnancies to full term or even causing stillborn puppies.

Failure to follow these rules could bring serious harm to her and her pups if one is not careful.

For Male German Shepherds

Male German Shepherds are much less complicated than their female counterparts but this in no way implies that their health is less important.

When Is A Female German Shepherd Ready And How They Mate

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A Heating cycle in a German Shepherd lasts from 3 to 4 weeks. There are 4 different stages.

The first stage is the proestrus. In this stage, estrogen levels in the female begin to raise, and eggs start to mature.;

When a Female German shepherd is in the proestrus stage, males start to get attracted. You can notice a swelling in the vulva of your Female German Shepherd.

There is also some blood discharge, and it can last for 9 days.

Estrus is when a female German Shepherd is ready to be breed. Only during this period, she can get pregnant.

At this stage, the female German Shepherd will start flagging to tell the male that she is receptive.

A male German Shepherd will sniff the females vulva to see if she is receptive.;

If a Female German Shepherd is ready and receptive, she will stand still and hold her tail to the side.

This means that she is ready to mate with him.

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German Shepherd Body Types

Just like with humans, there are various body types for German Shepherds. The ideal type is based on what humans decide is preferred and healthier for a German Shepherds needs.

To begin with, it is important to remember that German Shepherds are considered working breeds and need bodies that can perform their jobs well. A balanced frame will have a straight, flat spine with bones that are balanced between the front and back of the dog.

Dogs should be able to run and jump without any issue, which is true of most dog breeds.

For a German Shepherd, they need to be ready to hunt, guard, herd, and track. Their bodies need to help them complete their jobs without any physical limitations.

Show dogs will not be looked at for their work capabilities but based on the show standards. Unfortunately, often these standards of body types will not help your dog as active and healthy as he needs to be.

German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia as well as a roached back, which means a curved spine. Both of these conditions will affect the movement of your dog as he ages, making it difficult to run and walk well, let alone completing a job that they might attempt to do.

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.

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Dental & Health Problems

If your dog already has dental problems, you might want to consider a senior dog food that is easy on the teeth.

Wet dog food is a popular choice, but smaller kibble pieces sometimes work as well.

As your dog ages, it is likely that he will experience a variety of health problems.

For many disorders, there are special diets that can prevent the disease from progressing and lessen symptoms.

It is likely that your dog will need to be switched over to one of these specialty diets eventually.

However, it is important to always speak with your vet beforehand to ensure that it is the right choice for your dog.

Is My Female Gsd In Heat How Can I Tell

German Shepherd as a first time dog owner | GERMAN SHEPHERD AS A FIRST DOG | German Shepherd

Is my female GSD in heat? How will I know? What do I do? Intact female dogs , and that are sexually mature are said to be in estrus, “in heat”, or “in season”, during their occasional “cycle” in preparation to breed and reproduce.

On average, the complete canine reproductive heat cycle takes about 6 months in length which results in about 2 heat cycles each year for most female Alsatian dogs. Be aware of all aspects of your dogs health and behavioral life, prepare accordingly and you should both have a long and healthy life together.

Female German Shepherds, also called bitches, generally have their first heat cycle at around 6 to 12 months of age. Sometimes, a female GSD in heat may not have their first seasonal estrus cycle until they are 12 months of age or older, depending on that particular dog. Remember, however, that this information is very general and not all female dogs will follow these exact patterns.

Overall, each individual female dogs heat cycle pattern tends to be relatively close to the basic average, length wise, however lengths of heat cycles may differ from female to female when the female German Shepherd goes into heat.

Remember these important points concerning your female GSD in heat and her yearly heat cycles and prepare accordingly.

First, assume your dog to be “in season” for at least 21 days, possibly longer, which will vary due to your own individual females heat cycle.

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German Shepherd Puppy Stage Coat Changes

It is a known factor that your GSP color coating will change variant from birth until they are up to 2 years of age. I know that probably sound shocking to you but thats how unique these breed of puppies are they are even known to be called confused colored breed of dogs.

First Stage: You are going to notice changes in your puppies coating in regards to their color and hair length. If you are new to owning a German Shepherd dog these dogs carry medium-length coats and others carry long length coating, these are all-natural and all true breed.

The signs of this normally show within a months time period from the birth of your GSP, in that time period you will also know if your puppy will be a solid color or 2 colored like the majority. You will also start to see as the color changes on them that the textile of their coat tends to feel different as well.

Second Stage: This stage is where you will find the most obvious changes occur, most would call it the confusing stage. This is where you will notice the big color changes that will be taking place on your German Shepherd puppy, this minute the color shade on your puppy will get from light to dark or dark to light and its gonna keep changing.

After the two year mark, your GSP will not change much after, at that stage they have completed their color coating look and pattern in regards to the color tone. Most things at that age will come to a standstill in a Germans shepherd life in terms of maturity growth.

Do Male German Shepherds Go Into Heat

It is a common misconception that male dogs also go into heat. While its simply untrue, it does make a bit of sense why someone might think they do. Heres why.

Because male German Shepherds are sexually active year-round , they are highly attuned to any in-season females in the vicinity.

When they sense a female in heat, they will begin to act strangely, becoming aggravated, agitated, and may even develop aggression.

Theyre trying to get to the female to fulfill their natural-born dutyto impregnate the female.

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How Much Does It Cost To Own A German Shepherd

Adopting a German Shepherd is an important commitment. You need to be prepared to financially care for your dog for the entirety of his life, including food and visits to the vet. Adopting a dog from a breeder will also cost more than adopting your German Shepherd from a rescue or shelter.

Initial costs of a dog are higher because you need supplies. After that has been purchased, you can expect to pay about $1,000 a year for the best dog food for German Shepherds. Heartworm medicine is around $240 a year and a yearly visit of about $100, depending on the vet.

Additionally, you will need to factor in other costs for your dog. This means paying to have him microchipped if he wanders off as well as the spay/neutering surgery if that is what you would like to do.

You will also need to think about annual vaccinations, any tick medicine that you might want, as well as the cost of professional training if needed.

What If The Dogs Heat Cycle Isnt Regular

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Irregularities in a dogs heat cycle are much more normal than irregularities in a humans menstrual cycle. Mother Nature works in weird ways.;

Sure, you can write down the day she begins her heat cycle and the day you think it has ended all you like, but this wont determine how long it will take for her next cycle to arrive. Especially as German Shepherds are such large dogs, the time between cycles is mostly unpredictable.;

As dogs cant vocalize when they are going into heat, you must look out for the warning signs instead. Some dogs might have a streak of cycles over a couple of years that are very regular, like clockwork. Others will go into heat randomly.;

Its important to note that if your German Shepherd has a litter, this will also affect the regularity of her future heat cycles. Theres no point doing anything by the book you kind of just have to go with the flow.;

Generally speaking, your dog will develop some sort of regularity with her heat cycles when she is around 4 or 5 years old. Dont hold us to that, as each dog is different!

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How Often Does A Female Dog Come Into Heat

Most dogs come into heat twice per year, or about every six months, although the interval can vary between breeds and from dog to dog. Small breed dogs may cycle three times per year, while giant breed dogs may only cycle once every 12 months. When young dogs first begin to cycle, it is normal for their cycles to be somewhat irregular. It can take up to two years for a female dog to develop regular cycles. There is no time of year that corresponds to a breeding season for dogs except for Basenjis and Tibetan Mastiffs which typically tend to cycle in the spring.

Why Do German Shepherd Dogs Nest During Pregnancy

Female German Shepherd dogs nest when they enter the last stage of pregnancy. They nest to prepare for the arrival of their litter in the safest way possible.

In nesting behavior, your female GSD will constantly lick herself in anticipation of her pups. Dont panic if your pet excessively grooms herself its totally normal. Prior to labor, your GSD may also feel super anxious and uneasy. She will seek out privacy, and in an attempt to do so, she will tear newspapers, rip blankets apart, or finds a safe corner to create a nest for her pups.

Some GSD breeds will even put toys around as a way of creating and protecting their nest for their babies. Its your duty to ensure your pregnant GSD receives a safe nest. No doubt, a whelping box makes for a great nest for pregnant dogs.

Note that nesting behavior in German Shepherds begins days before giving birth. According to professional veterinarians, pregnant dogs start nesting 9 to 10 days before delivering pups.

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