posted 12-16-2003 03:05 AM         

Heat cycles can start from 5months.
The begining of the heat cycle you should notice a change in size of her vulva as the days pass she may start to pass small amounts of blood depending on how well she cleans herself you may not notice this.

After the 9th day of her heat cycle she will start showing signs of being ready to mate if a male is present she will raise her tail and turn it sideways the next 9-12 days is crucial to keep them seperated as this is the time she is likely to fail pregnant if mated.

Even when her vulva goes back to its normal size please dont assume she will still not mate as some bitches do, The sperm from a male dog can survive in the bitch fro upto 5days after mating so chances of her falling pregnant are high..

Male dogs are sometimes not mature enough to get a bitch pregnant but as i say small breed dogs mature faster than large breeds.

What breed are your dogs?

posted 12-16-2003 09:30 AM         

My 1st german shepherd bitch didnt come into heat till she was 12months old and all of my bitches only have one heat a year.

Some bitches come into heat every 6months others its yearly.

Heat cycles last on average 15-19days long
Pro-Oestrus lasts about 9days and Oestrus-Proper lasts about 9days.

Some not all unspayed bitches even if they have a heat and not mated they will more than likely have a phantom pregnancy..