AboutKim Wingate Expertise I can answer general questions about Poodles. My specific area of expertise is Standard Poodles, but I will answer all questions about Poodles and dog related questions if I can. If I can't answer your question, I will be able to find information or someone who can.
Experience I am a Dog Groomer and Dog Trainer, who has raised Standard Poodles for over 20 years. I can answer Housebreaking questions, Obedience questions, Grooming questions, Breeding questions, and General Dog questions.
Organizations I am a member of the AKC.
Education/Credentials I have worked at several Pet stores in my area, worked for a year as a Vet Tech, was an apprentice for a Dog Trainer, and have also worked at a Grooming/Showing kennel for several months. I have also raised, shown, trained, and groomed my own Standard Poodles for over 20 years.
Expert: Kim Wingate Date: 6/9/2008 Subject: Toy Poodle Breeding
Question Hi, I have a 3yo female toy poodle that I would like to breed from. She is currently on heat. I have not had any experience with breeding dogs and any information you could give me would be extremely helpful. Is this a good age to start her? Thanks.
Answer Hello Tracey,
3 yrs old is a good age to start breeding. By this time, she has matured enough to be ready to carry puppies.
Female dogs have regular heat cycles about every 6 months, or twice a year.
Females will stay in heat for about 3 weeks. When the female comes into heat, you will see blood around her vulva. She will continue to bleed for about 9 days. On or around the 9th day, she will be ready to breed and will start to accept a male. You should breed her about 3 times, skipping a day in between to give the male time to repopulate his sperm (so over a period of about a week). A couple of days later, the female will start to refuse the male and that will tell you that she is no longer in heat.
Just because your male isn't interested in your female any longer, that doesn't mean that she got pregnant. The chances that she is pregnant are pretty good though.
Females are pregnant for 63 days from the first mating. Mark on your calendar the first breeding then count 63 days and you will have your due date. Some females will go early, some later though.
You should get some things on hand to have when your female starts to whelp.
Whelping Kit:
Dental Floss (to tie off the umbilical cord)
Navel Iodine (to dip the stump of the umbilical cord in)
Infant Nasal Suction Bulb (to suction out the mouth and nose)
Pair of Sharp Scissors (to trim the umbilical cord and Floss)
Newspapers (to lay down under the female)
Blanket (lay under the female, then top with a heavy layer of papers)
Towels and Paper Towels (to wipe the mucus off each puppy)
Optional:
Scales (to get a weight on each puppy)
Pen and Paper (to write down puppies time of birth, weight, sex etc)Colored Yarn or Ric-Rack to identify each puppy. Just make sure you leave it fairly loose and check it often.
You will have some signs that the female is getting ready to whelp. She may start nesting by gathering toys around her and pretending to nurse. She will have a waxy substance form around her nipples, and if you start taking her temp. around day 60, (dogs normal temp runs around 101.5) her temp will drop to around 98.0 when she is within 24 hours of delivery. Take her temp every morning and evening to get a base temp. I would start checking at her 60th day and then continue until it drops to around 98.0-98.5
Before breeding your girl, you should get her a pre-breeding check-up from her Vet. Inform him that you are going to be breeding her and also let him know that you would like to make sure that she has no genetic issues that could be passed on to the puppies.
I hope this helps you some. If you have other questions about this or Poodle questions in general, please feel free to ask.
