subject: At What Age Can A Dog Get Pregnant? [print this page] Do you know when your dog can get pregnant? Taking a dog for a pet is a big responsibility - much much more than the task of providing the pet with food. Dogs have been the companion of man for ages. These four legged friends have protected and worked for man. This is the reason why, knowing when the dog will attain sexual maturity is one of the important responsibilities of a dog owner.
Puppies are adorable and irresistible bundles of fur. Puppies will be a source of endless fun for the family more so if there are kids as dogs are known to form a strong attachment with the children. Some owners would eagerly await the arrival of new puppies. Other owners though would not want to have additional dogs - probably due to space, financial and time constraints.
If no one would want to care for the puppies the wee things will simply be abandoned. When supply of puppies exceeds potential owners, animal authorities would have no other recourse but to dispose the pups the humane way. To control the number of homeless dogs, a pet owner has to know the reproductive cycle of the dog. Knowing the telltale signs of dog pregnancy is also important.
Dogs not only have different personalities as the reproductive cycle of our canine friend also differs from breed to breed. Some breeds would retain their puppy-like exuberance. The same thing is true with sexual maturity as some breed would be sexually mature at an early age and other would be considered as "late bloomers". Generally, small breeds can get pregnant at an early age as these small dogs would come into heat at 6 or even at 4 months of age. It is quite ironic really because large dogs, the breed that could have been ready to carry puppies because of the size are the ones that get sexually mature at a later age. For instance, a Saint Bernard or a Great Dane would come into first heat only after reaching 18 to 24 months of age. The pet can get pregnant if mated within the 7 to 10 days in heat period.
In spite of the fact that small breeds attain sexual maturity at an early age, the vet will be the best person to tell when the dog should be mated. Small breed mature sexually at an early age but their bodies are still developing. Young dogs that are not yet prepared to get pregnant can endanger not only its life but the puppies as well.
