which is the best day to breed a Maltese in HEAT

Ed Bern · 12-25-2009

I have a female Maltese what do I need to look out for and what do I need to do now? What day after she begins her Heat cycle is the best day for her to mate. She is in her 11th day today since she started her Heat cycle.
Hope someone can help me. My Maltese is in her second heat and is now 15 months old.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU

Yogi · 12-25-2009

Sorry but first of all you do not breed a bitch under 2 years. Secondly, since she is not 2 years (which is the minimum age for testing) it is obvious she has not been tested. Get a book on your breed, read up on all that is needed with regards to the breed. It will tell you the medical and health issues in the breed and outline tests that are needed prior to breeding to ensure pups are healthy and free of genetic issues. Far too many take breeding far too lightly and simply produce poorly bred pups not to mention overwhelming the population that is loaded in shelters. Pre arranged ownership is a pre-requisite when breeding. If you do not have potential buyers lined up and can assure healthy pups, don't breed.

Ed Bern · 12-27-2009

Thank you for your response. But I don't need a lecture. I have bred dogs for the last 20 some odd years and thought I could get some refresher info on my Maltese. It seems some people just don't get it. I guess some us seem to think they know more than a reproductive vet that was a professor at Cornell University/ He had no problem with the status and condition of my Maltese for breeding.

A positive response would have been more appropriate.

Lara's mom · 12-27-2009

Actually, we do "get it." It is about doing what is best for the dog and any future puppies as opposed to doing what you want. Sometimes, as in this case, they are NOT one and the same.

Yogi · 12-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Bern

Thank you for your response. But I don't need a lecture. I have bred dogs for the last 20 some odd years and thought I could get some refresher info on my Maltese. It seems some people just don't get it. I guess some us seem to think they know more than a reproductive vet that was a professor at Cornell University/ He had no problem with the status and condition of my Maltese for breeding.

A positive response would have been more appropriate.

In this case I can see no reason to feel obligated to provide something that if in fact you have been breeding for as long as you claim, you would already know the answer. But then again, no real breeder that in any way is deemed reputable would first ever breed a dog under 2 years, secondly not have it tested and thirdly, would already know what time in the cycle is the best. So obviously you have not been breeding dogs as long as you say, otherwise you would already have known the answer to your question and never would have asked it here or anywhere else. I have been breeding for over 50 years now and still find it astonishing how many people who's dogs bred, had pups and were lucky there were no issues seem to think they are breeders, when in fact they are not. Having a male and a female dog which will naturally breed in no way makes one a breeder. It is in the health, pre-arrangement of pups. The bitches care, pups care in de-worming, vet costs and after care for the bitch....far more than you seem to be informed of. Which in the true breeder world, no bitch under 2 years as this is the earliest they can be tested for health issues, no matter what the breed. Otherwise you take a great risk of passing on health issues to the pups.
As for you noted vet, one thing to note...any reputable vet will be the first to tell you that in reality they are not breed specialists but simply doctors and in reality could not off the top of their head tell you the specific health issues in any specific breed. They treat the after not the prior which is why when most reputable breeders take their bitches at 2 years for testing, we tell the vet what tests are needed as we are the breed specialist, they are not. Hell, most vets I have met honestly don't know the standard age for breeding. Just because a 13 year old girl can ovulate and get pregnant based on a health exam by a Physician doesn't mean she is suppose to.....It is common sense. You don't take your car for a transmission rebuild to a oil change shop do you.
Well hate to tell you but asking a vet to check to see if a bitch is in good enough shape to have pups literally is the same thing. They are not breeders. You ask breeders for information on breeding not vets. Vets are doctors, breeders are breeders. If you want information on your Maltese, why did you not look up online "maltese dogs"...you could have found all the information you wanted ie: breeding, health testing, grooming and even breeders who could mentor you properly, who will tell you that 15 months is too young. Or maybe you knew this but thought that because some non breeder who happens to have a DVM title after his/her name would excuse the common sense rule of breeding. Sorry, I cannot avoid lecturing one who claims to have been breeding for 20 some years yet after all that time asks questions that lead anyone who reads them to believe that they are getting into this for the first time.

Ed Bern · 12-28-2009

Wow..................

lil mutt · 01-05-2010

Hi Ed and welcome. I can't tell to what to do with your situation but maybe a little piece of advice. If you have those required such papers, shots, tests and everything, then breed her. All I mean is that, with thousands of homeless and suffering dogs/pups out there, it's better to be part of the solution rather than being a part of the problem. You know on which side you are.