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Our fertility clinic has a variety of services and comes with a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise. Our clinicians are involved in every aspect of the breeding process and often have looked after the same dogs for family years. Understanding what they need, how they like to be treated and how to keep them safe and comfortable. Your animal’s wellbeing, health and safety is our number one priority.

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Fertility for Bitches

You should only breed from a female dog who is fit, healthy and shows a good temperament. Before mating, the bitch should have health tests to check if there are any conditions she could pass on to her puppies.

Age should also be taken into account. It is recommended to wait until a bitch is at least one year and has had a full season already before attempting to mate. Once a dog is over the age of around eight, the risks of mating and whelping begin to increase.
If you intend to breed from your bitch, you should make sure she has optimum nutrition and has had all the vet care she needs prior to mating. You should also start to keep records of her heat cycles, which will help you to predict the due date of her litter when she gets pregnant.

Oestrus, or heat, are the times when your female (bitch) dog is receptive to mating. A number of things happen to your dog during this period. For instance, oestrogen levels spike before dipping, mature eggs are released from her ovaries, and her behaviour may change. Your bitch might also be nervier, and don’t be surprised if she starts presenting her rear end to male dogs as they pass. She’ll also bleed, and urinate more often.

The oestrus cycle in bitches varies by breed and size, but you can expect her to go into heat for the first time from around six months old. When it comes to putting your bitch’s best interests first, remember it’s not advised to breed from a female on their first cycle.

We highly recommend you bring your girl for an ovulation test on day 9 (from the first day of bleeding) to determine her hormone levels. This will give you a more precise time to mate increasing the chances of a healthy pregnancy/litter.

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Fertility for Studs

The stud you choose should have a pedigree that is compatible with your bitch, as well as a clean bill of health. Before breeding, the stud should be checked for inherited diseases which apply to that breed.

Of course, you can always choose to create a crossbreed litter. Some mixed breed dogs are immensely popular, mixing the best characteristics of two pedigrees.

Before mating your male dog, you must ensure that he has hit puberty and is fertile. We can assist in determining his fertility with semen analysis. Make sure he has reached the age of puberty between 6 to 12 months and also ensure that he is in perfect health. Is he showing signs of interest in mating with other females? These are factors to watch for. Most male dogs will be truly fertile by 1 year old.

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