Jack Russell Terrier's first heat

Breeding Jack Russell Terriers is not as difficult as other small dogs.

But it is necessary to take into account some of their breed characteristics.

So, due to an overly emotional and even cocky character, unforeseen difficulties may arise during mating.

And when choosing a suitable partner, you need to take into account the heredity of dogs.

It is also important to understand the breed types of Jack Russells and their modern lines.

When ready to breed

Boy

It is allowed to untie a male dog from 1.5 years of age, not earlier.

If this is done before reaching this age, the dog may develop destructive character traits and an indomitable desire to reproduce, the only salvation from which will be castration.

This will be especially offensive if the dog is excellent in appearance and promises to become a good producer.

It is advisable that the dog receive a breeding assessment at the exhibition before 1.5 years.

If this does not happen, then it is better to wait to untie it.

Girl

For the first time, it is best to breed a bitch who has reached two years of age..

Some owners rush to untie their dog as early as possible, sometimes even during the first heat, especially if it was late and began after the bitch reached one year of age.

This should absolutely not be done: early pregnancy and childbirth will not bring any benefit to a Jack Russell bitch.

The benchmark for starting breeding should be the third heat . Until this time, it is better for the owner of the bitch to focus on the exhibition career of his pet and its training.

How to understand that your pet is ready

Usually, bitches are bred for 10-15 days.

But in order to accurately determine the most favorable time for mating, you also need to pay attention to some changes in the dog’s character and behavior, as well as physiological signs of readiness for mating:

The dog's behavior changes: it treats males more favorably: it allows them to approach itself and flirts with them.
By the beginning of ovulation, the discharge from the loop becomes lighter - golden with a pinkish tint and acquires a pungent odor.
The loop increases in size and becomes soft. By the day of mating, it should retain some elasticity only at the top, near the base.
If you put your hand on the dog's croup, it lifts the loop and moves its tail to the side.
When the loop is touched with a finger, it also rises and its edges open.

If the owner of the bitch is not sure that he was able to correctly calculate the day suitable for mating, then he can take the dog to the clinic, where it will undergo a special test that determines the level of progesterone in the blood.

How to choose a pair?

When choosing a partner for mating, the owner of a bitch needs to focus on the following criteria:

Health. The dog must be healthy himself and be free from hereditary diseases.
Psyche. The male must have the typical temperament and character of the breed.
Exterior. It is very important that the male dog is as good as possible in terms of conformation and even surpasses the female dog in this regard.
Origin. The mating partner must come from a good modern line, famous both for its health and victories at exhibitions. The more champions in the line, the better.
Titles. It is desirable that the male be at least a champion of the breed.

It is better to spend time looking for a worthy sire than to breed a bitch with an unremarkable dog whose only advantage is that he lives nearby.

Expert opinion

Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich

Expert dog handler.

“It is recommended that you select the best male dog you can find for breeding. He must be healthy both physically and psychologically, and his conformation must be as good as his pedigree. Finally, if you are going to untie your girl for the first time, then choose an experienced stud dog as her partner. And it would be nice to also look at his offspring to have an idea of what kind of puppies are born from him.”

Preparing the dog

You need to start preparing your pet for mating about a month before..

It is necessary to worm the bitch and, if necessary, give her vaccinations.

At this time, you can already start giving her special vitamin supplements for pregnant and lactating bitches.

IMPORTANT!

If the dog is overweight, then it should be brought into shape even before mating, since during pregnancy it can cause complications.

Before you start looking for a dog, you need to find out if the bitch is healthy . If during the examination any pathologies are discovered, then the bitch should not be bred.

Basic rules step by step

Dogs are not fed before mating: the last meal should be no less than three hours before the “event”.

Immediately before mating, the partners are walked: this can be done separately or together.

How to knit according to the rules:

To carry it out, you need to choose a place on the dog’s territory. A room in a house or a private yard is ideal for these purposes.
It is advisable to cover slippery floors with old carpets or mats.
If mating takes place outside, it is advisable that there be a canopy there.
The dogs are allowed indoors or into the yard, where they begin to look closely at each other and get to know each other and play with each other.
After the bitch allows the male to approach and sniff her external genitalia, he mounts. Further events can develop in different ways: either the male manages to get into the loop, or the female turns out and runs away. In the first case, it is better not to interfere. But in the second, the dogs will have to help: hold the bitch by the collar and under the belly while mounting.
The male dog may also need help. This happens if the bitch is larger. In this case, you should place a stand under the dog’s paws.
After ejaculation occurs, a so-called “lock” is formed, which lasts from several minutes to an hour. All this time, the dogs must stand with their backs turned to each other.
If the bitch is nervous during the “lock”, whines and tries to wriggle out, the owner must hold her by the collar.
The next day or every other day, a control mating is carried out.

In case the bitch won’t let the male in or the male doesn’t want to breed her, it is advisable to select a spare partner in advance.

How does mating go?

Knitting can be either freestyle or handmade. It all depends on whether the dogs can handle it on their own or whether they need help from their owners. If you are concerned that your pet may become aggressive, muzzle it. The owner of the other dog should do the same.

Let both Jack Russell Terriers out indoors or in an enclosure. Partners should get to know each other and smell each other. A male dog can begin courtship through play. No matter how long the introduction takes, do not rush the dogs, give them time.

If this is not the pet’s first mating, then most likely the process will begin by itself, naturally. Although males, even without experience, can cope on their own.

If you notice that the male dog is unable to mount or is afraid, then he will need help. If this is the first mating for one of the partners, you can invite a specialist in advance. In case of difficulties, he will help to cope with the problems that arise.

If the male dog is too nervous, do not try to force him to mount. It is best to take the bitch away for a while to give him the opportunity to rest and calm down. Otherwise, the dog may refuse mating.

Sometimes a male dog cannot mount because the female genitals are not sufficiently moisturized. In this case, the owner of the bitch needs to lubricate her loop with Vaseline.

If the bitch shows aggression, then her owner needs to hold the dog by the collar during the entire process. If one of the partners is smaller in height, then its owner must raise the pet to the required level. But do not overdo it with help - under no circumstances touch the male’s genitals. This could cause him psychological trauma.

When mounting has occurred, and the male ejaculates after several jerks, the genitals of both partners increase in size. As a result, a gluing or locking occurs, due to which the male is temporarily unable to remove his genitals from the bitch’s vagina.

Ideally, the lock lasts from a few minutes to an hour until the blood drains from the genitals. Then the dog can free himself calmly. While the mating lasts, the owner of the bitch needs to hold her, otherwise with her sudden movements she can cause injury to the dog. The owner of a male dog can help him get into a comfortable position, that is, back to back.

After finishing the mating, you need to take the bitch to another room and give her time to get herself in order. After an hour, you can take her out for a walk and then feed her. The male dog also needs to be given time to rest, especially if he has another mating ahead of him.

To ensure that the owner of the bitch is sure that fertilization has occurred, the mating process can be repeated the next day.

What problems did you encounter during mating?

How is pregnancy going?

The average gestation period for females of this breed is 60 days..

In the first month, it is difficult to understand whether the bitch is pregnant or not, since she does not change in appearance. True, in the third week the nipples begin to swell.

In the first month of pregnancy, the bitch may seem lethargic or sad, she sleeps more and eats less well. But all these signs are unreliable.

NOTE!

The fact that the bitch is pregnant is indicated by the expansion of the volume of the ribs, which is why the sitting bitch appears more plump.

In the fifth week, an increase in the abdomen becomes noticeable.

Prenatal period

After a successful mating, the Jack Russell Terrier bitch becomes pregnant. The average length of a dog's pregnancy is sixty days. The entire period of gestation can be divided into four phases:

twenty-one days after mating;
fourth week;
fifth to seventh week;
eighth week.

In the first phase, the pet has no visible changes either physically or psychologically. Leave the feeding ration unchanged. You also need to add to it preparations with vitamins A, D and E in the dosage specified in the instructions for use. During the entire pregnancy, give the Jack Russell Terrier bitch “Undevit” one tablet once a day and “Ferrum Lek” half a tablet per day.

In the second phase of pregnancy, the dog begins to develop toxicosis, due to which it may refuse to eat, preferring water. You cannot force your pet to eat.

At this time, thick, colorless discharge may appear. If blood appears in them, you need to give the dog a five percent solution of calcium chloride for three to four days - half a teaspoon twice a day.

In the third phase of pregnancy, long, quiet walks in secluded places, where there will be no unnecessary irritants in the form of other dogs or unnecessary noise, are recommended. If you live in an apartment building, do not allow the female Jack Russell Terrier to walk up the stairs by herself: either in the elevator or in your arms. If your pet has developed an appetite, be sure to increase the amount of food, but divide it into three or four meals. Keep giving vitamins.

In the third phase, noticeable movements of the fetuses begin in the womb of the bitch. You need to reduce the amount of meat and meat broths, and a couple of days before the possible day of delivery you need to replace the meat with cottage cheese and cheese. Meat can be given again three to four days after birth.

Preparing the site

You need to prepare the place for the birth in advance, about two weeks in advance. For this purpose, choose a room where the Jack Russell Terrier bitch will not be distracted by extraneous noises or strangers. If there is a window in the room, it is best to cover it so that direct sunlight does not bother the dog. Also clear the room of all unnecessary items so that you can quickly get to the bitch when she goes into labor.

Place a birthing box in the selected room. You can purchase it at a specialty store or make it yourself. The main thing is that it fits the Jack Russell Terrier in size - the pet should be able to freely stretch out to its full height. The box where the birth will take place must always be in perfect condition. Change bedding or diapers as they become dirty.

When the room is completely ready, start bringing your dog there every day so that it has time to get used to the maternity box. Otherwise, the Jack Russell Terrier bitch may begin to give birth in a place that is inconvenient for you and her.

Do not forget to disinfect and ventilate the selected room in advance. This should not be done during childbirth - the dog may get sick or have an allergic reaction to cleaning chemicals.

Preparing the necessary items

Before giving birth, you need to prepare the necessary items:

a lot of clean rags;
plenty of clean towels;
hand sanitizer, such as Strilium;
heating pad;
scissors with rounded tips for cutting the umbilical cord;
silk threads for tying the umbilical cord;
puppy boxes;
trash can for dirty rags;
different colored threads to represent each puppy;
thermometer;
a pen, notebook and scales for recording the necessary parameters of the puppies.

You also need to prepare some medications to avoid inflammation or infection, as well as for possible resuscitation of puppies:

an antiseptic for sterilizing the navels of puppies, for example, “Xidikol”;
five percent glucose;
syringes;
anti-inflammatory agent, for example, Traumeel;
"Cordiamin" to stimulate the heart;
an antibacterial agent, for example, ten percent syntomycin ointment;
enema;
no-shpa (ampoules).

Don't forget to warn your local veterinarian about the upcoming birth. If your bitch is giving birth for the first time, it is best to arrange in advance with the doctor about his presence so that he can help in difficult cases.

Also, before giving birth, prepare the bitch by trimming the hair around her genitals and nipples. The genitals themselves must be washed well with warm water and soap, after which the soap must be rinsed off. Then treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate. To prepare it, dilute a teaspoon of powder in a liter of warm water.

Behavior and condition of the dog before giving birth

The approach of childbirth in a female Jack Russell Terrier can be determined by physical and psychological indications.

A week before giving birth, the pet’s temperature begins to fluctuate. The closer the birth is, the lower it is. Three days before the possible birth, you need to measure the temperature of your female Jack Russell Terrier twice a day. Twelve hours before labor begins, her temperature should drop to thirty-seven degrees.

In about four days, the pet's tummy begins to droop, its sides sag, and it becomes like a pear.

Within three days, the dog begins to show excessive nervousness: sleep restlessly, follow you, whine, come to the prepared room and lie in the maternity box for a long time. Perhaps she will lose her appetite, although in some individuals the appetite, on the contrary, increases. The dog begins to frequently ask to go outside or constantly goes to the toilet at home.

Twenty-four hours before giving birth, your dog will usually have a white or gray discharge. And the puppies’ movements in the womb stop. You don’t have to worry, these symptoms, coupled with a sharp drop in temperature, symbolize the early appearance of offspring.

If you notice that the discharge contains blood or that it has turned green, consult a doctor. These are the first symptoms of possible complications.

Be patient and attentive to the dog, she needs your support now more than ever. But if all the signs of labor are already there, and the process itself has not begun, even though more than a day has passed, call the vet immediately. Most likely, something went wrong, and your pet and puppies are in great danger.

How does childbirth go?

Jack Russells are strong and healthy dogs whose births, as a rule, occur without complications. But the owner must be ready to help his pet if something goes wrong.

Childbirth begins with contractions - regular contractions of the uterus, which become more frequent and stronger over time..

At this time, the bitch gets anxious, walks around the house and may hide in a corner. You need to carefully monitor her so that she does not accidentally give birth to a puppy in a completely inappropriate place, and not in a box prepared for this.

A couple of weeks before the expected birth, you need to prepare a special birth box of a suitable size and begin to accustom the bitch to it.

As their intensity increases, the contractions turn into attempts, the outcome of which is the actual birth of the puppy..

Normally, the bitch herself takes care of the newborn: she frees him from the membranes, bites the umbilical cord and licks the puppy, and to top it all off, pushes him with her nose to the nipples.

The puppy quickly understands what’s what and begins to eat his first independent meal in his life.

Then everything is repeated as many times as there are babies born in the litter. And finally, when the whole family is gathered, the bitch can rest a little after giving birth.

How to deliver a dog?

Most dog owners are negligent about the appearance of puppies in their home and the birth of their dog and believe that the dog will be able to give birth on its own.
This idea is true when it comes to the birth of dogs without a breed or with mixed blood, which are of average size (for mongrels). As you know, the most long-awaited offspring comes from purebred dogs. As a rule, they are artificially bred, and, therefore, the natural mechanisms in them do not imply the possibility of an independent type of resolution.

It is especially important to help and prepare a dog for childbirth of dwarf and decorative breeds. It is important to remember that the puppies of such dogs are only 10 times smaller than the giving birth bitch, while in large breeds the difference is within fifty times (large breed puppies, at birth, are 50 times smaller than their mothers).

In addition, if a dog gives birth for the first time (no matter what breed), it is not yet psychologically prepared for the process that will await it. And, if you leave a bitch giving birth for the first time on her own at the time of giving birth, she may simply not accept her children and kill them.

We hope we have convinced you of the need to be involved in your dog's birthing process. Next, we will analyze the process of childbirth and preparation for it in detail.

Preparatory stage for giving birth in a dog

In order for the dog’s birth to go well and healthy puppies to be born, it is necessary to carefully prepare for it.

If your dog gives birth for the first time and you are not sure that you will be able to cope with the birth in the event of a force majeure situation, it is necessary for a veterinarian to be present at the birth.

If you do not have the opportunity or free funds to call a specialist, then take the veterinarian’s number so that, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, you can call him and call him or, in extreme cases, ask him for advice on how to act in a particular case .

It is especially important that a specialist be present at the birth of small breed dogs. As stated above, their puppies are large, which greatly complicates the birth process for small dogs. In addition, the bones of small breed dog puppies are not as strong as those of large breed puppies.

The preparatory stage also consists of creating a place in which a kind of resolution will occur. The place should be prepared one and a half weeks before the expected date of birth so that the expectant mother can get used to it.

The dog should feel safe and comfortable in this place. This place should not be exposed to strong drafts. To prevent drafts, you can use a spacious box, which you will first insulate using a special, comfortable bedding.

Please note that you must have easy access to the place where your dog will give birth. This is in order to assist her during childbirth if necessary.

Preparing for your dog to give birth yourself

By the time you give birth, you must prepare yourself well. For example, the nails on your hands should be well trimmed, and there should be a disinfectant in your pocket so that you can treat your hands with it when labor begins. Unfortunately, there were many cases when dog owners, with their dirty hands, introduced an infection to a giving birth bitch, and she died...

Childbirth cannot be called a “clean” process. Therefore, you need to prepare:

comfortable clothes for yourself that can be thrown away after childbirth;
an old sheet that can be thrown away (you can lay oilcloth) - you will lay it under the woman in labor;
a basin for smeared rags.

In addition, you should have a box ready in which you can put the puppies.

Preparing the dog for birth

To prevent your dog from developing an infection during labor, it is important to wash her thoroughly before starting the process (especially her belly, vagina, and anus).

It is also necessary to trim the fur on the belly and around the loop. In order to make it easier for the dog to tear the umbilical cord with his teeth, he needs to trim off his beard and long mustache, if any. At this point the preparatory stage can be completed.

Signs of labor in dogs

The first thing that can indicate that your bitch is giving birth is a significant change in her behavior. She cannot sit in one place, begins to rush around and behaves strangely. If you notice something similar in your dog's behavior, then provide him with maximum support, especially if this is his first birth. Never leave her alone for the reasons described above.

A day before the onset of labor, the dog may begin to develop white or grayish discharge, which is also a clear sign that the dog will soon begin labor. If you feel the dog's belly, you can see that the puppies have stopped moving - don't worry, this is normal.

If you observe these signs for more than one day, and labor has not begun, then immediately contact a specialist. There is something wrong here and your dog, along with the puppies that were born, is in danger!

What you need to know about contractions and childbirth in a dog?

As a rule, the preparatory stage of childbirth lasts from 2 hours to 1 day. The beginning of the next stage (contractions and childbirth) is accompanied by the appearance of contractions of powerful intensity. Here nature takes care of everything itself; the best advice during the onset of labor is not to interfere.

It often happens that dog owners, in order to help a woman in labor, try to pierce the amniotic sac on their own. This should not be done! The dog's bladder will burst when it is necessary for optimal delivery.

Sometimes, a woman in labor chews through the amniotic sac herself, and this is also normal.

It also happens that the owner of the dog breaks the bubble, thinking that it is amniotic, but it turns out to be a bubble in which the puppy is born. This should not be done under any circumstances. Just trust your dog's instincts and be there to support him emotionally.

When puppies come out into the world, don't be alarmed if they walk feet first - this is normal! The only time to sound the alarm is if contractions started 2.5 hours ago and the puppy still hasn’t appeared.

In this case, urgently call a veterinarian, because an artificial kind of permission is needed, which you cannot provide on your own.

Failure to provide assistance in this case may result in the death of the mother and her puppies.

How to help a dog during childbirth?

The most significant help you can give your dog during birth is to free the newborn puppies from the bubble in which they are located.

Please note that they should be freed from this bubble only when the puppy has already fully emerged into the world, and if the dog has not freed him from this bubble on his own.

If the puppy remains in this bubble for a long time, he may suffocate. Under no circumstances should you puncture this bubble until the puppy is born.

It happens that a puppy does not breathe after birth. Here you need to act as quickly as possible! You are required to clear his external airway (nose) and his mouth of any mucus or fluid that may be stuck there.

At the time of birth, you should have alcohol-preserved thread ready. It should be used if the dog has not chewed the umbilical cord on its own. In this case, you must tear it yourself and tie the tear with this thread. This way you will not infect your dog and will stop possible bleeding that may come from the umbilical cord.

Do not forget that the dog needs to be provided with psychological support. To do this, be with her during the entire birth process, even if, in your opinion, she is doing great on her own. This is a very powerful help for a dog during childbirth.

How to act in the postpartum period?

Finally, we will give some practical advice on how to behave towards a dog and puppies after they are born.

After the dog has given birth, it is necessary to monitor its behavior and condition for several days. Watch how she treats her puppies, whether she behaves aggressively towards them (unfortunately, this also happens).

It is also necessary to keep a mother who has recently given birth and her puppies away from prying eyes for 7–8 days. This is important for the dog's psychological state. She trusts you, but not your neighbor, for example.

Monitor whether your dog has vaginal discharge after giving birth. If the discharge is bloody or mucous, then this is normal. You can wash her if she is not yet able to do this on her own.

But if the discharge is greenish in color and has an unpleasant odor, then you need to sound the alarm. Call a specialist who can examine the dog that has given birth, and do not waste time in this case.

It doesn't matter what stage of labor your dog is in. Do not deprive her of your care and participation, even if it seems that she herself can cope just fine. Having you by her side during labor is the biggest help you can give your dog.

As always, we invite you to watch a video on the topic “Deliver a dog’s birth”:

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How to give birth yourself?

Most bitches cope with childbirth on their own. But in young dogs, the maternal instinct may not yet awaken, and therefore the owner will have to accept newborn puppies on his own.

How to do this:

As soon as the puppy is born, the owner needs to rupture the membranes near his nose so that the baby can take his first breath of air.
Having freed the puppy from the films, you need to quickly but carefully rub it with a clean soft towel, then tie the umbilical cord 2 cm from the newborn’s abdomen and cut it above the bandage.
After this, carefully pulling the umbilical cord, pull out the placenta.
Then you need to give the puppy to the bitch so that she can lick it, and after that, place it on the nipple.
At the time of the birth of new puppies, already born babies should be placed in a box with a warm heating pad covered with a soft cloth, and then returned to the mother again.
After the last puppy is born, you need to check the number of placenta: their number should be equal to the number of puppies born.
Upon completion of the birth, you need to give the bitch warm tea diluted with milk.

CAREFULLY!

As the litter becomes wet during childbirth, it should be replaced with clean one.

Jack Russells are not a difficult breed to breed. And yet, having decided to start breeding them, you need to carefully think and calculate everything.

After all, paying for a dog’s services and maintaining a bitch during pregnancy and childbirth is not a cheap pleasure..

Raising puppies also takes a lot of money, time and effort, and therefore, it makes sense to think about getting offspring from your dog only when the dog is truly magnificent and can improve the breed.

Pregnancy and childbirth

In females of this breed, pregnancy lasts for 60 days. At this time, the dog requires close care.

How to tell if your dog is pregnant

Pregnancy is indicated by expansion of the hips. As a result, the dog appears more well-fed.

In the first month, it is almost impossible to understand whether a dog is pregnant. No external changes occur. The only thing that can indicate successful fertilization is the lethargy of the animal, which sleeps more often and eats worse. From the third week, the nipples begin to swell.

How is pregnancy going?

From the fifth week of pregnancy, the bitch's belly becomes noticeable. The mammary glands significantly enlarge and swell. As soon as the first signs of pregnancy appear, it is necessary to increase the number of meals. Throughout the entire gestation period, training is canceled and physical activity is limited.

A female Jack Russell Terrier will bear puppies for two months. After this, delivery will occur. As practice shows, representatives of this breed easily give birth to puppies without outside help.

First signs of pregnancy