Mating pugs: how to get healthy offspring

Changes in behavior

The onset of the pug's first heat, as it turned out, occurs no earlier than six months. Before it begins, the animal’s behavior changes significantly. Signs of imminent estrus look like this:

1. A dog with a kind and affectionate disposition suddenly turns into a real fury: it snaps, growls, and behaves strangely. New owners get scared when they think about their pet’s illness. She's not sick, she's just growing up.
2. The beloved, previously independent and proud, becomes eager for affection. She cuddles up to her owner and family members, exposes her belly for scratching, and withdraws the back of her body.
3. The pug is a big eater. Before the onset of heat, many dogs refuse to eat, but drink plenty of water.
4. Other representatives of the breed, on the contrary, begin to eat everything they see in their path.

When to breed a dog?

When pugs come into heat, mating takes place on days 10–13. There are some nuances that must be adhered to when wanting to get offspring from your pet:

1. Representatives of the breed are bred that are registered in the RKF and have permission to breed. Before breeding a bitch, please answer the following questions: does she have documents confirming that she belongs to the breed? Does the dog participate in exhibitions? Does she have breeding value? Did the owner answer “no” three times? Forget about mating, it is better to sterilize your pet.
2. On what day of heat pugs are bred is written above. It remains to be seen whether the first heat is a suitable condition for this or not. Dear novice owners, it is unacceptable to breed a female dog until she is fifteen months old. In simple terms, we wait until the third heat, then we think about getting offspring.
3. To select a male, contact the breeder. We strongly recommend that all matings be carried out only through it. Without experience, it is very difficult to find a suitable partner for a bitch; his shortcomings are carefully hidden from view.
4. Small breeds have a hard time giving birth, and the pug is no exception. When planning to breed a pet, they discuss possible difficulties with the breeder and veterinarian in advance. Will he be able to come if labor begins late at night or on a holiday? Will the breeder be able to provide assistance at this moment? If a bitch gives birth for the first time, a specialist must be present near her.

Care and education of a male pug

A little dog has appeared in your house. He devotes all his time to fun games or sweet dreams. The baby eats with pleasure, grows and develops quickly. Male puberty begins at 2-3 months of age and progresses smoothly over time. All this time you need to treat the little dog very carefully and tactfully.

This behavior is quite normal. It is much worse if the puppy does not do this. The main thing is that not just one specific object is chosen, since the male dog may develop a stereotype of sexual games with this particular toy.

The puppy can also choose its owner as the object of its desire. It looks quite cute and funny, but in the future, when the puppy grows up and starts pestering your arms and legs, there will be very little funny.

There is no need to allow your dog to masturbate all the time. Your task, without scaring the puppy, is to distract him and switch him to another game. In this situation, you cannot shout at the puppy, punish, or give the command “Ugh!” The male dog will learn and remember that mating is bad, and in the future, at the right moment, he may not approach the female in heat who came to him for mating.

The male reproductive system consists of testes descended into the scrotum, suspended on the spermatic cords, accessory sex glands, penis and prepuce (foreskin). The testes are the main paired sex gland of a male dog, in which, after reaching puberty, the formation of germ cells - sperm.

Normally, a puppy’s testes descend by the age of one and a half months. But only a specialist can detect them, since at this age, the scrotum has not yet formed, and the testes are located on the sides of the body of the penis. In addition, when frightened, cold or touched, the testes are pulled into the inguinal canal.

The descent of the testes into the scrotum of a pug occurs by 3–6 months, rarely later. The main thing is that by the age of one year the male dog has two healthy testes, completely descended into the scrotum.

Sometimes in males there is undescendedness of one or two testes - cryptorchidism. The reasons for the development of cryptorchidism, as a rule, are: mechanical obstacles along the inguinal canal, underdevelopment of the gonads and heredity. Such males are disqualified from exhibitions and do not participate in breeding.

In males, unlike many other males of the animal world, inside the penis, along its axis, there are so-called “bulbs” - two cavernous bodies, which significantly increase at the time of mating. They provide a “lock” that firmly connects the bitch and the dog during mating.

Theoretically, any purebred dog that is able to breed a bitch can be considered a breeding dog. But in practice, among professional dog breeders, this term is applied only to a male dog that is specially raised and prepared for systematic breeding use.

A stud dog, along with good character and normal psyche, must be ideally healthy, strong, courageous in all respects, have an origin free from hereditary defects and diseases, and have high exterior qualities, confirmed by several experts at canine exhibitions.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with what and when to give pug vaccinations

When purchasing a small puppy, you can never be completely sure that it will grow into a stud dog. For breeding, it is better to take a dog that is 9-12 months old. At this age, the male is fully formed, and all the required qualities have already appeared.

Raising a good stud dog is not easy. Naturally, in order for a stud dog to have good health and proper constitution, he must eat especially well and rationally, walk a lot, and always be in good condition.

It is very important that a male dog has experience communicating with other dogs, and not only with females of his own breed. A male dog should not be aggressive towards his brothers, but he should not be afraid of them either. There have been many cases when, having seen the bride, the dog simply hid from her. If for some reason your pet does not react to the bitch or is afraid of her, it is almost impossible to force him to groom her. Therefore, do not make serious mistakes in raising your pet, they may turn out to be irreparable.

In addition, the fact how competently the first mating in his life was carried out is extremely important for the dog’s entire future breeding career. Under no circumstances should you trust this important point to random people who are not authoritative in this matter. An insufficiently experienced instructor can, through his inept actions, cause irreparable harm and discourage a young dog from having an interest in bitches for the rest of his life.

The first mating should be carried out only in the presence of an experienced and qualified instructor, who will not let the dog become confused, will tactfully help him and encourage him. It’s a good idea to ask for advice and recommendations from the owners of those male dogs who have a reputation as active, skillful grooms.

It is advisable to carry out the first mating of a young male with a mature, experienced female who readily mates and has an easy-going character. It is unwise to breed an inexperienced dog with an untied bitch. In addition, it is important not to make mistakes in the calculations and bring a bitch in full heat, ready for mating, to the beginning stud dog. Otherwise, at a decisive moment, she may, for example, bite and thereby frighten the male dog, which can also “extinguish” his interest in brides for a long time.

By the time of mating, the male must already have reached one year of age and received a positive assessment at the exhibition. Earlier matings, contrary to popular belief, do not in any way help to stop or slow down the male's height growth, but immature sperm can lead to the female being abandoned.

The owner of a stud dog should remember that he is responsible for the fact that his dog may be a spreader of infectious diseases. Therefore, along with general hygiene, it is necessary to regularly examine his genitals. For preventive purposes, it is useful to wash the preputal fold weekly with a lukewarm, mildly disinfecting solution.

If purulent discharge appears from the prepuce, you should douche with the solution for several days. If this measure does not help, you need to consult a veterinarian and be sure to take a prepuce smear.

The most responsible owners of male dogs, in order to prevent possible infection and further spread of the disease, immediately after mating with a female dog, carry out preventive douching of the male dog.

Properly raised, wisely unleashed, wisely used breeding stock remains active and strong up to 9 - 10 years.

Precautionary measures

We found out how long a pug's heat can last. Now let's talk about how to protect the bitch during this period.

Walk your pet only on a leash. Does the dog know commands, obey perfectly and never run away from its owner? Excellent, only during heat she “blows her head off”, the pet is able to ignore the braking command and hide in an unknown direction.

Another point regarding the need for walking on a leash is the numerous male dogs. Males, sensing a female in heat, will definitely come to meet her. Such communication can end badly for both the dog and the owner. The first one will be tied up, the second one will be bitten while trying to fight off the “lady”. A leash is a reliable way to keep your pet close to you; male dogs will be afraid to come too close to a person.

Long before mating

Take care in advance about choosing a partner for your pug - a female (if you have a girl). This partner should not be sick on the day of the planned mating, and also be vaccinated according to age. Likewise, your dog should be vaccinated and treated for worms.

Because treating worms during pregnancy in dogs is not recommended. You can lose puppies or it will affect the health of the babies. As a last resort (but this should not happen), the worms are driven away after childbirth.

Not only vaccination affects the choice of partners, but also hereditary diseases. Finding a male pug with a good pedigree is not so easy. You may have to go on a date to another city or country. But let's not talk about sad things.

Most likely, somewhere nearby there lives a pug who can satisfy your girl, and the puppies after this mating will be born strong and healthy. And there are some features of the process itself that you should know as a responsible owner of a purebred dog.

All this must be taken into account, because the responsibility for future puppies lies with the owner of the bitch. What kind of pedigree will you give to purebred puppies? This falls entirely on your shoulders. But not all bitches can reproduce, not all give birth to healthy offspring and become pregnant successfully. For example, a pug with a lot of weight or a narrow pelvis is unlikely to be able to give birth normally. You also need to take into account the age and degree of readiness of both partners. When can you start breeding dogs?

After estrus, either pregnancy or the fourth cycle occurs - anestrus (sexual rest), which lasts 4-5 months. At this time, the dog leads a normal life, and its body rests and prepares for the next cycle.

If you do not plan to have pug offspring, then you should diligently avoid accidental matings and any contact with male dogs during estrus.

There are two options for solving problems associated with rutting in dogs: sterilization or the use of drugs that reduce sexual desire. The first method has a number of possible complications, it is irreversible, but it solves the problem once and for all.

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The use of drugs to regulate sexual heat is a more gentle method, and it does not exclude the possibility of the dog breeding in the future. But this method does not always give the desired result. In some cases, the effect of drugs turns out to be much weaker than stated. It also happens that the dog does not respond to such drugs at all.

Cleanliness in the house

My pug is in heat, what should the owner do? How to protect furniture from dirt? The pet leaves bloody marks not only on the floor, but also on interior items. The discharge cannot be controlled, it is spontaneous, and a young bitch can become confused during her first heat. She doesn’t know how to take care of herself, how to eliminate the consequences on the floor.

Special panties or pads for dogs will come to the rescue. Panties are more expensive, absorb better and protect against leaks. They provide a hole for the tail, the only inconvenience is bowel movements. You will have to take them off during a walk so that the dog can go to the toilet.

Can't buy protective dog underwear? We recommend making friends with a mop during the estrus period. An air freshener will not hurt, since the discharge is quite smelly, although some online resources claim that this is not the case.

Should you wash your dog at this time? If the bitch is inexperienced and self-care causes her a stupor, then the loop is wiped with special wipes for dog hygiene or a damp cotton pad.

Neutering pugs: what you need to know

Sterilization is the term for disrupting reproductive functions through surgery. Studies conducted in this direction have revealed that sterilized pugs have an increased life expectancy of 2 years. The animal becomes more obedient and calm.

Important! Sterilization can prevent the development of cysts and neoplasms in the organs of the reproductive system.

This procedure is performed through an incision in the abdomen, below or on the side. In this case, the ovaries are removed along with or without the uterus. The first option is preferable, because the uterus also produces hormones, and this can cause inflammation.

It is not recommended to perform the operation before 10 months, as this may lead to developmental delays.

For females, an important factor is having already experienced estrus (at least one).

The operation is performed under general anesthesia, so you must stop giving food 8 hours before the operation. Excessive feeding is also not recommended for the day after it. It is necessary to ensure that the dog does not harm itself.

The seams must be processed and inspected within two weeks. Usually removal occurs on the 12th day after the intervention.

In order for your pet to live long and be healthy, you will have to constantly care for it. And getting a dog to produce offspring means acquiring great responsibility. By following all the rules for mating pugs and choosing the right pair, you can achieve the birth of beautiful and well-born puppies.

Possible complications

The bitch's behavior changes, as described above. There is no need to panic if the dog is active or lethargic, affectionate or aggressive, constantly eats or refuses to eat. However, there are points that require close attention from the owner; they indicate deviations from the norm:

1. Yesterday the pet was active and enjoyed walking. Today, having barely finished my business, I asked to go home and lay down in my place. The owner became alarmed, took the bitch’s temperature and found out that it was rising rapidly. In this case, the pet must be shown to a veterinarian. An elevated temperature during estrus is a sign of infection.
2. The reason for an urgent visit to the doctor is the occurrence of vomiting after eating or refusal of food and treats that lasts more than a day.
3. Normally, the color of a pug's discharge during heat ranges from pale pink to dark red. When something green, black or brown comes out of the loop, accompanied by a putrid odor, a trip to the veterinary clinic is guaranteed. Such discharge is clear evidence of a sexually transmitted infection.
4. Bloodless estrus is characterized by the absence of discharge. The loop is swollen, behavioral deviations appear, but there is still no estrus. It is there, only invisible to the owner's eye. During the first heat, the absence of blood is acceptable. During subsequent bloodless estrus, the dog is shown to a veterinarian, examined and given the necessary tests.
5. The pet reacts sharply to touching the belly during the “red days”. This is a reason to visit a veterinarian; the development of pyometra or a neoplasm in the animal’s body is likely.

Pair selection

So, before giving preference to any male, you need to take into account the following nuances:

• Those pets that are only vaguely similar in appearance to a pug, as well as mixed breeds or males with a non-standard color, are not recommended for mating.
• Animals that are carriers of genetic pathologies should also not be considered.
• Sick, very fat and weakened male dogs cannot be considered ideal candidates for breeding.
• Dogs that have serious anatomical defects will also not be able to produce good offspring.
• Very small and very large males cannot be considered ideal candidates for breeding.
• Males who have had serious injuries or complex surgical operations during their lifetime cannot be considered as potential candidates.
• Males with pathologies of the cardiovascular system should not be allowed to breed.

In the case of females, the above list can be supplemented by the presence of reproductive problems. Then it will be possible to crossbreed animals only after the diseases have been completely eliminated.

In males, great importance is attached to the animal's temperament, which determines the strength of its sexual constitution and passivity during mating.

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As you can see, when choosing a pair for breeding pugs, there are a lot of nuances that cannot be overlooked.

Expert opinion

Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich

Expert dog handler.

“Pugs cannot be considered a breed whose pets can be purchased without documents. This is fraught with the fact that the puppy will subsequently develop a whole bunch of hereditary pathologies. At the same time, problems may arise in the process of raising a puppy. Therefore, it is very important to buy breeding puppies that have the appropriate pedigree.”

Complications after estrus

Does the owner think that once estrus ends he can relax? Alas, he is mistaken, the next two weeks are the most intense. The pet requires careful observation and taking certain measures if the owner notices the following oddities:

1. The discharge from the loop continues, it is clear and thick, with a heavy odor. This proves the presence of high levels of sex hormones in the bitch’s body and requires veterinary intervention.
2. The pet begins to defecate “smallly”; strange transparent clots are observed in the puddles.

Behavioral problems

Changes in behavior, as written above, are completely normal during a Pug's heat. But there are complex points that you should pay attention to:

• the bitch is aggressive towards other dogs and strangers, this is clearly expressed during a walk;
• the pet fights with the owner, trying to prove to him its superiority;
• complete refusal to eat in combination with the problems outlined above;
• too high or low activity;
• a bowl of water remains untouched for a long time, or the owner does not have time to fill it.

Is your pug behaving as described above? It’s time for the “lady” to visit a veterinarian, her hormonal levels are going through the roof.

Preparation stages

In the case of female pugs, great attention is paid to the preparation stage for mating.

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The preparatory stage consists of several steps. Checking the dog's health 3 months before the upcoming mating. This step is necessary to ensure that the pregnancy passes without any complications and that a miscarriage does not occur.

As part of this step, appropriate tests are taken to identify the infection.

Then, a month before the expected pregnancy, it is necessary for the bitch to lose excess weight. In addition, it is necessary to remove worms from the animal if there are any, get rid of fleas, and get the necessary vaccinations.

The owners of the dog must also be notified of the expected date of crossing.

Should you indulge your pug's whims?

When a pug dog comes into heat, the bitch behaves like a capricious young lady. This is quite normal; any dog ​​tries to attract the attention of its owner during this period. Whether or not to pamper a pet is up to the owner to decide. The fact is that indulging her whims is fraught with further dominance on her part. The animal probes the owner’s weaknesses and begins to manipulate him, demanding special treatment. It’s hard to resist a dog, which is what he takes advantage of. To avoid subsequent behavioral problems, it is advisable to ignore her whims during estrus.

How do you know when a dog is ready for breeding?

It is ideal if the mating takes place with a male dog. The presence of an instructor is welcome to help the process if necessary.

To do this, he must have:

1. Stands. Will come in handy if the difference in size is significant.
2. Wear gloves to avoid bites.
3. A muzzle for an aggressive bitch.

There should be minimal or no intervention. It can be degrading to dogs. When choosing a location, the deciding factor should be the warmth in the room and its non-residential status. This is necessary for the comfort of mating.

The procedure can be repeated every other day to be sure. Within a month after this, the girl will notice whether she is pregnant or not. The presence of weight gain and behavior changes may indicate a positive outcome. To confirm, you can take her to a veterinarian, who will do an ultrasound and give instructions for the gestation period.

Each breed has its own recommendations for the timing of the first mating. As for pugs, according to the recommendation of the Russian Canine Federation, males can be untied at one year of age, females - from 1 year 3 months.

However, breeding experts claim that these periods are somewhat average. Theoretically, a pug bitch begins her puberty at 6 – 8 months, when she goes into her first heat. But this is still a very young animal, whose puberty significantly advances physical development.

The second heat occurs at approximately 1.3 years. But during this period, the young female may still be youthfully unbalanced and too active. It is even possible to abandon the born puppies. The best option would be to wait until the third heat and start trying to breed.

Mating in the early stages, when the pug is still very young, can lead to a complete stop in physical development and other problems:

• weak bones;
• weak, sunken back;
• muscle dystrophy;
• psychological imbalance due to early sexual experience.

Thus, each process has its own time. If male dogs do not suffer too much from early sexual experience, although this is also not recommended, then female dogs acquire a number of health problems. If everything is done within the designated time frame, the female will calmly transition to a new quality for herself and begin maternal responsibilities.

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The bitch becomes fertile at 6-8 months, with the onset of her first heat, but mating is still contraindicated, since puberty precedes physical maturation.

By 10 months, the bitch already looks like an adult dog, but has underdeveloped muscles and unformed joints. In addition, the animal exhibits typical adolescent imbalance and increased excitability.

Mating of a young bitch practically stops her growth, contributing to the appearance of a bunch of defects, such as:

• weak bones;
• sunken back;
• dystrophic muscles;
• psychological trauma (due to early sexual experience).

The physical formation of the body is completed by approximately 1.5-2.5 years (depending on the breed), and it is at this time that mating should begin. Timely mating will give impetus to the development of secondary sexual characteristics, and the animal will harmoniously transition to a qualitatively new state.

Since a dog ages quickly, it is too late and risky to untie her at 5 years old: it will be very difficult for her to carry a pregnancy to term.