At what age should a dog be before it can be mated and get pregnant?
Are you one of the dog owners that do not have an idea when the pet gets sexually mature? If you get a dog for a pet it is assumed that you are aware that ownership also means great responsibilities. Dogs have been the companion of man for ages. Dogs have protected and have helped man in a lot of capacities. For these reasons, a dog owner has the responsibility of knowing when the pet will attain full sexual maturity.
Puppies are adorable and irresistible bundles of fur. Puppies would bring lots of fun times to the family especially if there are children as kids and dogs are known to form legendary attachment. Some owners would eagerly await the arrival of new puppies. Not many pet owners and even professed dog lovers would have the capability of caring for additional pets.
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. Controlling dog population a very significant reason why dog owners must ensure that the pet would not accidentally get pregnant. Do not forget to read up on how you can tell if your dog is pregnant.
Dogs are known to differ not only in personalities but in reproductive cycle as well. Some dogs commonly retain the high spirits so that it would seem as if they don’t mature. Sexual maturity of dogs differs from dog to dog but smaller breeds gain sexual maturity much earlier than larger breeds. 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. A Great Dane or a Saint Bernard would exhibit flagging and would be ready to be mated at 18 to 24 months of age. In a period of 7 to 10 days a dog in heat can become pregnant if mated.
Although small breeds attain sexual maturity at an early age, vets do not recommend breeding until after the dog has passed its first birthday or after the second or third heat cycle. Small breed mature sexually at an early age but their bodies are still developing. A very young dog that is not yet ready to get pregnant can lose the puppies or worst can lose its life.


