I know this is a relatively older post - but i was looking for some insight and I think i found it. My bitch is 17 months and she has come into her second heat. I have been having a battle making a decision whether to breed her or not with my male as he is young and inexperienced so that was a concern.
Health wise they have been checked out by the vet and are both fine
The risk for me is still a concern and I know a lot of the time we hear the horror stories but being my first whelp alone i am nervous. I have assisted in whelps with my breeder but I think that nothing prepares you for the real thing.
So my female came into heat last week. Thursday i noticed she was swollen and Friday she was bleeding. this heat has been MUCH lighter than her first though - her first she bled terribly. So maybe i missed the first few days of heat this time around?? I am very thorough with checking daily! They have been together because i thought she was not ready and my male has been very calm around her to the point where i thought maybe he wasn't interested!! My mother bred Schnauzers in the past so i have seen first hand a male that is interested! and he hasnt been acting like that! every now and again he would have a moment of excitement and she would snap at him to leave her alone.
So according to my calculations i thought last night was about day 5 and I was woken up this morning at 2am to terrible crying outside and ran out to find them tied and my female looking rather stressed. I know this can be dangerous for the male so i sat with her and kept her calm to stop her trying to move away from him. They tied for about another 10 to 15 minutes. Neither of them was hurt in any way which was great news!
I just thought it was too soon. and with her crying (which i never expected at all) i thought maybe he has forced himself on her. Would a female let that happen? i was under the impression they wouldnt. Now at least i know the crying is fear and panic and maybe a little pain and is normal.
So there is no going back now and im hoping my breeder will be available to be with me if she is pregnant and when she goes into labour. I have already discussed with the vet this far in advance and made sure he is available at all times which he is. I was thinking of not letting him cover her again because i would like a small litter, but in your opinions is it advisable to let them mate again at least once to ensure fertilisation?
This morning she is what someone called a hussie! She is really up in his face and flirting shamelessly! So perhaps my dates have been wrong! I must say by the time they were done she was very proud of herself and was strutting around like she was the queen, he just went to sleep...typical male!