Breeding Russian Toy Terriers: Everything You Need to Know

Breeding Toy Terriers is a responsible event that must be taken very seriously. Yes, you need to know all the nuances of reproductive biology.

Sexual maturity in Toy Terriers usually begins before the dog becomes physically mature. Therefore, it is essential to strictly adhere to age recommendations to avoid health problems for your pet and ensure a successful pregnancy.

The first heat (estrus) can appear in a female at the age of 7-9 months. Don't be alarmed if the heat starts earlier or later (6-12 months) — this is not a sign of any diseases and occurs very rarely. However, if a year-old dog does not come into heat, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.

Heat in Dogs: What You Need to Know and How to Care During It

Heat (in other words, "estrus") is a signal that the dog is mature and ready for breeding. Experienced dog owners and breeders can easily determine when a dog is in heat even before the female shows any discharge.

The amount of bloody discharge in tiny breeds like Toy Terriers can be so minimal that the owner may not even notice that the dog has started estrus.

How to Tell if Your Dog is in Heat

So, how can you tell if your dog is in heat? This can be determined by the pet's behavior as well as visually:

Characteristic behavioral changes before heat:

• Has your affectionate little one turned into an aggressive "monster"? Is she refusing to let you trim her nails or wash her paws? Be prepared for doggy menstruation.
• Your dog has become incredibly popular — during walks, male dogs won't leave you alone.
• An active dog has turned into a lazy one — she constantly lies down and doesn't want to do anything.

You can also recognize visual signs of heat in your little one:

• The vulva swells; it literally "bloats."
• Bloody discharge appears from the vulva. During the first heat, it is usually scant. If there is no discharge at all but the vulva is swollen, consult a specialist.

Tip: If your dog frequently licks her vulva, you can place a cotton ball between her outer labia. This way, you'll definitely notice when her heat starts and know when to breed.

• Frequent urination. Your little one will ask to go to the bathroom more often, and during walks, you may notice her urinating a little at a time.
• Constant licking. Your little one licks her vulva without any apparent reason.
• Appetite. The amount of food consumed may either increase or decrease.
• Shedding. Before the heat starts, the dog begins to shed significantly.
• Discomfort. The dog starts to "scoot" her bottom before estrus.

If you still have doubts about the onset of heat, you can use auxiliary methods:

• A special test available at veterinary pharmacies.
• A mini-microscope that determines heat through saliva.
• Laboratory tests at the veterinary clinic (urine, saliva, blood tests).

What Heat Looks Like in Dogs

Often, owners find it difficult to determine heat in their dog, especially when it comes to tiny Toy Terriers.

Before heat, the external genitalia of the dog swell, as seen in the PHOTO of heat in dogs:

How Long Does Heat Last in Toy Terriers?

The period from one heat to the next can range from 100 to 270 days, but this is very individual.

Even girls from the same litter can have different cycles. It should also be noted that the estrous pause shifts after giving birth. The dog's diet can influence the cycle — if the dog eats little protein and a lot of plant-based foods, the period between heats may significantly increase.

Stages of the reproductive cycle:

• Rest (anestrus).
• Pre-heat (proestrus). Lasts from 1 to 9 days. A characteristic sign is bloody discharge from the female's vagina. It is because of this discharge that males start to show interest in the females, but at this moment, they will not allow the males near them. During pre-heat, the female may snap and back away.
• Heat (estrus). The duration of heat in Toy Terriers is 10-14 days. The color of the bloody discharge becomes less pronounced, and it takes on a more mucous consistency. Breeding should be carried out during the estrus period. This phase of the cycle is considered the most favorable for breeding Toy Terriers. When the female sees a male, she immediately assumes a position suitable for mating, allowing the male to easily fertilize her.

Tip: It is better to breed dogs around the middle of the heat — this increases the likelihood of fertilization.

• Post-heat (metoestrus). About the third day after estrus, the little female loses her "romantic fervor," and the likelihood of fertilization decreases.

You can easily determine the right time for breeding Toy Terriers by focusing on how long the dog's heat lasts. The average duration of heat is 21 days.

Can You Bathe a Dog During Heat?

Since the hormonal background of the dog changes, a strong unpleasant smell and abundant discharge appear. The female starts to urinate more frequently. During this period, you need to pay more attention to the hygiene of your girl.

However, there are some nuances in care.

Yes, you should wash your little one during heat, but you need to know the limits. The dog's immunity is very weakened during heat. Any infection can enter the loosely covered vulva, which may lead to infection.

You should wash your puppy following some safety rules:

• Bathe the dog twice a day: in the morning and evening after walks.
• The water for washing should be slightly warmed, so it is a bit above room temperature.
• You can use gentle cleaning products.
• After bathing, dry your dog. Use a soft towel. It is strictly forbidden to bathe your dog in rivers, seas, ponds, etc., during heat. Open water has many infections that the dog can catch. Moreover, bathing can lead to hypothermia, which in turn can lead to a series of consequences.

As mentioned earlier, the heat period is characterized by frequent bathroom trips. Therefore, inevitably, there will be markings in the house. But this problem has a very simple solution — dog diapers. Don't panic if you don't know what to do when your dog is in heat — this is a natural physiological process, and there is nothing scary about it.

Dog diapers will help avoid stains all over the house and prevent your little one from constantly licking herself.

When is a Toy Terrier Ready for Breeding?

You can tell that a dog is ready for breeding by physiological signs. Indicators of the approaching heat can include frequent urination, disobedient, playful, or irritable behavior.

During heat, it is better to walk the female only on a leash — she may run away, and you will protect her from unwanted advances from males. There may be swelling of the mammary glands and a small amount of milk may appear.

An enlarged vulva is a sure sign that the dog can be bred. The vulva becomes noticeable and swells. Don't miss the first bloody discharge — from its onset, you need to count 12-14 days to maximize the likelihood of fertilization during breeding. The discharge is red only during the pre-heat; then (during estrus), it loses color and becomes pink or completely colorless. If you can't tell if there is discharge from the dog, press a piece of paper against the vulva — if discharge is present, it will remain on it. It is best to mate the female with the male five or six days after the onset of heat.

It is easy to tell that the female is ready for breeding — stroke her lower back. If she starts to arch her back, clearly indicating that she is ready to mate — call the male.

If you want to know the most favorable day for breeding — visit a veterinary clinic. There, they will take a swab from the dog to determine the ideal day for mating.

Important: To bring puppies, the female must be healthy and have no physical abnormalities.

It is better not to breed if:

• The dog has caught a cold or is ill.
• The dogs are not familiar at all (yes, you cannot force animals to mate).
• Ovulation has not yet occurred or has already passed.

And of course, you should refrain from mating if the dog has problems with her reproductive organs.

Another important point when breeding a dog is choosing the male. To maintain the purity of the breed, you need to choose the "ideal" suitor — a dog with an excellent pedigree, beautiful exterior data, and a good temperament.

It goes without saying that the male must be absolutely healthy; otherwise, there will be no fertilization, or there will be adverse consequences.

Why might it "not work"?

• The male has a disease that does not manifest externally. In this case, a sperm analysis should be done to check the animal.
• The male has suppressed sexual potency.
• High heat can "kill" sperm, so do not mate dogs in very hot weather.
• If the male is partially mated, he may develop infertility.

Therefore, when breeding, attention should be paid not only to the females but also to the males.

At What Age Should You Breed a Toy Terrier?

The period when a Toy Terrier is ready for mating occurs before one year, but it is better not to rush and conduct the first mating after two heats — this way, the owner can clearly understand when the most favorable moment for mating is, as they will know the animal's cycles. Moreover, one can observe the characteristics of the first two heats — the dog's behavior, mood changes, etc. You can also adjust the animal's diet by adding more animal protein to its food.

Thirdly, considering the breed's small size, keep an eye on the animal's weight. Breeding a mini Toy Terrier weighing up to two kilograms carries a significant risk due to the increased likelihood of complications during childbirth.

If you listen to breeders' advice on when to breed a Toy Terrier, the recommended age for male dogs is after one and a half years, and for females, after two years. Breeding regulations from cynological federations and associations in many countries allow breeding small breed dogs from 15 months (for females) and from 9 to 12 months (for males), provided they have reached physiological maturity.

The First Breeding of a Toy Terrier

As the age when a Toy Terrier is ready for mating approaches, be prepared for the first mating to potentially be unsuccessful.

Natural mating is problematic in urban life, so owners need to make every effort to minimize stress for the Toy Terrier.

So, the mating itself. For the first time, you can invite an instructor to help.

• Do not dress your Toy in various outfits and adorn it with accessories for the mating. This will scare off the "groom" or "bride."
• If you decided to breed your miniature terrier for the first time, the partner should be "experienced," having had successful mating experience. Additionally, to avoid stressing your dog, mate your pet for the first time in your territory.
• The room where the mating will take place should be free of any distracting factors (sounds, smells, objects).
• Do not rush the animals; they need to communicate and get used to each other.
• If the dogs do not mate on their own, help them. When the dogs have sniffed each other and calmed down, turn the standing female's tail towards the male, but make sure she does not sit down. Now gently lift her by the belly so that the male can penetrate the vagina with his penis. Once this happens, the male will do his part. Your task at this time, along with the owner of the other dog or the instructor, is to hold the Toy Terriers. This is necessary to prevent the female from moving away and pushing the penis out of the vagina or provoking a "tie."
• If a "tie" does occur, ensure that the dogs do not jerk suddenly. Otherwise, both the male and female may injure their reproductive organs. Allow the dogs to rest.
• After a couple of days, the mating should be repeated. This is especially important for females that are being bred for the first time. The reason is that the lifespan of the male's sperm is three days after ejaculation. For 100% fertilization of the eggs during two matings, there are four more days to spare.

A successful mating will lead to the appearance of charming puppies in a couple of months.

To assist your pet during the mating process, we recommend watching the VIDEO "Breeding Toy Terriers."

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the first heat start in Toy Terriers?

The first heat in a female Toy Terrier can start at 7-9 months of age, but deviations in the range of 6-12 months are also possible.

How to determine if a dog is in heat?

Signs of heat include behavioral changes such as aggressiveness or increased popularity among males, as well as visual signs like swelling of the vulva and bloody discharge.

What to do if the dog does not come into heat at one year?

If the dog does not come into heat at the age of one year, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian for advice.

How to care for a dog during heat?

During heat, it is important to monitor the pet's hygiene, possibly using cotton to control discharge and frequent walks.

How to know when is the best time to breed?

The optimal time for breeding can be determined by the dog's behavior and condition, as well as through tests available at veterinary pharmacies.