Shih Tzu in Heat: A Guide for New Breeders

As a new breeder, it's essential to understand the reproductive cycle of your Shih Tzu to ensure a successful breeding experience. Shih Tzus typically come into heat every 6-8 months, with a heat cycle lasting around 2-3 weeks.

Shih Tzus are a primitive breed, and their heat cycles can be unpredictable. They can start breeding at a young age, around 5-6 months, but it's recommended to wait until they're at least 12-18 months old to ensure proper development.

Female Shih Tzus will typically exhibit physical signs of being in heat, such as a swollen vulva and a bloody discharge. These signs usually appear around 10-14 days into the heat cycle.

A male Shih Tzu's sperm quality and quantity can affect the success of a breeding. A male's sperm count can be affected by factors such as age, nutrition, and overall health.

Additional reading: How Do Male Dogs Act When in Heat

A Shih Tzu's heat cycle typically lasts around 2-3 weeks, with the first stage being proestrus. This stage usually lasts between 7 to 10 days and is characterized by a bloody discharge, swollen vulva, and increased peeing or urine marking.

During proestrus, a Shih Tzu will produce pheromones that attract other dogs, but she won't be interested in mating and may show aggression towards them. Shih Tzus in this stage will have a swollen vulva that may also be redder than normal, and they may lick the genital area more frequently.

The proestrus stage is followed by the estrus stage, which is the fertile period when a Shih Tzu is able to become pregnant. This stage lasts between 5 to 14 days and is characterized by a lighter-colored discharge from the vulva.

Here's a breakdown of the four stages of a Shih Tzu's heat cycle:

It's worth noting that a Shih Tzu will generally go into heat twice a year, roughly every 6 months, unless she is spayed or becomes pregnant.

Breeding a Shih Tzu requires careful consideration and planning. Puberty in small breed dogs like the Shih Tzu can occur as young as six months old, but most experts recommend waiting until at least the second or third heat cycle.

Puppies as young as 6 months old are fertile, but it's not advisable to breed them at this age. The best advice is to wait until the female dog has matured and is ready to become a good mother to her puppies.

If you're new to breeding, it's essential to understand the different stages of the dog breeding cycle. The heat cycle typically lasts around 21-30 days, with three distinct stages: proestrus, estrus, and diestrus. Here's a breakdown of each stage:

Keep in mind that the heat cycle is not the same as pregnancy. Dogs do not go through menopause like humans do, and they can become pregnant even at an older age.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Can a Female Dog Get Pregnant When Not in Heat

The duration of each cycle can vary, but on average, a female dog's heat cycle lasts around 7-10 days, with some lasting up to 20 days.

During this time, you'll notice a bloody discharge, swollen vulva, and changes in behavior, such as increased urination and marking with urine.

The bloody discharge can last from 4-20 days, with an average of 7-10 days, and is a clear sign that your dog is in heat.

A female dog's heat cycle can last anywhere from 2-4 weeks, with a relatively small window of fertility that begins around 9-10 days after she goes into heat and lasts about 5 days.

This means that your dog can become pregnant until the end of the cycle, and it's essential to keep an eye on her behavior and physical changes to ensure she's not receptive to male dogs.

If this caught your attention, see: How Long Does Male Dogs Stay in Heat

Breeding a Shih Tzu can be a rewarding experience, but it's essential to understand the dog breeding cycle and the changes that occur in your female Shih Tzu.

Puppies as young as 6 months old are fertile, but experts recommend waiting until at least the second or third heat cycle to breed your dog. This allows you to ensure she's physically and emotionally ready to become a mother.

Intriguing read: Breeding Shih Tzus

The Shih Tzu breeding cycle is influenced by three hormones: Estrogen, Progesterone, and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). These hormones play a crucial role in the heat cycle and pregnancy.

During the estrus stage, your Shih Tzu's vulva will be enlarged, and the discharge will be a lighter color. She'll also be more willing to mate and may exhibit behaviors like wagging her tail and wanting to go outside more often.

The Diestrus Stage of the dog breeding cycle usually begins around day 24 and can last from 60-90 days. This stage is characterized by low estrogen levels and high progesterone levels, which peak 3 to 4 weeks after the start of diestrus.

If your Shih Tzu is pregnant, you can expect her to go through various stages, including whelping, where she'll give birth to her puppies. However, there's no 100% guarantee of pregnancy, and you should always consult a veterinarian to confirm.

To manage your Shih Tzu in heat, it's essential to keep her on a leash and away from unneutered male dogs, which can smell her from a distance and attempt to mate. You may also want to consider confining her to a room with an easily cleaned floor to minimize the mess.

Here's a summary of the Shih Tzu breeding cycle:

A Shih Tzu in heat will often exhibit a swollen vulva, which is a significant difference from her normal appearance.

The vulva will swell and she will have some changes in behavior during the proestrus stage.

You may notice small drops of light-colored blood, which is a common sign of a Shih Tzu in heat during this stage.

The discharge will be a lighter color and she will be more willing to mate during the estrus stage.

A Shih Tzu in heat will often want to go outside more often and will wag her tail as a sign of her readiness to mate.

She will not stand for males trying to mount or tie during the proestrus stage, and will show her displeasure by barking or nipping at them.

Females in this phase will urinate more frequently and often show signs of marking with their urine.

A sure outward sign that she is ready to mate is when she holds her tail to one side during the estrus stage.

Take a look at this: Show Me a Shih Tzu

Spaying or neutering your Shih Tzu can reduce the duration of the heat cycle to 7-10 days. This can also prevent unwanted breeding and reduce the risk of certain health issues.

Identify the signs of heat in your Shih Tzu, which can include restlessness, whining, and frequent urination. These behaviors can start as early as 4-6 months of age.

Keep a close eye on your Shih Tzu's behavior and physical changes during the heat cycle, which can last up to 3 weeks.

As a new breeder, it's essential to understand the dog breeding cycle to ensure a healthy and successful litter. Puberty in small breed dogs can occur as young as six months old, but it's often later in larger breeds.

Puppies become fertile at a young age, but experts advise waiting until the second or third heat cycle before breeding. This allows the female to mature and become a good mother to her puppies.

You may notice small drops of light colored blood, a swollen vulva, and changes in behavior during the proestrus phase, which can last from 4-20 days. This phase is characterized by a bloody discharge that lasts about a week.

A swollen vulva is one of the best ways to spot the beginning of a dog heat cycle, and you can also check for a red bloody discharge by wiping her vulva with a tissue. The day you notice this jot down the day on a calendar or other journal.

Here are the three common signs for a dog in heat during the proestrus phase:

It's essential to note that dogs do not go through menopause like humans do, and they can become pregnant at any age. However, their fertility decreases with age.

Understanding the dog breeding cycle and the different stages will help you plan and prepare for a successful breeding.

If you're not ready to deal with the challenges of a Shih Tzu in heat, there's a simple solution: spaying. This procedure can prevent the entire ordeal, and it's a conversation worth having with your veterinarian.

Recent research has changed some long-held beliefs about the risks of spaying certain breeds at specific ages. So, it's essential to discuss the pros and cons of the surgery with your vet.

You can also consider reaching out to PangoVet, an online service that connects you with a vet for personalized advice at an affordable price. This can be a huge help if you can't get to a vet in person.

Spaying is a permanent solution that eliminates the need to deal with the stress and mess of a Shih Tzu in heat.

As you prepare for your Shih Tzu's heat cycle, remember that it's a normal and natural process. The cycle typically only lasts about 2-4 weeks.

You'll want to give your dog extra care and attention during this time, as she manages her hormone changes. This might mean more frequent walks and playtime to keep her happy and relaxed.

Your Shih Tzu will need patience from you as she navigates her heat cycle. Every dog experiences it differently, but with a basic understanding of what to expect, you can be better prepared to support her.

Keep in mind that every dog is unique, and your Shih Tzu's heat cycle may be shorter or longer than average.