German shepherds are a smart, beautiful, friendly, and sociable dog breed. This explains why they are in high demand. In this article, we’d be learning a couple of interesting facts about German shepherds and their birth circle.
How Many Times Can a German Shepherd Get Pregnant in a Year?
This depends on many factors. The first factor is the number of times a German Shepherd goes into heat in a year. Because German Shepherds are big dogs, they may only experience one heat cycle in a year. Studies also show that most German Shepherds go into heat once every eighteen months. Estrus or heat is the stage in a dog’s reproductive cycle during which she becomes receptive to mating with males.
At this stage, a German Shepherd will permit mating which might ultimately lead to pregnancy. The overall health and age of a female German Shepherd also play a role in determining how many times she can get pregnant. From ages two to eight, a German Shepherd is mostly sexually strong and more likely to have many pups in a year.
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How Long Does It Take For a German Shepherd to Give Birth?
On average, the length of gestation/pregnancy for a German Shepherd is about 63 days. This starts from the time of conception. Given the fact that German Shepherds are larger dog breeds, it may take a longer period to give birth. This period may be slightly longer than that of a small-sized dog breed. If you are keen on keeping tabs on your German Shepherd pregnancy, the ideal way to go is to keep track of her heat period and take cognizance of the number of times she is bred and record the dates and times.
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How Many Times Can a German Shepherd Give Birth in Her Lifetime?
A German Shepherd can have up to 11 litters in her lifetime. Each litter has at least 8 puppies. A German Shepherd can reproduce over 72-100 puppies in her lifespan. This might be good news for commercial breeders, however, as your German Shepherd grows, her eggs get more fragile, giving rise to more pregnancy complications for both the mother and the puppies. As your dog grows older, perhaps to 8 years of age, you might want to get her spayed to prevent health problems like mammary cancer, Pyometra, breast cancer, and some others that can force you to put her down.
When Can a German Shepherd Get First Pregnancy?
Your German Shepherd can get her first pregnancy when she is around two years of age. As early as six months of age, your German Shepherd may start experiencing Heat Cycle. To be on a safer side, you can start breeding your dog for pregnancy at around 2 years of age and stop the process as soon as she becomes eight years old. At two years of age, your German Shepherd will attain sexual maturity. It is also advisable that you should not breed your female German Shepherd until after their first or second heat cycle.
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How Long Are German Shepherds in Heat?
Generally, the heat cycle for a German Shepherd is about three weeks. However, the older your dog becomes the shorter her cycles. In some cases, the heat cycle may be longer as your German Shepherd grows old. A vet can even help you check her hormone levels to be sure that nothing dangerous is happening. It’s important on your part as a dog owner to keep her comfortable, safe and properly cared for in this period. Regularly feed her a good diet, take her on a walk, and give her some good exercise.
Safe German Shepherd Breeding Age
The safest time to start breeding a German Shepherd is around 2 years of age. This is because, at 2 years of age, your German Shepherd has reached sexual maturity. The issue is that most commercial breeders can’t wait to see their German Shepherds reproduce puppies. This is both dangerous for the dog and the puppies.
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