Accidentally Mating Your K9

Posted: February 1, 2011 by at Breeding

If your female dog is not spayed, then an accidental mating (or misalliance) is always a possibility. A non-neutered male will do almost anything to get to a female dog in heat, and their determination may well lead to success. This often results in a pregnant bitch and a litter of unwanted puppies. What do you do when this happens?

There are several options available to you under these circumstances. The most common one, and the one most dog owners choose, is to allow the dog to have the puppies and to try to find homes for them. This is easier if they are purebreds, because there is often a demand for these dogs. The alternative is to give them away but make sure they are going to good homes, where the new owners are fully aware of the expenses in time and effort of properly caring for dogs. The last resort is to take them to a shelter and hope they find a home that way, but this should be avoided at all costs.

If your dog isn’t a pedigree dog and you don’t want to breed her in future, you can have her spayed very early in the pregnancy. This will remove their uterus and any embryos inside, and is a safe procedure for them to undergo.

If you truly do not wish your dog to have any puppies and you still want to breed them in future, you may choose to abort the pregnancy. This can be done from about 30 days after conception, when the pregnancy has been confirmed by ultrasound. It can take several days for your bitch to abort the puppies, which can be distressing, and they will need a repeat ultrasound after the abortion to make sure no puppies remain.

In Summary – The best way to deal with accidental dog mating is to not let it happen in the first place. If you have an un-spayed female dog, keep her securely confined while they are in heat. Prevention is better than cure.