Huskies became one of the most popular breeds during the 1900s due to their ability to win sled races. Their friendly nature, easy connection with people, and dignified nature made them a popular pet option. One should learn about the huskies in detail before adopting one.
If you have a female husky, you have two options; either spay them or breed them. An example of a crossbreed is the husky border collie mix. If you plan to produce a female dog, it is necessary to learn about its heat cycle, mating process, and pregnancy.
Read ahead to learn when do huskies go into heat and how to breed them?
Heat Cycle Of The Huskies
Like any other medium or large-sized dog, Huskies go into heat twice a year. The first heat tends to arrive at 7 to 12 months of age. The gap between each heat cycle can range from 6 to 7 months.
The heat cycle of the husky is around four weeks. It is divided into three stages.
- 1st stage: This lasts up to 9 days and marks the beginning of the heat cycle. Around this time, the husky will have a bloody discharge, a swollen vulva, and the husky will be interested in male dogs. However, she will not allow breeding during this time.
- 2nd stage: This stage lasts for almost 5 to 12 days. During this stage, she will have a strong odor, have straw-colored discharge, and allow breeding.
- 3rd stage: During this stage, the heat cycle will end. This lasts around 8 to 9 days. The pungent odor will disappear, the vulva will go normal in size, there will be no discharge, and she will not show any interest in male dogs.
When To Mate The Husky?
The perfect time to mate your husky is on the 9th day of the 2nd phase of the heat cycle. During this time, the husky is more likely to get pregnant. Please keep track of her heat cycle to make it easy to schedule the mating.
It would be best to wait until the female husky is at least 2 to 3 years of age before breeding her. It is the age when she can give birth to healthy puppies and is also prepared to take care of them.
Also, waiting for 2 to 3 years will allow you to understand the dog’s temperament and heat cycle in detail. When the dog is too young, it may not give normal birth to pups and may need C-section.
Process Of Breeding
Now that you know when do huskies go into heat, here is everything about the breeding process.
If you plan to breed your husky, you must prepare to do some research and put in some time and effort into the process.
Here is a general process so breeding a husky:
- Choose stud and bitch for breeding. They should have a good build, proven pedigree, and a controlled temperament. It will help in producing well-mannered and good temperament puppies.
- Ensure that both dogs are registered under UKC, AKC, or CKC. They should be registered with breeding rights from the same kennel club.
- Study the bloodlines of the dogs. Usually, the registering club will provide the bloodline and their pedigree history.
- Take opinions from the breeders about the match. Not every stud and bitch is a perfect match for producing excellent puppies.
- After getting the opinion, mate the dogs. The female dog should be in the estrus period of the heat, which lasts up to 2 weeks.
- After mating, wait for a specific period and take the female dog for a blood test. This will tell if the dog is pregnant.
- If the dog is pregnant, provide her with prenatal care, food, vaccinations, and regular health checkups.
- After the puppies are born, take them for a health check and register them under the same kennel club as the parents.
Caring For A Pregnant Husky
Some tell-tale signs in dogs show if they are pregnant. Some show no interest in physical activities, lose appetite, and have enlarged nipples. You need to take them to a vet immediately if your dog behaves like that after getting mated. Usually, husky pregnancy is around 60 days maximum. During this time, they need special care to give birth to healthy pups.
Some of the things to keep in mind while taking care of a pregnant husky are:
- Pregnant huskies need to have some light exercise during the early days.
- Their food should be high quality that is meant for pregnant dogs.
- In the late pregnancy, they will need more food to satiate their energy requirements. You will have to increase the portions by 25 to 30 percent during this time.
- Make a whelping box for them to give birth in. Make her use the box, put clean towels, and keep the box in a quiet and dark place.
- Ensure that they are away from any stressful situation.
- Take the dog for regular checkups and tests.
Huskies are the perfect dog eager to please, friendly, and perfect for families with kids. However, one should do all the research and plan proper care before getting one.