Restless Jack Russell Terrier dogs are increasingly being purchased as a companion and family friend.
The small size of these dogs, cheerful disposition and friendliness towards people around them make them an excellent city dog, with whom it is pleasant to travel and participate in exhibitions. But the cute puppy is growing up and the owner is faced with the question of whether to breed or not.
If a male dog may not participate in breeding work, happily existing in the role of everyone’s favorite, then for a female dog there is a risk of an unplanned pregnancy or unsuccessful birth.
It is for this reason that the owner must have an understanding of the nuances of the pet’s reproductive period .
Estrus in Jack Russell Terrier dogs
Dogs of medium and small breeds, which include the Jack Russell Terrier, mature and develop physically much earlier than their fellow large breeds. A one-year-old male of this breed is ready to continue the family, and by this age the female is already going through the stage of her first heat or emptying.
Estrus or estrus is the period of preparation of the female body for fertilization.
During this process, accompanied by changes in hormonal levels and some psychophysical changes, the dog goes through several stages. The estrus ends with pregnancy.
In Jack Russell bitches, the frequency of estrus is usually regular, ranging from five to seven months. An attentive owner can determine the beginning of the process with an accuracy of one day. Estrus or estrus is accompanied by the following signs:
- Change in the emotional state of the bitch. She becomes playful, disobedient, shows obvious attention to dogs on the street, and sometimes there is a deterioration in her appetite.
- Shedding. About two weeks before estrus, the dog begins to shed (this applies to smooth-haired Jacks). Shedding is triggered by hormonal changes.
- The bitch marks her territory and sits down during a walk.
- In the first seven days, blood is released from the dog’s genital tract , the amount of which varies from barely noticeable drops to quite abundant amounts. This phase is called preestrus, during which fertilization is impossible.
- On the tenth to thirteenth day from the start of estrus, ovulation occurs . During this period and the few days following it, the bitch is ready for mating. Outwardly, this is manifested by a significant lightening of the bloody discharge and the appearance of light mucus instead. The dog’s behavior also changes; it favorably accepts the males’ advances, freezes motionless when sniffing, moves its tail to the side and lifts the loop of the vulva.
If there was no mating during ovulation, or the bitch for some reason did not become pregnant, then after two weeks the dog’s body returns to its normal state. The loop gradually decreases to normal size and the discharge stops completely. The bitch's behavior returns to normal.
When ready to breed
Boy
It is allowed to untie a male dog from 1.5 years of age, not earlier.
If this is done before reaching this age, the dog may develop destructive character traits and an indomitable desire to reproduce, the only salvation from which will be castration.
This will be especially offensive if the dog is excellent in appearance and promises to become a good producer.
It is advisable that the dog receive a breeding assessment at the exhibition before 1.5 years.
If this does not happen, then it is better to wait to untie it.
Girl
For the first time, it is best to breed a bitch who has reached two years of age..
Some owners rush to untie their dog as early as possible, sometimes even during the first heat, especially if it was late and began after the bitch reached one year of age.
This should absolutely not be done: early pregnancy and childbirth will not bring any benefit to a Jack Russell bitch.
The benchmark for starting breeding should be the third heat . Until this time, it is better for the owner of the bitch to focus on the exhibition career of his pet and its training.
The process of mating and mating of Jack Russell Terriers
It is not true that natural reproductive instincts play a large role during the mating of breeding animals. In most cases, a bitch is brought to breed with a dog that is unfamiliar to her , so most often the dogs behave aggressively, growl and sit down when the dog tries to mount.
Hand-breeding a Jack Russell Terrier is practiced when both dogs are on leashes.
Jack Russell males are very temperamental and active ; sexual instinct and the presence of a female in heat have a strong effect on them. An experienced male Jack or Parson Russell Terrier, which is regularly used for mating, pays almost no attention to the aggression of the bitch. But such behavior can frighten a young male, so for the first few matings it is advisable to invite a professional instructor . The instructor's services are paid by agreement, as much as the professional requests, but most often this responsibility falls on the owner of the bitch.
Before mating, the bitch is placed on a leash, using a collar to fix her in one position, preventing her from turning to look at the dog. After this, they bring the male dog, encouraging him to mount the bitch. When the female is penetrated into the vagina, the male ejaculates. The duration of ejaculation does not exceed a minute, then the dogs stand “in the castle” for about half an hour. It is wrong to think that the absence of a lock is a sign of an unsuccessful mating. The bulk of sperm is released during friction.
A common practice for breeding Jackcrassel dogs is to carry out a test or re-breeding . This is necessary to best guess the time of ovulation.
Important! Repeated mating is carried out one day after the first.
Nest preparation
During a home stretch of your Jack Russell's pregnancy, she will show signs of nesting. This is her attempt to find a safe, quiet place to give birth to her puppies. She will appear restless and paw on the floor in the corners of the house. You should do everything you can to make her feel comfortable, such as placing the dog bed in a quiet area and bringing her food and water closer to her so she feels safe having her puppies where you placed her bed.
Source of the article: https://mosfp.ru/beremennost-dzhek-rassel-terera-po-nedeljam/
Pregnancy and childbirth in Jack Russell Terriers
Pregnancy
If the mating is successful, then fertilization of the eggs occurs. The Jack Russell female's whelping period lasts about sixty days, but the first signs of pregnancy become visible only after the first month of whelping. The first signs of pregnancy are:
- Swelling of the nipples. Noticeable already by the third week of pregnancy.
- Increased volume in the ribs. A dog in a sitting position seems more well-fed.
- Changing the bitch's behavior. She becomes calm, in the first weeks there may be no appetite, she becomes affectionate and intrusive.
- By the fifth week of pregnancy, the bitch’s belly is already clearly visible , the mammary gland beds swell and enlarge.
From the time the first signs of pregnancy appear, the dog is given additional feeding, they stop taking it for training and limit its physical activity as far as the dog’s temperament allows.
Childbirth
The Jack Russell Terrier is a strong and healthy dog breed with normal body proportions. Therefore, females of this breed easily give birth to puppies , and the assistance of a doctor during childbirth is usually not needed. But the owner must be prepared for any complications and arrange in advance with the veterinarian about a possible visit.
Labor begins with regular contractions of the uterus, which can be determined by placing your hand on the dog's stomach. The tense wall of the uterus does not allow palpating the puppies.
The first sign of imminent labor is the release of a mucus plug containing a small amount of blood. If the plug comes off, then in the next few hours the bitch will begin to give birth.
As a rule, the bitch, feeling the contractions of the uterus, begins to behave restlessly, she may tremble, and she looks for a secluded place. These are normal reactions of the body. The dog is placed in a pre-prepared place; it is advisable not to leave it alone for a long time. For support, you can give a piece of chocolate and encourage the animal.
When the puppy is in the birth canal, the bitch begins to push. She pushes the puppy out, pushing, and at the same time be sure to observe the birth process. If the head or paws appear, there is no need to pull on them; at the next contraction the puppy will be born. Young bitches often do not experience the maternal instinct, relying on the help of the owner, so as soon as the baby is born, they do the following:
- Tear or cut the membrane of the amniotic sac to allow the puppy to take its first breath.
- After this, the newborn is wiped with a towel , shaking him slightly by the withers. They offer the bitch to lick the baby.
- If the mother does not gnaw the umbilical cord, it is cut off at a distance of three to five centimeters from the baby’s belly. The umbilical cord is only tied if the vessel is bleeding heavily.
- After this, the puppy is placed on the nipple .
During manipulations with the baby, the bitch most often cleans herself up and eats the afterbirth. When the next attempts begin, it is advisable to take the newborn to another room, placing it in a warm basket or box with soft cloth. The puppies are brought back after the birth is over, when the wet bedding is removed.
Sterilization of the Jack Russell Terrier breed
If the owner of a female Jack Russell Terrier does not plan to let his dog be bred, then she can be sterilized. This operation eliminates estrus and the possibility of becoming pregnant; the advantage is that the pet is always in excellent shape.
Important! Most veterinarians recommend routine spaying after the first heat.
The operation is also performed for medical reasons, in case of suppuration of the uterus or pyometra. This disease most often begins a couple of weeks after estrus and is associated with the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the uterine cavity during estrus.
The sterilization operation is carried out under general anesthesia, takes about an hour, after which the bitch must be in a regime that excludes sudden movements and physical activity for at least two weeks. The dog is prescribed a course of antibiotics.
The Jack Russell Terrier is considered a healthy dog breed . Jack Russell females usually tolerate the animal's natural periods of estrus and whelping and have a well-developed maternal instinct. But sometimes the increased emotional lability of bitches of this breed leads to an overly violent reaction, nervousness and stress in response to changes in the physical state of the body.
How to choose a pair?
When choosing a partner for mating, the owner of a bitch needs to focus on the following criteria:
- Health. The dog must be healthy himself and be free from hereditary diseases.
- Psyche. The male must have the typical temperament and character of the breed.
- Exterior. It is very important that the male dog is as good as possible in terms of conformation and even surpasses the female dog in this regard.
- Origin. The mating partner must come from a good modern line, famous both for its health and victories at exhibitions. The more champions in the line, the better.
- Titles. It is desirable that the male be at least a champion of the breed.
It is better to spend time looking for a worthy sire than to breed a bitch with an unremarkable dog whose only advantage is that he lives nearby.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“It is recommended that you select the best male dog you can find for breeding. He must be healthy both physically and psychologically, and his conformation must be as good as his pedigree. Finally, if you are going to untie your girl for the first time, then choose an experienced stud dog as her partner. And it would be nice to also look at his offspring to have an idea of what kind of puppies are born from him.”
