Breeding Cycle for a Maltese

The Maltese is an affectionate toy dog with long, white hair and a friendly personality. Historically, Maltese dogs were the dogs of royal families, and today the Maltese's personality and size make it a desirable breed for people from all walks of life. If you want to breed your female Maltese, familiarize yourself with her heat cycle and the recommended breeding times.

  1. Maltese Females and Heat Cycle

    • Like most toy dogs, the female Maltese has her first heat period at the age of 6 months. However, the age may vary; some dogs may have their first heat cycle only at the age of 12 to 16 months. The signs of a heat cycle include a swollen vulva, the dog licking her reproductive organs and vaginal discharge. The female dog emits a specific scent to attract male dogs.

    Frequency of Estrus and Heat Cycle Stages

    • An unspayed Maltese female dog will come into heat cycles twice a year, and the discharges may take between two to four weeks. The entire heat cycle lasts approximately six months and is divided into four stages: proestrus, estrus, diestrus and anestrus. Proestrus lasts seven to 10 days on average, during which the female typically rejects male dogs. Estrus lasts between five to 14 days, during which the bleeding changes into a yellowish discharge and the dog is friendlier with male dogs. During the 60 to 90 days of diestrus, the dog has a red discharge, which stops after the first days of diestrus. During this period, the dog still attracts males. The anestrus is a 60-to-90-day period, during which the dog has no discharges or symptoms.

    When to Start Breeding

    • The ideal time to start breeding a Maltese is after she had two full heat cycles ̵2; approximately a year after she has her first cycle or when she is 18 months old. Younger Maltese dogs are fragile, and a pregnancy may result in complications that affect the health of the mother or the puppies.

    The Best Time for Breeding

    • The dog is fertile only during the second stage of the heat cycle ̵1; the estrus, when the appearance of the discharge changes into a yellowish liquid. Ideally, a Maltese should not be bred at each cycle, because the dog requires rest between pregnancies. Breeders typically breed Maltese dogs every other cycle, allowing the body to recover for one cycle. If the dog has complications during pregnancy, a breeder may wait two to three cycles before he breeds the dog again.