Things You'll Need
- Large box
- Blankets
- Thermometer
Instructions
Before Mating
Find a stud. Ask around at dog parks and pet stores for reputable stud owners. Online poodle breeders often offer stud services as well.
Meet the studs. When deciding on a stud, look at physical features and for any potential health problems. Ask the owner for papers with the date of the stud's last veterinarian visit. Ask the owner for registration papers, as well.
Decide on a price. Each stud owner offers his or her own price for use of a stud. Negotiate a price and discuss when mating will happen. Exchange contact information and keep in touch as your poodle's heat cycle approaches.
Mating and Breeding
Determine when your female poodle is in heat. Heat cycles vary with every poodle. Typically, most poodles have their first heat cycle between 4 months of age to a year. Heat cycles tend to last three weeks. Symptoms of heat include a swollen vulva, restlessness and increased urination. Blood spotting is also evident. All poodle types are prone to these symptoms.
Write down the date of the first time you see blood spotting. Toy and miniature poodles have lighter spotting than standard poodles. Spotting is an indication that your female poodle is entering into the first week of its heat cycle. Your poodle is most fertile during the first week. However, your poodle will most likely ward off any advances from the stud.
Prepare your female poodle for mating. Wait until a week has passed from when you first noticed your poodle spotting blood. Notify the stud owner that your poodle is ready for mating. During week two of the heat cycle, your female poodle is more inclined to mate. Allow mating to happen naturally. Put your female poodle and the stud in a room together. Keep an eye on the process to ensure injury does not occur.
Observe your poodle's behavior for signs of pregnancy. Pregnant poodles are often lethargic and have increased appetites. Provide an adequate amount of food and water for your poodle to meet the needs of her increased appetite. Your poodle's stomach will also enlarge quickly once she is impregnated.
Provide a safe place for nesting. Your poodle will appreciate a quiet, warm place for nesting. Provide her with a quiet corner in an area that does not get a lot of foot traffic.
Place a large box near her nesting place. Place plenty of warm, soft blankets in the bottom of the box. Ensure that your poodle can get in and out of the box comfortably.
Take your poodle's temperature. Beginning two weeks before her due date, begin taking your poodle's temperature every day at noon. A normal temperature for dogs is between 101 degrees and 102.5 degrees. When your poodle's temperature falls below 100 degrees, she will give birth in 24 hours or less.
Get your poodle in her birthing box. When your poodle goes into labor, help her into her birthing box and ensure she is comfortably situated. The beginning stages of labor are often painful for dogs. Symptoms of labor include panting, whining and pacing.
Allow your poodle to give birth on her own. Dogs are self-sufficient and often give birth without any aid. Keep a close eye on the situation. On average, standard poodles have seven pups, miniature poodles have five pups and toy poodles have three pups. Once your poodle seems done with birthing, gently press on her abdomen to feel for any more puppies.
Clean your poodle up and help her over to her nesting area. Gently place the puppies with her. Place a heating pad underneath the layer of blankets and turn on low.
Take your poodle to the doctor. Within 24 hours of giving birth, take your poodle for an X-ray to ensure that she is not carrying any more puppies. Veterinarians also give shots that help alleviate uterus pain and prevent infections.