Puppies and Dog hormones

A friend emailed me recently to tell me that he\'d just gotten a large-breed puppy for his family. His three small children are over the moon about this little girl, who is a bundle of wiggles and puppy kisses. But my friend had a question. The breeder had advised him to let his new dog have at least one heat, perhaps even a litter of puppies, to help ensure that she would continue to be a loving pet. Did I agree?

The theory behind this advice is that the hormones secreted when a female dog is in heat, pregnant or nursing will promote maternal and caring behavior. And although it\'s true that these hormones help the bitch do what\'s necessary to get pregnant, give birth successfully and be a good mom, there is no evidence of any long-term effects of these hormones. In other words, having a heat or a litter may make your dog seem clingy for a brief period of time, but it won\'t really affect her personality. And for some dogs, those same hormones can result in obsessive nesting behaviors and grumpiness, making them less interested in interaction with their human families.

Not only will a heat or a litter not make a female dog a better family pet, the household will have to contend with all the nuisances of this process. Dogs usually come into heat twice a year, and it\'s messy. The average heat lasts somewhere between twelve and twenty-one days. A dog in heat will be more inclined to roam in search of a boyfriend. And if there are any intact male dogs in the neighborhood, you can bet they will come calling--often quite vocally. To avoid an unwanted litter of pups, the female will have to be kept away from interested males. This can be harder to manage than you might think. A dog can get pregnant during her first heat (usually somewhere between 6 months and one year of age), but this isn\'t advisable as she\'s really too young to have a litter at this point.

The thought of a litter of pups might sound fun at first. Let the kids see the miracle of birth and get to handle the babies. This is not something to be taken lightly, however. Frequently, the dog\'s owner needs to function as a midwife, and complications can arise. Letting your kids in on the miracle of birth means that you\'re also going to have to be ready to teach them about the reality of death. Pups may be stillborn or die shortly after birth. The mother may struggle as well. Assuming all goes well, after eight weeks of baby care, you\'ll need to find homes for all those pups. Don\'t think that\'ll be a problem? The litters of puppies left in dumpsters and at animal shelters imply otherwise.

All in all, the key to helping your puppy (whether male or female) become a loving family member isn\'t about hormones. It\'s about teaching your pup that interactions with you and your kids are rewarding, safe and fun. Between eight and sixteen weeks, a puppy does a lot of bonding and learns a great deal about social relationships. This is the time to introduce new people and experiences, keeping them all positive. To make your dog love kids, make sure the kids are lovable. Supervise playtime and all handling of the pup. Teach your kids to be gentle and respectful, and arm them with the puppy\'s favorite toys and treats. Focus on toy play, not wrestling, and give everyone a break when excitement level escalates. Get your kids involved in training right away, so that they can develop structured, positive ways to interact with your pup.

So what did I tell my friend? I told him to talk to his vet about how soon the puppy can be spayed. (This varies based on breed and veterinary philosophy.) I told him to do his family and his puppy a favor and make sure this happens before the dog\'s first heat. I also told him to spread the word: spaying and neutering is the cornerstone of responsible family dog ownership.