Dog Mating

Birds do it, bees do it - dogs definitely do it! Every living creature on the earth placed to repopulate has the ability to mate and reproduce!

But can dogs live when that characteristic is taken away from them? With the amount of spaying and neutering we talk about with our animals, is it possible that we're actually hurting them?

While dogs are able to - and should be permitted to - mate with each other, your doggo can definitely live without mating! In short, it will never harm your dog if he or she can't mate, and it's important to recognize that spayed and neutered dogs can live just as long as other pups who have not been fixed.

In short, dogs do not need to breed but frustration may come out of a lack of sexual interactions from the male. While, in the female dog, not breeding may have both good and bad health and hormonal consequences. Overall, it’s fine if you do not breed your dogs, but expect them to still show signs of wanting to mate. In females, these signs will show during her heat, and males will have a tendency to hump and chase females around.

A responsible dog breeder will wait for a dog to reach maturity before allowing it to mate. The approximate ages of sexual maturity for dogs are:

While a dog may reach sexual maturity in the first year and a half of life, it's best to wait until it's at least two years old before mating. This is especially true for bitches, who should not breed during their first year of heat. Just like humans, they are still mentally and physically immature. A bitch who is too young will not be able to care for her litter, which could result in the puppies being neglected.

Additionally, if your pup starts to take on roaming behaviors, it's possible that he's looking for a mate - a natural reaction, but an inconvenient, and potentially dangerous one. Fixing your dog will typically solve this issue. An unfixed male can also go through an especially undesirable mounting phase during puberty.

Your dog, just like all other living organisms that are set up for reproduction, has a natural inclination to mate. However, if your dog doesn't mate, his life isn't at risk. In fact, your dog, like humans and other animals, is not required to mate to live.

The urge to reproduce is higher in animals, especially in dogs. Even though it's essential for the survival of the species, it is not essential for the survival of your dog. Typically, these sexual behaviors and drives will be absent in your young dog's life, but when puberty hits and early adulthood begins, a dog's survival genes will kick in.

Keep in mind that this is a natural and normal urge, and dogs are able to live normal, healthy, and long lives without ever mating.