What Can Dogs Breed With?

We all know newborn puppies are adorable. No matter the creative combination of breed, the outcome is always pretty cute. Wolves were domesticated and then evolved into dogs thousands of years ago. Since becoming truly best friends, dogs and humans have united in a beautiful way. In order to provide even more cuddly companions, humans have been breeding dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  

So, of course, all dogs can breed with each other. Right? Can all types of dogs breed with any other breed? What else can dogs breed with? 

Even though they don't have much in common, dogs and wolves are the exact same species. So, dogs can mate with wolves. However, this is not a very common occurrence because dogs do not often cross paths with wolves. And when they do, it probably isn't a very friendly interaction.  When a wolf and a dog breed, the offspring they produce are fertile. That means that these offspring can also breed. 

Dogs can also be bred with coyotes, producing a coydog. Like wolves, this is not likely to happen in a natural setting. However, it can happen, and it has! There have been many coydogs raised in captivity. Dogs and coyotes are genetically similar enough to reproduce. However, their offspring are infertile, which means they cannot reproduce. 

All dogs of all breeds can breed with each other. They just produce another adorable four-legged friend for the world to love. It can be difficult to tell when a female dog is pregnant. The most important thing to know is that a dog can only be pregnant if she has successfully mated with a male dog (or wolf or coyote) while she was in heat. If you notice any behavioral changes such as irritability or increased tiredness, you'll want to take your dog to the vet to check for pregnancy. Otherwise, you may only be able to tell if a dog is pregnant during her last weeks of pregnancy when her belly gets noticeably larger.  

Over 15,000 years ago, wolves and humans roamed the wild separately. Eventually, the two species realized they could help each other. The wolves could help the humans hunt, and they could help protect the community. Humans gave wolves their leftover food and provided protection to the wolves. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that has stood the test of time. Eventually, wolves began looking more like the dogs we know and love today.

As wolves evolved into dogs, they were bred based on their ability to hunt. Over time, other qualities emerged that were also desirable. That's why some dog breeds are better hunters, some are better protectors, and some are better cuddlers. Now, dogs are frequently bred for specific things. For example, there are some breeds of dogs that make better police dogs than others. With more progress in training dogs, most dog breeds can be trained to perform a wide variety of tasks. 

More and more is learned about dog breeding every year. It is encouraged to breed dogs responsibly so that all dogs are sure to have a loving home. 

Dogs can breed with wolves because they are the same species. So, they are able to make fertile offspring without much issue. Coyotes and dogs have a harder time breeding because a female coyote in heat is quite different than a female dog in heat. Coyotes are seasonal breeders, but dogs are not. So, it is not always a guarantee that when a dog comes across a female coyote they will mate. There can be some issues with parenting when a coyote and a dog breed. For instance, male coyotes take care of their offspring. However, male coydogs and male dogs do not care for their offspring. Also, when coyotes and dogs reproduce, their coydog offspring cannot have more coydogs.

Domesticated dogs breeding with each other is much simpler than dogs breeding with wolves or coyotes. A female dog enters heat about two times a year. Heat lasts about three weeks, and it is during that time when she can get pregnant. Male dogs can smell that a female dog is in heat from miles away, and the instincts take over. 

The breeding process may be simple, but it is certainly not something to be taken lightly. When you decide you want to breed your dog, be sure to find a suitable partner that your dog can breed with. There are networks where people can connect to find the other half of their puppies. If you want to formally breed dogs, it is a good idea to get a contract in place in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

Be sure to do your research before making the decision to breed your dog. Get to know everything you need to about caring for newborn puppies. For your first time breeding, you might want to reach out to other people who have experience breeding so that they can support you through the process. 

Once you have made the commitment to breed your dog and make new puppies, it is time to introduce the two dogs. A female dog is best bred when she is around three or four years old. She can get pregnant after her first heat, at around six months old. However, it is best to let a dog go through heat a few cycles before she has babies. That way, her body is more fully developed and capable of having a healthy pregnancy. 

A female dog is more comfortable in new places than a male dog, so it is best to take the female dog to the male dog so that the two can mate. Let them get to know each other and socialize. Dogs mate for about 20 minutes and they can mate about once per day. 

Breeding dogs can be a difficult process. Many people decide to artificially inseminate their female dog. However it is accomplished, once a dog is pregnant, the rest is adorable. Be sure to care for your dog carefully while she is pregnant. Make sure you take your pregnant dog to the vet for frequent checkups to make sure the pregnancy is all going as planned. Provide proper and wholesome nutrition to your dog by buying nutritious dog food.