The Chow Chow is not an obedient dog and can sometimes be very independent. People can hug and play with it, and even modify its behavior with its tone of voice, but it must not be allowed to dominate its owner. Usually after being introduced by the owner and approaching in a proper way, strangers can pet the Chow Chow in a quiet and elegant way, and cannot tease or treat the Chow Chow like a pug. A bad-tempered Chow is not representative of the breed. Bad tempers are generally the result of improper upbringing and an extreme lack of "socialization." The appearance and character of the Chow Chow are the same as the nobility of the lion, the humor of the panda, the attractiveness of the teddy bear, the elegance and independence of the cat, and the loyalty and love of the dog.

Normal dogs go into estrus twice a year, usually from March to May in spring and September to November in autumn. When a female dog is in estrus, she will have characteristic signs in her body and behavior.

1. Estrus time

A sexual activity phenomenon that occurs when a female dog reaches a certain age is called estrus. Dogs are not seasonal breeding animals, but come into heat after a certain interval (8 months on average). Different breeds, different geographical locations and environments have different times of estrus for dogs. Normal dogs go into estrus twice a year. Most female dogs go into estrus once in spring from March to May, and can go into estrus again in autumn from September to November. If you fail to conceive during a breeding season, you will have to wait until the next estrus before mating. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp the characteristics of female dogs in estrus and carry out timely and correct breeding, otherwise the breeding of puppies will be delayed.

2. Signs of estrus

When a female dog is in estrus, some changes will occur in her body and surface. Based on these characteristic changes (oestrus signs), it can be determined whether she is in estrus and the timing of breeding is determined.

The main manifestations of these changes are: behavioral changes, increased excitability, increased activity, irritability, loud barking, and bright eyes; vulva swelling, flushing, and red mucus with blood; decreased appetite, frequent urination, and raised tail and back , likes to be close to male dogs, often climbs over other dogs, etc. Each estrus lasts about 6 to 14 days, and a few can last up to 21 days. Dogs are monoestrous animals, which only go into estrus once in a breeding season and will not go into estrus repeatedly. Therefore, if there is no mating during this estrus period or if there is no conception despite mating, the ovaries are in a quiescent state and must wait until the next breeding season to mate again.

3. Estrus cycle

The time between a female dog’s two estruses is often affected by the female dog’s age, physique, climate, feeding and other factors. Usually the period from the first estrus to the next estrus is called the estrus cycle.

During the estrous cycle, under the influence of nerves and hormones, the female dog’s systemic stateand reproductive organs undergo a series of complex changes, which can be divided into the next 4 stages.

1. Pre-estrus

It is the preparation stage for estrus, which lasts 7 to 10 days. The reproductive system begins to prepare for ovulation, the egg is close to maturity, the reproductive tract epithelium begins to proliferate, gland activity begins to intensify, secretions increase, the vulva is congested, swollen, flushed, moist, and mucus mixed with blood flows out. Male dogs often come after smelling it, but female dogs are not allowed to mate.

　2. Estrus period

It is the period when the signs of estrus are most obvious and when mating is acceptable, lasting 6 to 14 days. The vulva continues to swell and become softer, the mucus discharged becomes lighter in color, and the bleeding decreases or stops. The female dog takes the initiative to approach the male dog. When the male dog climbs over, she actively lowers her waist, faces the male dog with her buttocks, tilts her tail to one side, and opens and closes her vaginal door to allow mating. 2 to 3 days after estrus, the female dog begins to ovulate. This is the best time for breeding.

3. Late estrus

The swelling of the vulva subsided and gradually returned to normal. Her temperament became quiet and male dogs were not allowed to approach her. It usually lasts for 2 months and then enters the anestrus period. If you are pregnant, the period after estrus is the pregnancy period.

4. Anestrus period. The reproductive organs enter a state of inactivity. It usually lasts about 3 months, and then enters the next proestrus.

5. Factors affecting estrus cycle and estrus

The length of the estrus cycle and whether the estrus is normal or not are affected by internal and external factors. The internal factors are mainly the own nerve and endocrine regulation, while the external factors are multifaceted, such as season, feeding, temperature, etc. In fact, after people have domesticated domestic dogs, they have lost their breeding seasonality. Only a few breeds (such as the Greenland dog in North America) are still affected by the seasons. This seasonal effect is mainly caused by factors such as temperature. Nutritional deficiencies may cause anestrus or abnormal estrus, which may be caused by a disorder in the release of pituitary gonadotropins or a lack of ovarian response to pituitary gonadotropins. Normal endocrine is the basic condition to promote normal estrus in female dogs. The imbalance of endocrine dynamic balance will inevitably lead to reproductive disorders. Such as false pregnancy due to the presence of corpus luteum.

Male dogs are in estrus irregularly. During the breeding season when female dogs are in estrus, the testicles enter a state of active function. When approaching a female dog in estrus, smelling the special smell of a female dog in estrus can cause excitement. mating.

IV. Key points of reproduction

The Chow Chow reaches sexual maturity at 6 to 8 months, and is physically mature at 18 months. When it reaches physical maturity, it can be mated and reproduced. It goes into estrus twice a year in spring and autumn. The gestation period is 58 to 65 days, with 4 to 6 litters per litter.About 10 cubs are born annually.

1. Selection of breeding dogs

The conditions for selecting a breeding dog include the characteristics, posture and pedigree of the breeding dog. If you don't know much about breeding puppies, it's best to seek advice from an experienced veteran, or study the pictures in this book carefully, because they represent examples of excellent bloodlines.

The bloodline of the male dog should match the bloodline of the female dog. Do not mate with unmated male dogs. Choose a male dog that matches your female dog in pedigree, frame, and birth record. When choosing a male dog, be sure to choose the best, most suitable male dog with an excellent production record, so that you can gain an advantage in this industry.

　2. Method of reproduction

There are three ways for Chow Chows to breed puppies: inbreeding, same-line mating and unrelated mating.

Each of the above three methods has advantages and disadvantages; each has its supporters. In-line mating of Chow Chows may be the safest, most approved, and most commonly used method. It can often meet the expected results, so it is the most suitable method for novices. Inbreeding of Chow Chow is a method only used by experienced breeders. He must know the pedigree of the breeding dog well in order to calculate the possible results. Most of the time, unrelated mating is an attempt to breed a breed with a special trait. As a novice, the best way is to buy a female dog with excellent pedigree and characteristics. Beginners do not need to raise breeding sires. A better approach is to choose an excellent breeding male and pay for breeding, so that you have more choices.

3. Breeding of Chow Chow

We do not need to handle the breeding process ourselves, because the owners of male dogs are familiar with all processes, and novices should not operate on their own based on the knowledge in the book. It's a good idea to have an owner or assistant help you until you become familiar with the breeding process. If you can't handle it yourself, ask a veterinarian or someone with experience to help.

4. Pregnancy of the Chow Chow

Female dogs will only show signs of pregnancy in the third or fourth week of pregnancy, but it is better to have an examination before pregnancy than after pregnancy. During the examination, if the female dog is found to be overweight, she should start losing weight immediately. At the time of mating, he should be in optimal condition, neither fat nor thin.