The Siberian Husky is known as a loving, hardworking and intelligent dog. To breed this dog, you must find a healthy dog that is officially registered, determine the fertility of the female, care for the female during pregnancy and after childbirth, and take care of the puppies that are born. Just like any other breed of dog, breeding huskies is serious work that should not be taken lightly.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Choosing a Suitable Husky Dog Breeding
Step 1. Wait until the female dog is 2 years old
Large female dogs take longer to reach adulthood. Female huskies are not ready to be bred until they are 2 years old or older. Do not breed them until the second breeding season. The dog may first go into heat when he is 5 to 7 months old, but his body is not yet mature enough to be bred at that age.
Male dogs are considered adults after about 6 months of age
Step 2. Breed a female dog that is calm and has a motherly nature
Male dogs only have one job (to impregnate the female), but female dogs must be able to survive during pregnancy and be able to take care of their young puppies. A calm female dog is usually a good mother to her puppies.
Using an aggressive female dog can result in unhealthy or aggressive puppies
Step 3. Make sure the mated dog pair is legally registered
If you want to keep a purebred husky, make sure that both dogs are legally registered, for example through the American Kennel Club (AKC), Continental Kennel Club (CKC), or United Kennel Club (UKC).
- Both dogs must be registered at the same place so that the puppies can later be registered as well.
- Find out the lineage of the two dogs to learn about potential health problems or temperament problems. Try doing an online search via Google by typing in keywords like “husky lineage” and “husky breed lineage.” You can also visit
Step 4. Have your vet do a physical examination of both dogs 4 weeks before mating
Both dogs should be thoroughly examined by a doctor about a month before mating. Make sure both have received the latest vaccines and are free of parasites. Have your doctor check for brucellosis, a disease that can impair your animal's fertility.
- It's a good idea to have your doctor check for hip dysplasia on both dogs.
- The female dog should have good muscle mass and not be overweight.
Step 5. Have your dog's eyes checked by a veterinary ophthalmologist
Genetic disorders of the eye is a condition that is often found in huskies. This disorder can appear at any age. So, it is very important to have your dog's eyes checked once a year. Do these checks on both dogs before mating.
Method 2 of 4: Mating Husky Dogs at the Right Time
Step 1. Find out when the female dog is in heat
Look for signs of proestrus or the dog's first period when in heat. During proestrus, your dog may bleed and his vulva may appear swollen, but he will not want to mate. After 9 days, the dog will move to the second period of heat, namely estrus. During this period – which lasts about 9 days – the dog will have a fertile period.
If you suspect your dog is in heat, but you're not sure, take him to the vet
Step 2. Mat the dog after the female enters the estrus period during the heat period
The most fertile time for a dog usually occurs between the tenth and fourteenth day after the onset of heat (proestrus). You can mate the dogs every day until they have managed to mate 2 to 3 times.
- The ideal mating period lasts about 5 to 9 days.
- Female dogs are usually more comfortable in new environments than male dogs. For that reason, it is the female dog that is usually transferred to the male's kennel.
Step 3. Keep female dogs away from other males after mating
If the dog is left near another male, he can get pregnant by the dog. After mating the female with a male of choice, keep her in a safe place so that she does not mate with another male dog.
Step 4. Take your female dog to the vet when signs of pregnancy appear
Signs of pregnancy in huskies include increased appetite, weight gain, and enlargement of the nipples. These signs usually appear as early as 3 weeks after mating. After 28 days, take the dog to the vet to confirm the pregnancy. The doctor will use an ultrasound device, examine the dog's genitals, and use X-rays to determine a pregnancy diagnosis.
Sometimes, dogs will show these signs even if they are not pregnant
Step 5. Wait a full season after pregnancy before mating the female dog again
Female huskies should not be bred in 2 consecutive seasons. Even if the previous pregnancy failed, do not immediately mate the dog in the next heat period. The period of heat usually comes every 6 months, but it can be different if the dog is pregnant.
Pregnancy can take a toll on a dog's body. For the safety of the dog and puppies, give him time to recuperate
Method 3 of 4: Caring for a Pregnant Female Dog
Step 1. Provide nutritious food twice a day to a pregnant dog
A healthy female dog can eat normally in the early stages of her pregnancy. As the dog gains weight, his food intake can be gradually increased. Maintain the portion of food for 5 to 6 weeks from the beginning of pregnancy. In the sixth week, increase the portion of the meal little by little. When ready to give birth, dogs generally get 35-50% more food than usual.
- Provide food at least twice a day – in the morning and evening. It's best to feed your dog 3 times a day – morning, noon and night.
- Some dog breeders recommend adding protein sources to your pregnant dog, such as evaporated milk, eggs, meat, or liver.
- Feeding small amounts of food more frequently will help the pregnant dog feel more comfortable.
Step 2. Prepare the delivery box
Choose a place that is warm, dry, quiet, and separate from other dogs. Make a wide, low-sided box. Take your dog to the box daily so he can get used to the area. Pet the dog's head and make sure the time he spends in the box is a positive experience for him.
- Prepare a birthing box ahead of time so the dog gets used to being there.
- You can buy a birthing box, make your own from wood, or use a large, unused plastic container.
Step 3. Get ready for the birth of a puppy after the 63rd day of pregnancy
A husky dog's gestation period lasts about 63 days. When it is close to the time of birth, prepare the necessary equipment. Some of the things you will need are:
- Newspaper for bedding
- Bath mat or towel for bedding
- Towel for cleaning puppies
- Tissue to clean the delivery box
- Thermometer to check the mother dog's body temperature
- Warm pad to keep puppy warm
- Dental floss (without wax coating) for tying the dog's umbilical cord
- Sharp scissors to cut the umbilical cord
- Wound medicine to clean the umbilical cord.
Step 4. Line the box with newspaper just before labor
When your dog gives birth, it's a good idea to line the box with newspaper so it can be changed several times a day. After a few days, you can replace the base with a towel or other soft material. The mat must be replaced once a day.
Step 5. Watch for early signs of labour
A few days before giving birth, female dogs will usually stop eating and start building a "nest". About a day before giving birth, the mother dog's body temperature will drop to 37 °C. During the first stage of birth, the dog's cervix will dilate. Contractions will begin and the dog will start to whine and appear stressed or confused. He may appear pale, tense, or keep moving restlessly.
- This stage usually lasts about 6 to 18 hours.
- Ideally, your dog will build his nest in the birthing box provided.
Step 6. Pay attention to when the dog's water breaks and labor takes place
When the dog's water has broken, he will enter the second or final stage of labor. The color of the water looks like straw. The contractions will be more intense after this stage and the dog will give birth soon after. Puppies will come out sporadically every 30 minutes or so once labor has begun.
- Dog labor usually lasts about 4 hours.
- Most dogs can give birth easily without human assistance.
Step 7. Know when you need to call the vet
In general, the mother dog can give birth without much help. However, make sure you have your vet's phone number and the veterinary clinic's emergency phone number just in case. Call your vet if:
- The mother dog looked very in pain.
- The mother dog had intense contractions for more than 45 minutes, but the puppy wouldn't come out.
- Each of the puppies came out in just over two hours.
- The mother dog trembled and got goosebumps.
- The mother dog collapses.
- The appearance of dark green fluid or blood before the birth of the first baby (after the first baby is born, this is normal).
- The mother showed no signs of labor within 64 days after mating.
Method 4 of 4: Caring for Newborn Puppies
Step 1. Make sure the mother licks and cleans each of the newborn puppies
The mother dog must remove the membrane from the puppies' faces in order to breathe, bite the umbilical cord, and lick each pup to stimulate breathing. If the parent doesn't do these things, you may need to intervene.
- Tear off the membrane pouch near the puppy's head by peeling it back, then remove the puppy.
- Use a washcloth to wipe the mucus from the dog's mouth and nose. After that, stroke the dog to stimulate breathing.
- Tie the umbilical cord with unwaxed dental floss. Use sharp scissors to cut the umbilical cord about 5 cm from the dog's body. Treat the cut with iodized wound medicine to prevent infection.
Step 2. Allow the puppy to nurse immediately after birth
This is crucial for him because the milk is colostrum (or baby milk) which contains important antibodies. Colostrum helps puppies fight infection when their immune systems are developing.
It's a good idea to weigh your newborn puppy daily for the first 2 weeks. He should have gained weight every time he was weighed
Step 3. Keep the puppy warm
Newborn dogs are unable to regulate their own body temperature. During the first 5 days, ensure that the temperature around the delivery box is between 29 °C and 32 °C. Over the next five days, you can reduce the temperature to 26 °C. After 4 weeks, you can lower the temperature again to 23 °C.
Step 4. Make sure the puppy eats every two hours for the first week
After a week, the growth will accelerate so you need to eat more often – about once an hour. This is perfectly normal and is a good sign. Start giving your puppy solid food after 4 weeks.
Step 5. Find a good home for the puppy
People sometimes buy puppies without realizing they require a lot of care, attention and time. Make sure the dog's new owner can take good care of him before handing over your puppy.
- Interview potential puppy buyers to find out about their lifestyle and see if they seem up to the responsibility of raising a husky.
- Visit potential buyers' homes to make sure they have enough space.
- Ask for their ID number and do a background check to check if they have a history of neglect or animal abuse.
